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To make authoritative information about the skin available to anyone in the world with an internet connection.
DermNet NZ was founded 23 years ago by a group of Dermatologists from New Zealand. It has become a world-renowned resource of skin disease information.
Recently added pages
Splinter haemorrhage
A splinter haemorrhage is a longitudinal, red-brown haemorrhage under a nail and looks like a wood splinter.
23 February 2019
IgE tests
IgE is an abbreviation for immunoglobulin E, an antibody produced during a Type 1 hypersensitivity reaction to an allergen.
24 February 2019
Aeroallergens and the skin
Aeroallergens are various airborne substances or inhalants, such as pollens, spores, and other biological or non-biological airborne particles that can...
1 March 2019
Peanut allergy
Peanut allergy is an adverse immune response to a peanut allergen.
6 February 2019
Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus
What is fibroepithelioma of Pinkus?Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus, also known as Pinkus tumour and Pinkus epithelioma, is a premalignant fibroepithelial tumour...
6 February 2019
Spindle cell melanoma
Spindle cell melanoma is a rare histological variant of melanoma characterised by the presence of spindle-shaped melanocytes [1].
27 January 2019
Legius syndrome
Legius syndrome is a rare genetic disorder first described in 2007 [1].
26 January 2019
Annular lichenoid dermatitis of youth
Annular lichenoid dermatitis of youth is a rare skin condition first described in 2003 [1].
22 January 2019
Erythema gyratum repens
Erythema gyratum repens is a rare paraneoplastic type of annular erythema with a distinctive figurate ‘wood-grain’ appearance.
6 January 2019
Chronic spontaneous urticaria
Urticaria is a condition characterised by the presence of hives/weals (also spelt wheals) and/or angioedema [1,2].
14 March 2019
Chronic inducible urticaria
Chronic inducible urticaria is chronic urticaria that has an attributable cause or trigger and is classified according to the stimulus...
14 March 2019
Periorificial dermatitis in children
Periorificial dermatitis in children typically presents as multiple small papules around the mouth, nose and eyes.While the name is suggestive...
14 January 2019
Naevus simplex
Naevus simplex is a common, benign capillary vascular malformation.
6 January 2019
Hypogonadism in males
Hypogonadism describes the inadequate function of the gonads with impaired production of germ cells and sex hormones. What is hypogonadism in males?Hypogonadism...
22 January 2019
Dermatopathology topics
Eruptive xanthoma
Eruptive xanthoma presents as crops of pink papules which are often pruritic.
27 February 2019
Juvenile xanthogranuloma
Juvenile xanthogranuloma usually presents in younger individuals as smooth pink or yellow nodules.
27 February 2019
Verrucous haemangioma
Verrucous haemangioma presents as blue-red, vascular papules, plaques or nodules, which later become warty in appearance.
6 January 2019
Myiasis
Myiasis is infestation by the larvae of fly species within the arthropod order Diptera (the adult flies are two-winged).
6 January 2019
Systemic amyloidosis
Systemic amyloidosis caused by the buildup of amyloid in various organs.
6 January 2019
Lichenoid drug eruption
Lichenoid drug reactions are induced by a medication or another exogenous source which can mimic other lichenoid dermatoses clinically and...
6 January 2019
Sclerosing lipogranuloma
Sclerosing lipogranuloma usually presents as a painless or slightly tender, indurated mass on the penis, scrotum, spermatic cord and...
6 January 2019
Glomeruloid haemangioma
Glomeruloid haemangioma is a rare benign cutaneous vascular proliferation that typically arises in patients with a history of POEMS...
27 February 2019
Splenosis
Splenosis may present in the skin following splenic trauma and subsequent spread of benign splenic tissue into surrounding structures.
6 January 2019
Epithelioid haemangioma
Epithelioid hemangioma is a benign vascular lesion of the skin or deeper structures (bone).
27 February 2019
Cutaneous larva migrans
Cutaneous larva migrans is a parasitic skin infection caused by helminth larvae that usually infest cats, dogs and other...
27 February 2019
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a malignant tumour arises from mesothelial lining of pleura, peritoneum, pericardium and tunica vaginalis — pleural mesothelioma is the...
6 January 2019
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is caused by primary infection with the varicella-zoster virus, of the Herpesviridae family.
27 February 2019
Synovial sarcoma
Synovial sarcoma is usually an aggressive deep seated mass presenting around large joints (80% in knee and ankle) in young...
6 January 2019
Clear cell fibrous papule
Clear cell fibrous papule is a rare variant of fibrous papule that has a clinical presentation identical to conventional fibrous...
27 February 2019
Focus on human papillomavirus
Sexually acquired human papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA virus of the papillomavirus family.
5 October 2017
Viral wart
A viral wart is a very common growth of the skin caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
3 May 2016
Vaccines against HPV
Certain subtypes of human papillomavirus (HPV), the cause of viral warts, are classified as sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
5 October 2017
Anogenital wart
An anogenital wart is a common superficial skin lesion in the anogenital area that is caused by human papillomavirus...
3 May 2016
Squamous cell papilloma
Squamous cell papilloma is caused by infection with the human papillomavirus.
3 May 2016
Focal epithelial hyperplasia
Focal epithelial hyperplasia is the results of a specific human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the mouth.
3 May 2016
Oral cancer
Over 90% of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
3 May 2016
Lower anogenital squamous terminology
The evolution of terminology used to describe vulval intraepithelial neoplasia.
3 May 2016
Anogenital SCC
Link to our pages on invasive and intraepithelial forms of anogenital carcinoma.
25 September 2017
VIN
Vulval (or vulvar) intraepithelial neoplasia is a pre-cancerous skin lesion
3 May 2016
Vulval cancer
Over 90% of vulval cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
3 May 2016
PIN
Penile intraepithelial neoplasia is a rare pre-cancerous disease of the penis.
3 May 2016
Anal cancer
Anal cancer is a rare malignant tumour which grows in or around the anus.
3 May 2016
Bowenoid papulosis
Bowenoid papulosis is a rare form of intraepithelial neoplasia.
3 May 2016
Epidermodysplasia verruciformis
Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is a rare, autosomal recessive inherited skin disorder characterised by a chronic eruption of brownish plaques.
3 May 2016
Epidermodysplasia verruciformis pathology
Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis due to mutations of the EVER1/TMC6 or EVER2/TMC8 genes which result in...
3 May 2016
Verruca plana pathology
Verruca plana (plane warts) are typically associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 2, 3, and 10.
3 May 2016
Verruca vulgaris pathology
Verruca vulgaris (common warts) are keratotic lesions caused by infection by various subtypes of the DNA virus, human papillomavirus (HPV).Histology...
3 May 2016
Condyloma acuminatum pathology
Condyloma acuminatum is the name given to anogenital warts.
3 May 2016
Meningococcal disease
Meningococcal disease is an illness caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis.
3 May 2016
Measles
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection causing fever and a rash. Early symptoms are like the common cold, with conjunctivitis...
3 May 2016
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection that causes an acute fever and blistered rash, mainly in children.
3 May 2016
Fifth disease
Erythema infectiosum is a common childhood infection causing a slapped cheek appearance and a rash.
3 May 2016
Pityriasis rosea
Pityriasis rosea is a viral rash which lasts about 6–12 weeks. It is characterised by a herald patch followed by...
3 May 2016
Impetigo
What is impetigo?Impetigo is a common acute superficial bacterial skin infection (pyoderma).
3 May 2016
Boil
A boil (also called a furuncle) is a deep form of bacterial folliculitis (infection of a hair follicle).What are the clinical...
3 May 2016
Hand foot and mouth disease
Hand foot and mouth disease (HFM) is a common mild and short-lasting viral infection most often affecting young children.
3 May 2016
Papular acrodermatitis
Infantile papular acrodermatitis is a characteristic response of the skin to viral infection in which there is a papular rash...
3 May 2016
Molluscum contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral skin infection of childhood that causes localised clusters of epidermal papules called mollusca.Who gets...
3 May 2016
VIral warts
A viral wart is a very common growth of the skin caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
3 May 2016
Head lice
Head lice are small, wingless insects than infest the human scalp.
3 May 2016
Scabies
Scabies is a very itchy rash caused by a parasitic mite that burrows in the skin surface.
3 May 2016
Guidelines for authors
Are you interested in writing for us? DermNet New Zealand is always looking for potential authors to write on new topics. Potential authors interested in writing a new page are generally asked to write a topic page on either a disease or condition, or a treatment, product or procedure.
