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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
Laser therapy in skin of colour
Skin of colour refers generally to non-white skin types with a particular emphasis on Fitzpatrick skin phototypes V and...
16 July 2019
Skin Cancer and Self-Exams
Sponsored content: melanomas are notoriously difficult to discover and diagnose.
6 April 2019
Blisters and pustules in neonates
This page describes vesiculobullous and pustular lesions in newborns and their differentiating characteristics.
24 June 2019
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
Subacute cutaneous lupus (SCLE) is a subtype of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
16 July 2019
Colloid milium
Colloid milium refers to a group of rare, degenerative, cutaneous deposition disorders.The colloid degeneration disorders are characterised by amorphous, hyaline-like...
3 July 2019
Annular erythema images
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7 June 2019
Spondyloarthropathy
Spondyloarthropathy refers to a group of five seronegative inflammatory rheumatic disorders that are related in disease manifestation and genetic susceptibility...
8 June 2019
Erythema annulare centrifugum
Erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC) is a chronic reactive form of annular erythema characterised by erythematous, circular, arciform and polycyclic lesions...
7 June 2019
Tick bite induced red meat allergy
Tick bite induced red meat allergy is an allergy to the carbohydrate galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (also known as alpha-gal), which is present...
6 June 2019
Ethnic dermatology
Ethnic dermatology is an area of interest dedicated to the presentation, diagnosis, and management of skin disorders in patients who...
16 July 2019
Emollients for eczema
Emollients are topical moisturising agents used to alleviate itchiness and other discomforts associated with eczema.
5 June 2019
Wound cleansers
Wound cleansers are rinsing solutions used to remove foreign materials on a wound surface and its surrounding skin.Wound cleansers are...
4 June 2019
Urticaria in children
Urticaria relates to a group of conditions in which weals (hives) or angioedema (swelling) develop in the skin.
5 May 2019
Psychological effects of hair loss
Hair loss (alopecia) is a common problem that affects up to 50% of men and women throughout their lives [1].Hair...
15 April 2019
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.
6 April 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...
12 May 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 that was first described in 2007 [1].
9 July 2019
Annular lichenoid dermatitis of youth
Annular lichenoid dermatitis of youth is a rare skin condition that was first described in 2003 [1].
9 July 2019
Erythema gyratum repens
Erythema gyratum repens is a rare paraneoplastic type of annular erythema with a distinctive figurate ‘wood-grain’ appearance.
16 July 2019
Chronic spontaneous urticaria
Urticaria is a condition characterised by the presence of weals (hives) and angioedema [1,2].
9 July 2019
Chronic inducible urticaria
Chronic inducible urticaria is chronic urticaria that has an attributable cause or trigger and is classified according to the stimulus...
9 July 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...
15 June 2019
Naevus simplex
Naevus simplex is a common, benign capillary vascular malformation.
15 June 2019
Hypogonadism in males
Hypogonadism describes the inadequate function of the gonads (reproductive glands) leading to impaired production of germ cells and sex hormones.What...
15 June 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
Childhood infections
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
Papular acrodermatitis of childhood is a characteristic response of the skin to viral infection in which there is a papular...
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 that 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.
