Q&A Seven

Question: i am a 49 year old male who was diagnosed over a month ago with mucha-habermann disease. after my initial visit to the dermatologist i was first diagnosed with folliculitis and was given a cream and antibiotic the cream and the medicine did not work and the doctor performed a biopsy. i should mention that prior to my diagnosis i was suffering practically every day with headaches and in mid day i feel like i need to nap. the disease covers my thighs, buttocks and under arm. i know that stress might play apart in the onset and i am a primary care giver for a handicapped spouse.

Answer: Your symptoms are similar to mine and others. So is the experience you had. I certainly agree stress can play a part. There is more info on the site and feel free to download ICQ and join the chat room if that might help. If I can help more, please let me know.

Question: I would like to know if your reseach has turned up any connection between the herpes virus and PLEVA or PLC. I had shingles 3-4 years ago presenting with typical symptoms: pain and rash on one side of the body. The PL rash showed up 4 weeks ago presenting primarily on my trunk (none on face or scalp) with no pain and more scattered but otherwise similar to the shingles rash.

Answer: As the Q&A page indicates, that connection to a herpes virus is being questioned. Herpes Zoster (Chicken pox and shingles) does not seem to be the one that may be connected. More as we find it out.

Question: This is not a question but a possibility. Recently I went to to a laser hair removal clinic and was reading in their literature how laser light can be used to help ulcers heal. I was breaking out with the rash at the time and noticed that my chin seemed to heal quickly after a treatment of a galvanized currant on my chin for hair removal. The next time I went in I was to have laser light treatment under my arms. I asked the technician to "zap" a itchy bump forming on my chest. The result was that the bump did not develop any further and disappeared. I mentioned this to my dermatologist but he said it would be difficult to treat my whole body like that. The galvanized currant may be more practical and he admitted that it was known to have healing powers. I'm puttiing this out there in case anyone else has had similar experience. In the future I am going to request a test area be done on my back with the galvanized currant. I will let you know how it turns out.

Answer: I am interested in how the treatment turned out.

Question: Thank you for providing this service. I am a 17 year old female and was diagnosed with PLEVA almost two years ago by biopsy. It was a gradual onset beginning in August during a time of high stress, starting with my torso and then working outwards. After about 8 months, it started to recede and now, new lesions rarely form (I still have many scars). I was briefly on erythromycin and cyclodextrin, however, the most effective medication for me was a cream called Lachydrin. I noticed one of the other posters had problems with lymph nodes, I also have frequent swelling in my left cheek node. My question is - how reliable was the original biopsy? Could it have been wrong, seeing as how I no longer have major problems with the disease?

Answer: The course you describe is typical of many. Some people have one outbreak and never another. Others have had some lesions appear for years. The biopsy goes by what the tissue sent "looks like". It is not a foolproof test. Right now there is not a test that will diagnose it perfectly. In other words, it is possible that the biopsy could be right or wrong. This is one of the problems with this disease. If I can be of further help, please let me know.

Question: I have been dealing with a PLEVA like rash x 5 months now. I told my dermatologist that I thought it was PLEVA but he was hesitant to diagnose it as such. I requested the Herpes-7 test which he consented to do and it did come back positive. I have now been referred to a specialist at Duke. My question is have other people reported any nerve symptoms such as tingling? The last batch to break out was on my right shoulder and now I cannot lie on that shoulder because a tingling sensation developes.

Answer: Herpetic lesions occur on nerve endings and discomfort, tingling, etc would be typical responses.

Question : Has anyone tried hypnosis to help them stop scratching with PLEVA? (A second and similar Question)I've read most of the entries on the site and I haven't heard much mentioned about itching. I have had what I think is PLEVA for the past five monts. I cant seem to stop the itching. I've been treated with the cotisone creams and monodox. It relieves it somewhat but not that much. It interupts my sleep. What a mess. It has my entire body covered.All except my face. I was wondering if anyone has tried hypnotism to stop from stratching? I'm not a real computer buff but hope to get in on the chat group sometine. Thanks for your work here.

Answer: Hypnosis has not been mentioned before. Have any of our respondents used hypnosis? Speaking of the chat group, no one has joined me for the last three weeks. Is anyone interested? Need a time change? Please email to begetc@de-inc.com with response. I will not continue it if there is no interest.

Question : I've had Pleva for 9 years. Will it eventually go away?

Answer: As you will note from other info on the site, there is no answer to this question. Sometimes one episode is all a person has. Others have a lesion or two spring and fall every year. The longest from a respondent is about thirty years but , again, it is a single or two lesions each spring and fall.

Question: How often does PLC present as hypopigmented macules and small patches (12-15 mm) with raised erythematous borders (similar to tinea versicolor)? Do hydroquinone and other depigmenting agents help in improving the postinflammatory hyperpigmentation seen in Asian skin?

Answer: The respondents in this study may be the largest single group of PLEVA subjects being studied in this country. Each presentation has its own similarities and differences. The majority of time the lesions of PLEVA are hyperpigmented after being a lesion. I actually have not had a respondent with the above presentation. Noted is reduction of pigmentation change over time as the skin returns to normal. As I said in an earlier answer, I am trying to get a dermatologist involved in this site. I will try to get more information on your question and put it at this same level.

Question: I'm a 30 year old female and I was diagnosed with PLC a little over 5 years ago. My first outbreak was terrible and it lasted aprox. 6 weeks. The creams I was prescribed did nothing more than burn my skin so I decided to let it heal on it's own using only chamomile lotion for the itching. For two years I had no reoccurance. The little boy I baby sat came over one morning and his mother said he had a bad rash around his groin area and the doctor said it was an unknown viral rash and it would go away. Three days later my PLC had come back, not as badly as the first time but close to it. I thought that maybe it was just a coincidence. Close to another year had passed without my PLC returning until that same boy ended up with another rash. Within a few days my PLC returned again and I was convinced it was because of his rash. I have since stopped babysitting this boy and have not had any attacks of it in the last 2 years. I'm not saying it's catchy but I'm wondering if certain people who are carrying certain viruses or possibly other PLC sufferers, can cause the virus to break out in people who are already infected with PLC themselves.

Answer: There is no evidence it is contagious and, in fact, dermatologists wil say it is not. However, other viruses are and reduce the immune system's ability to fight as does stress. Your concern, his illness, etc, may be involved. Again, we still know too little about this disease.

Question: Today I shared the information from your web sight with my H.M.O. dermatologist. He told me that they cannot perform the test for Herpes seven because it is to expensive. He also said that these test are only done in Califonia. Is this true? Do you know of any place that will perform this test? Help from MASS.

Answer: I will check on where mine was done and how much it cost. I will then contact you again. I think trying one of the acyclovir family of meds if it is not contraindicated would not be too expensive for the HMO.

Addendum to above: I checked the info on my test. It was done by Specialty Laboratory, 2211 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica, CA, 90404, Telephone (310)828-6543. The test costs $211.00, though your provider would have add to that for drawing the sample and preparation. I do not know how much that would add to the cost. It is an experimental or research test according to the person I spoke to at the lab and is done to differentiate HHV-6 and HHV-7. He also stated it is being done for Rosacea (I haven't found information that HHV-7 is related to Rosacea) and didn't mention either Pityriasis Lichenoides or Rosea(where there is information about its connection). I would like to get a dermatologist invovled and have just called a dermatologist I know to see if he will become involved with the research. We may be able to raise some money in a grant to expand this research and testing may be one of the areas we can expand the information. I'll keep you informed.

Question: I talked with my dermatologist again today, and he said there was recently an article about the connection between pityriasis rosea (the more chronicf orm, while pleva is the acute form) and herpes in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. He thinks it is in the February issue. I have not seen the article, but I hope it confirms the link between the two. Personally, my pleva is pretty much controlled with betamethasone ointment and doxycycline. Also, stress seems to be the most important factor when it does get worse. I hope this information helps.

Answer: I think I found the article though it is older than he indicated. I have found no information that Pityriasis rosea is a form of Pityriasis Lichenoides either chronica or acuta. Though it still leaves questions whether herpes seven is related to PLVA of PLC (chronica)

Question: Hi . Can you tell me if Mucha Habermann disease may be stress induced?

Answer: There is probably a relationship with stress. As far as the information indicates, stress can make it worse but it is not the reason it occurs. Subsequent eruptions may occur in high stress times but that may be because the body's immune system does not fight it as well.

Question: I had a bad case of PLEVA about 15 years ago since then it has recurred twice. currently I am suffering and have been on prednisone for 4 weeks. as soon as I stop taking it, the rash returns. Any advise. (Name but no email address.)

Answer: Please note info below.

Question: Just started treatment could please send me information on this disease I have tried to get info but the stuff is scarce.

Answer: The sites below contain as much information as the books list and the respondents to the PLEVA site can provide. If you have a specific question we will try to answer. Thank you for your interest.

http://www.de-inc.com/~begetc/plevinfo.htm http://www.de-inc.com/~begetc/qanswer.htm

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