Dirk M. Elston, MD

Article

Navigating Moonlighting Opportunities During Dermatology Training

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: June 27, 2025

Residents and fellows in training have to navigate time management to balance reading, hands-on training, family responsibilities, exercise, diet, ...

Article

Immune Responses and Health Disparities Warrant Scabies Vaccine Development

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: June 3, 2025

The scabies mite, originally known as Acarus scabiei, now is considered an arthropod of the class Arachnida, order Astigmata, and family S...

Article

What’s Eating You? Hookworm and Cutaneous Larva Migrans

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: November 19, 2024

Hookworm infection represents a major global disease burden, in terms of both morbidity and economic impact, and there has been a resurgence of hoo...

Article

Asteraceae Dermatitis: Everyday Plants With Allergenic Potential

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: October 28, 2024

The Asteraceae (formerly Compositae) family of plants is the second largest family of flowering plants, accounting for 10% of all flowers as well a...

Article

Purpuric Lesions on the Leg

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: October 1, 2024

A 74-year-old woman who frequently traveled abroad presented to the dermatology department with retiform purpura of the lower leg along with gastro...

Article

Multiple Draining Sinus Tracts on the Thigh

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: September 4, 2024

A 40-year-old woman presented with multiple draining sinus tracts on the right thigh following an injury sustained weeks earlier while mowing wet g...

Article

Erythema Nodosum Triggered by a Bite From a Copperhead Snake

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: August 9, 2024

Erythema nodosum (EN) can occur following snakebites from pit vipers such as the eastern copperhead.

Article

Generalized Fixed Drug Eruptions Require Urgent Care: A Case Series

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: July 23, 2024

Although localized fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a relatively benign diagnosis, generalized bullous FDE requires urgent management and may necessita...

Article

Reticulated Brownish Erythema on the Lower Back

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: June 14, 2024

A 42-year-old woman presented with an asymptomatic, erythematous, lacelike rash on the lower back of 8 months’ duration that was first noticed by h...

Article

Aquatic Antagonists: Dermatologic Injuries From Sea Urchins (Echinoidea)

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: June 14, 2024

This article aims to bring awareness to the myriad complications from sea urchin injuries as well as the mechanisms for successful spine removal.

Article

Dermatologic Care for Refugees: Effective Management of Scabies and Pediculosis

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: April 25, 2024

Infestations and cutaneous infections are common among refugee populations, and impetigo often is a sign of underlying scabies infestation.

Article

Botanical Briefs: Fig Phytophotodermatitis (Ficus carica)

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: April 8, 2024

Exposure to the components of the common fig tree (Ficus carica) can induce phytophotodermatitis.

Article

Asymptomatic Erythematous Plaque in an Outdoorsman

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: April 2, 2024

A middle-aged man presented with a well-demarcated, hyperpigmented, erythematous patch with an annular erythematous border that extended from the m...

Article

Aquatic Antagonists: Scorpionfish Envenomation

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: March 5, 2024

This article discusses common features of scorpionfish as well as the clinical presentation and treatment options following exposure to its toxins....

Article

What’s Eating You? Rhipicephalus Ticks Revisited

Author:: Dirk M. Elston, MD

Publish date: January 31, 2024

Rhipicephalus ticks are vectors of a variety of diseases, including the rickettsial diseases Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Mediter...