Tropical dermatology: Venomous arthropods and human skin

Answers to Dermatophile

“…However, contact with these substances usually leaves only a purpuric or brown hyperpigmentation, with little inflammation 5. Hyperpigmentation can last for months, but alcohol or ether can be used to dissolve the pigment and reduce the colour 7. Skin lesions caused by millipedes usually occur on the feet, because these arthropods seek refuge in dark places, especially shoes 7.…”

“…Hyperpigmentation can last for months, but alcohol or ether can be used to dissolve the pigment and reduce the colour 7. Skin lesions caused by millipedes usually occur on the feet, because these arthropods seek refuge in dark places, especially shoes 7. Because of the purpuric appearance, skin changes caused by these animals can mimic lesions due to arterial occlusion, trauma, chilblains or even cryoglobulinaemia,5 which mostly cause symptoms such as pain, burning or itching.…”

Open season: select the best ‘beast’ for each skin lesion

“…5 Hyperpigmentation can last for months, but alcohol or ether can be used to dissolve the pigment and reduce the colour. 7 Skin lesions caused by millipedes usually occur on the feet, because these arthropods seek refuge in dark places, especially shoes. 7 Because of the purpuric appearance, skin changes caused by these animals can mimic lesions due to arterial occlusion, trauma, chilblains or even cryoglobulinaemia, 5 which mostly cause symptoms such as pain, burning or itching.…”

“…Therefore, their contact with human skin causes significant pain and erythema rather than hyperpigmentation. 7 Both lesions caused by arthropods can be treated with analgesics and local ice, without major complications. 7…”

Evolutionary Developmental Biology of Invertebrates 3

“…The main myriapod impact may rely in the future in the great pharmacological potential of the apparently very specifi c centipede venom enzymes which have myotoxic, cardiotoxic, and neurotoxic activities; valuable chemical interest may arise also from the quinones and cyanide used by millipedes to repel predators (Undheim and King 2011 ;Haddad Jr et al 2012 ;Liu et al 2012 ).…”