This compendium of unusual dermatologic treatments began as the result of a survey of the members of the Noah Worcester Dermatological Society, who were asked to submit “unusual and even bizarre” techniques that they found useful in their practices. The compendium has since been expanded with contributions from other colleagues at various presentations as well as reports in the literature. This article deals first with some unusual techniques in dermatologic surgery, then a variety of unusual approaches to medical dermatology. The article concludes with some medications that may have some valuable off-label uses in dermatology.

At first glance, it does not seem difficult to find unusual and even bizarre dermatologic treatments. Any treatment that is effective, however, becomes generally accepted and then can no longer be perceived as unusual or bizarre. For example, crude coal tar was once commonly available as a result of the coking process (by which gas for street lamps was extracted from coal, with the coal tar as a discarded residual). It must have been an unusual or bizarre thought to have smeared this compound on the skin of a patient with psoriasis. Once its effectiveness was noted, the treatment could not be considered unusual. Another example of unusual treatment derived from Guinter Kahn's (Miami, FL) idea that because a new antihypertensive, minoxidil, was reported to cause hirsutism, perhaps smearing it on the skin could grow hair. Because it was successful, no one would consider it as unusual or bizarre therapy today. Likewise, prior to FDA approval of Propecia (finasteride 1 mg), Shelley and Shelley<sup>25 Shelley W.B., Shelley E.D. A dermatologic diary: Portrait of a practice Cutis 1995 ;  56 (2) : 85-92

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références</sup> suggested that in male pattern baldness, finasteride 5 mg down to 0.2 mg/d might be helpful as prevention and possible treatment. The information presented in this article is in a somewhat telegraphic style, organized as surgical pearls, followed by acne, rosacea, and other disorders of the pilosebaceous unit; other medical and dermatologic pearls; and useful medications, tools, and appliances.