skin surfaces by secondary bacterial or viral infections. Epidermal Staphylococcus aureus, human papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections have been reported. In these cases, topical and/or oral antibiotic/antiviral medications may need to be prescribed. Typical recommendations are: Application of antiseptics Soak in astringents Antibiotics Benzoyl peroxide Topical diclofenac sodium If Darier's is more localized, common treatments include: Topical retinoids: used to help in the reduction of hyperkeratosis, retinoids work by causing the skin cells in the top layers to die and be shed off. The common retinoids used for this disorder are: Adapalene Tazarotene gel Tretinoin Dermabrasion Removal of the top layer of skin to help smooth and stimulate new growth of the skin. Electrosurgery Used to help stop bleeding and remove abnormal skin growths. Topical corticosteroids If symptoms are severe, oral retinoids be prescribed and have been proven to be 90% effective. However, there can be many adverse side-effects associated with prolonged use. Common oral retinoids are: Acitretin Isotretinoin Cyclosporine Some patients are able to prevent flares with use of topical sunscreens and oral vitamin C. Further information on and advocacy work for Darier's disease are provided by the FIRST Skin Foundation. Epidemiology Worldwide prevalence is estimated as between 1:30,000 and 1:100,000. Case studies have shown estimated prevalence by country to be 3.8:100,000 in Slovenia, 1:36,000 in north-east England, 1:30,000 in Scotland, and 1:100,000 in Denmark. History Darier's disease was first described in a paper from 1917 by the dermatologist Ferdinand-Jean Darier in the French dermatological journal Annales de dermatologie et de syphilographie. Darier was a well-regarded dermatologist of the time who was the head of the medical department at the Hôpital Saint-Louis. Darier was an early proponent of histopathology, or the examination of samples of diseased flesh under a microscope to determine the cause of illnesses. Using this technique, he was able to uncover the origins of Darier's disease and a host of others that also bear his name. James Clark White, a dermatologist at Harvard Medical School, independently characterized and published his observations on this dermatological disorder in the same year as Darier (1889), which is why Darier's disease is also referred to as Darier-White disease. See also Linear Darier disease List of cutaneous conditions Darier's sign References Cardoso CL, Freitas P, Taveira LAA, Consolaro A. Darier disease: case report with oral manifestations. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal 2006;11:E404-6 Autosomal dominant disorders Conditions of