History of Latin American Dermatology

ELBIO FLORES-CEVALLOS, LUIS FLORES-CEVALLOS, ZUÑO BURSTEINDeep mycosisFigure 6: Pottery piece of the Vicús culture (300-800 A.D.), ofthe Peruvian Reserve Bank Museum, showing an edematous foot,with localized nodules, mainly on the posterior and lateral part ofthe skin of the foot and heel. These lesions are similar to those observedon figure 7. (Patient of the Lima Dos de Mayo Hospital diagnosedas mycetoma by mycological study courtesy of Dr. O.Romero).Pruritic skin diseasesFigure 8: Pottery piece of the Mochica culture, showing anaked man, the head covered with a cap, with an expression ofannoyance; he is scratching his back with his right hand. He hasflat papular lesions on the skin of the abdomen and leg. It is possiblya case of hives.Figura 5. Mochicapottery (Pustularacne)Pinta or caraThe pinta or cara, according to Lastres, was known to the ancient Peruvians by thename of black and white ahoberados. In the chronicles of the “Inca” Garcilaso de la Vegait is mentioned that the sorcerers of old used to breed toads at the request of the offendedparties, feeding them maize of different colors, according to the type of speckle theywanted to produce on the skin of their enemies, of unfaithful lovers, etc. 3Figure 6. Vicuspottery (Mycetoma)Figure 7. Mycetomaof the footFigure 8. Mochicapottery (Urticaria?)TuberculosisWe have studied the patients from 1940 to1960 of the Dermatology Services of the 8-II pavilion of the Archbishop Loayza NationalHospital in Lima and the Workers’ Social Security Policlinic of El Callao, and have foundthat 0.01% of patients with skin problems were carriers of skin tuberculosis. We haveconcluded the following:1. Skin tuberculosis is a disease that is thousands of years old in Peru.2. Its presence is related to underdevelopment, the environment, poor housing andpoverty.3. There has been much research on skin tuberculosis, both in Peru and abroad. Thefirst in Peru was carried out by Dr. Luis Flores-Cevallos.4. There are forms of prevention (vaccine) and favorable treatment.306