Outcomes and adverse effects of ablative vs nonablative lasers for skin resurfacing: A systematic review of 1093 patients

It is generally believed that ablative laser therapies result in prolonged healing and greater adverse events when compared with nonablative lasers for skin resurfacing. To evaluate the efficacy of ablative laser use for skin resurfacing and adverse events as a consequence of treatment in comparison to other modalities, a PRISMA‐compliant systematic review (Systematic Review Registration Number: 204016) of twelve electronic databases was conducted for the terms “ablative laser” and “skin resurfacing” from March 2002 until July 2020. Studies included meta‐analyses, randomized control trials, cohort studies, and case reports to facilitate evaluation of the data. All articles were evaluated for bias. The search strategy produced 34 studies. Of 1093 patients included in the studies of interest, adverse events were reported in a total of 106 patients (9.7%). Higher rates of adverse events were described in nonablative therapies (12.2% ± 2.19%, 31 events) when compared with ablative therapy (8.28% ± 2.46%, 81 events). 147 patients (13.4%) reported no side effects, 68 (6.22%) reported expected, transient self‐resolving events, and five (0.046%) presented with hypertrophic scarring. Excluding transient events, ablative lasers had fewer complications overall when compared with nonablative lasers (2.56% ± 2.19% vs 7.48% ± 3.29%). This systematic review suggests ablative laser use for skin resurfacing is a safe and effective modality to treat a range of pathologies from photodamage and acne scars to hidradenitis suppurativa and posttraumatic scarring from basal cell carcinoma excision. Further studies are needed, but these results suggest that ablative lasers are a superior, safe, and effective modality to treat damaged skin.     

New fillers for the new man

ABSTRACT:  Two new collagen-based lidocaine-containing dermal fillers, ArteSense™/ArteFill™ (Artes Medical, San Diego, CA) and Evolence® (Colbar LifeScience Ltd., Herzliya, Israel), have proved to be of particular interest to men, many of whom seek a long-lasting or permanent correction. ArteFill™ has been available in the United States since 2006, and it is expected that Evolence® will reach the American market in 2008. The properties of the two products will be described, and experience based on the administration of many hundreds of syringes of both products by a Canadian dermatologist will be detailed here, with tips and precautions to optimize patient outcomes.     

Multiple New-Onset Subcutaneous Nodules of the Upper Extremity Digits: Giant Cell Tumor of Tendon Sheath and Lipoma

A black woman with the concurrent onset of two subcutaneous nodules located on the digits of her upper extremities is described. Initially, a single systemic disorder was considered; yet, the lesions differed in morphology and consistency. Microscopic examination of the nodules showed a giant cell tumor of tendon sheath and a lipoma. Although Occam's “razor” suggests that multiple lesions in the same person are more likely to represent variable manifestations of a single disorder than several different diseases in that individual, the simultaneously appearing lesions in this patient represented two different conditions.     

Genetic alterations in RAS‐regulated pathway in acral lentiginous melanoma

Studies integrating clinicopathological and genetic features have revealed distinct patterns of genomic aberrations in Melanoma. Distributions of BRAF or NRAS mutations and gains of several oncogenes differ among melanoma subgroups, while 9p21 deletions are found in all melanoma subtypes. In the study, status of genes involved in cell cycle progression and apoptosis was evaluated in a panel of 17 frozen primary acral melanomas. NRAS mutations were found in 17% of the tumors. In contrast, BRAF mutations were not found. Gains of AURKA gene (20q13.3) were detected in 37.5% of samples, gains of CCND1 gene (11q13) or TERT gene (5p15.33) in 31.2% and gains of NRAS gene (1p13.2) in 25%. Alterations in 9p21 were identified in 69% of tumors. Gains of 11q13 and 20q13 were mutually exclusive, and 1p13.2 gain was associated with 5p15.33. Our findings showed that alterations in RAS‐related pathways are present in 87.5% of acral lentiginous melanomas.     

Deutliche Einschränkung der Lebensqualität bei Patienten mit Pemphigus vulgaris: Ergebnisse der deutschen Bullous Skin Disease (BSD)‐Studiengruppe

Background: Pemphigus vulgaris is a potentially life‐threatening autoimmune disorder of the skin and mucous membranes characterized by antibodies against epidermal adhesion molecules. Clinically characteristic are painful chronic blisters or erosions of mucous membranes and skin. There are no published studies on the impact o this disease on quality of life. Patients and methods: This registration was performed within the scope of the German BSD (Bullous Skin Disease) study group, from November 1997 until January 2002. A total of 36 patients with the first diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris were registered at the university hospitals of Dresden, Erlangen, Kiel, Mannheim, München and Würzburg. Thirty of the 36 (83 %) patients participated in the quality of life questionnaire utilizing the German version of ‘Dermatology Life Quality Index’ (DLQI) provided by A. Y. Finlay. The DLQI varies from 0 to 30 with an increased DLQI score indicating a decrease in quality of quality. Results: The overall DLQI total score of 10 ± 6,7 in the investigated pemphigus patients was significantly increased in comparison to other skin diseases. Conclusions: These results suggest that the DLQI can be a very useful additional outcome criteria for clinical studies with pemphigus vulgaris and in the treatment of these patients.     

Medición del impacto psicológico en pacientes con psoriasis en tratamiento sistémico

Background and objectives

The negative impact of psoriasis on patient quality of life can be as important as the physical consequences of the disease. We could assume that clearance of the disease would also lead to an improvement in its psychosocial impact. The present study assesses the psychological state of patients with psoriasis receiving systemic treatment in a psoriasis unit, especially those with mild or no disease involvement.

Mutations in mevalonate pathway genes in patients with familial or sporadic porokeratosis

Porokeratosis comprises heterogeneous keratinization disorders that are characterized by one or more atrophic patches surrounded by a ridge‐like cornoid lamella. In this study, we evaluated seven families affected by porokeratosis and five sporadic patients of the disease in a Chinese population. We performed Sanger sequencing of exons and flanking intron–exon boundaries of mevalonate pathway genes (MVD, MVK, PMVK and FDPS) and of SLC17A9. In five familial and three sporadic patients, we detected six variations, including four novel mutations (MVD c.1A>G; p.Met1?, c.916G>A; p.Ala306Thr, c.1013+1G>A, and PMVK c.65A>G; p.Lys22Arg) and two recurrent mutations (MVD c.746T>C; p.Phe249Ser, and MVK c.1028T>C; p.Leu343Pro). We then applied I‐TASSER and iGEMDOCK to assess these variants for probable functional impacts. The findings of this study extend the mutation spectrum of porokeratosis and provide further evidence for the genetic basis of this disease.     

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by decorative plants

12 cases of occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by decorative plants were diagnosed in a 14-year period. The patients were middle-aged, and their average exposure time was 13 years. The plant families and plants causing occupational contact dermatitis were Compositae (5 patients: chrysanthemum, elecampane, gerbera, feverfew), Alstroemeriaceae (5 patients, Alstroemeria ), Liliaceae (4 patients; tulip, hyacinth). Amaryllidaceae (2 patients: narcissus) and Caryophyllaceae (2 patients; carnation, cauzeflower). The known chemical allergens causing dermatitis were tuliposide-A and sesquiterepene lactones, such as alantolactones and parthenolide, in the Liliaceae and Compositae families. 7 of the 12 patients were able to continue their work; 5 were not because of severe relapses of skin symptoms. The plant allergen and extract series currently available are of great help in the diagnosis.     

Descripción de los ingresos dermatológicos en España (2005-2010). Datos de base poblacional del conjunto mínimo básico de datos

Little is known about the availability and use of dermatological hospitalization, or its temporal trends and the percentage of potentially dermatological diseases treated by non-dermatology departments.     

[Translated article] Pruritus in Dermatology: Part 1—General Concepts and Pruritogens

Pruritus is the most common symptom of dermatologic and systemic diseases. The diagnosis of pruritus is clinical, although additional tests may be necessary to identify or confirm the cause. Translational medicine has led to the discovery of new mediators of itch, or pruritogens, as well as new receptors. Knowing how to properly recognize the main pathway that mediates itch in each patient is the key to successful treatment. Although the histaminergic pathway predominates in conditions like urticaria or drug-induced pruritus, it is the nonhistaminergic pathway that predominates in nearly all other skin diseases covered in this review. Part 1 of this 2-part review discusses the classification of pruritus, additional testing, the pathophysiology of itch and the pruritogens implicated (including cytokines and other molecules), and central sensitization to itch.     

Anästhesieverfahren in der Dermatologie

Zusammenfassung Die Verfahren der Lokalanästhesie sind integraler Bestandteil der operativen Dermatologie. Sie gewährleisten eine effiziente und sichere Analgesie in umschriebenen Haut- und Weichteilregionen und ermöglichen, einen sonst schmerzhaften diagnostischen oder therapeutischen Eingriff bei erhaltenem Bewusstsein zu tolerieren. Einzelne Methoden der Applikation sind "konkurrenzlos", wie die topische Applikation von EMLA^® oder die Kryoanästhesie, andere bieten alternative Optionen zur Allgemeinanästhesie. Die Tumeszenzlokalanästhesie wurde—jenseits der kosmetischen Liposuktion—zu einer effizienten Anästhesieform für größere Operationen bei Tumoren der Haut, plastische Rekonstruktionen und in der Phlebochirurgie weiterentwickelt. Die Wahl des Verfahrens im Einzelfall wird vom Alter, der Kooperationsfähigkeit und der Komorbidität des Patienten bestimmt. Für Infiltrationsanästhesien werden heute vorwiegend Lokalanästhetika vom Amidtyp eingesetzt. Fundierte Kenntnisse über die Anatomie der sensiblen Nerven sind Voraussetzung für erfolgreiche operationsfeldnahe periphere Blockaden. Wenn die Wirkungsweise der Lokalanästhetika, ihre toxischen Effekte und potenzielle Arzneimittelinteraktionen bei ihrem Metabolismus in der Praxis beachtet werden, dann ist das Risiko von Komplikationen relativ gering. Es sollte dennoch nicht unterschätzt, und adäquate Notfallmaßnahmen im Operationsteam sollten regelmäßig trainiert werden.     

Self‐resolving superficial primary cutaneous mucormycosis in a 7‐week‐old infant

A 7‐week‐old girl, born at 30 weeks' gestational age, presented to clinic for evaluation of a crop of vesicular lesions that were noted after removal of a bandage that had been in place for 4 days. A punch biopsy of the lesion revealed fungal elements that were later identified as Rhizopus spp. The lesion began to self‐resolve, and no further treatment was needed, with full resolution of the lesion by 1 month after presentation. Clinicians should be aware of the variable presentations of mucormycosis and consider fungal infection in the differential diagnosis when evaluating vulnerable patients with skin eruptions.     

Rosacea-like demodicidosis and chronic blepharitis

Demodicidosis is a parasitic skin disease caused by the follicle mites Demodex sp. In this article, we present a case of rosacea-like demodicidosis, discuss the clinical features of Demodex infestation in man and review their diagnosis and therapeutic modalities. A 37-year-old woman presented in our department with chronic blepharitis present for one year. On physical examination, the patient presented blepharitis and papulovesicles with fine scaling limited to the face. There was no telangectasia. The patient did not report flushing episodes or any kind of photosensitivity. A diagnosis of rosacea-like demodicidosis and Demodex blepharitis was based on the presence of numerous Demodex folliculorum in the eyelashes and scrapings of skin lesions. The patient was put on topic and oral metronidazole for 2?months and on yellow mercury ointment for 15?days. The course involved disappearance of the facial mites and complete remission without recurrence. Screening for Demodex sp is essential to establish the correct diagnosis and ensure suitable treatment.     

血管抑素和内皮细胞抑制素在血管增生性皮肤病中的表达及意义

目的 分析不同类型血管增生性皮肤病中血管抑素（AS）和内皮细胞抑制素（ES）的表达情况。方法 选取毛细血管瘤、海绵状血管瘤、蔓状血管瘤、化脓性肉芽肿病理切片43份,新鲜组织19份,正常皮肤作为对照,分别作免疫组化及荧光定量PCR检测AS与ES在不同组织中的分布与表达水平。 结果 AS、ES在各组织血管内皮细胞胞质及胞膜上均有一定的表达,毛细血管瘤中AS和ES的阳性细胞率分别为（15.77 ± 5.92）%,（19.35 ± 7.81）%,基因表达量分别是正常皮肤的2.4和2.7倍;其他各型血管增生性病变与正常组织的表达量比较,差异无统计学意义。 结论 AS、ES在毛细血管瘤内高表达,提示二者可能通过特异性作用于增殖活跃的血管瘤内皮细胞,在血管瘤的发病机制中发挥一定的生物学作用。     

A metallurgical approach to metal contact dermatitis

It is well-known that some metals/alloys are sensitizing on skin contact, but it is not so well appreciated that sensitization is dependent on the reaction of the metal/alloy with sweat. The first step in skin sensitization by metals/alloys is a corrosion process and the formation of soluble metal ions. The nature of this process has implications with respect to occurrence of metal contact dermatitis, to testing techniques and to classification of metals/alloys as skin sensitizers.