Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory cutaneous disease characterized by recurrent painful nodules, abscesses and sinus tract on the apocrine gland-bearing skin. The role of sex hormones in the pathogenesis as well as the use of hormonal treatment in the management of HS is still debated. We performed a retrospective cohort study including 183 patients to assess the influence of combined estrogen-progestin oral contraceptive (COC) in HS onset and disease severity. Univariable and multivariable analyses highlighted that the patients undergoing COC therapy had a later onset of HS, more precisely 9 years after the patients who have not received COC, independently to body mass index, family history, smoking, acne, age of menarche, and concomitant gynecological disorders. This study suggests that COC use could influence the development and the progression of HS and supports the key role of sex hormones in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Ionizing radiation (IR) is a occupational risk for healthcare professionals, which can result in a range of health issues. This study aims to assess the relationship between low-dose IR exposure and the development of early aging-related skin wrinkles in healthcare workers. In the current cross-sectional study, 70 health workers exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation for at least five years were compared with 70 non-exposed health workers. Skin wrinkles of the participants were assessed by Lemperle Wrinkle Assessment Scale and statistical analysis comparing wrinkle score between the exposed to control was done. There were no significant differences in sociodemographic factors and Fitzpatrick skin types between the radiation-exposed healthcare workers and the control group. The Lemperle Wrinkle Assessment Scale scores revealed significant differences, with radiation workers showing higher scores in all wrinkle categories, including horizontal forehead lines, glabellar frown lines, periorbital lines, preauricular lines, cheek folds, nasolabial folds, upper and lower lip lines, corner of the mouth lines, marionette lines, and labiomental creases (all p < 0.00001), and for horizontal neck folds (p = 0.00152). This is the first study to investigate health care workers with long-term low-dose IR exposure for skin wrinkles, a visible consequence of skin aging. Chronic low-dose IR exposure can lead to increased skin wrinkles, representative of advanced skin aging in health workers. These findings underscore the need for enhanced protective measures and regular monitoring for individuals exposed to occupational radiation.

Acne patients increasingly face mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. However, no global systematic analysis exists on this topic. To examine the prevalence of mental disorders-specifically, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts-among acne patients. An exhaustive search of six databases was conducted up to May 2023. Data analysis was performed using Python and STATA MP 17, including subgroup evaluations, meta-regression, and sensitivity analyses. Forty-three studies were analyzed. Findings indicate depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts in acne patients are prevalent at 22%, 30%, and 12% respectively. Depression rates peaked in Asia at 42%, led by India (53%) and Saudi Arabia (51%). Anxiety was also most common in Asia, at 45%, notably in Singapore (60%) and Iran (58%). Suicidal thoughts were highest in Oceania, specifically New Zealand, at 24%. The study is limited by the inclusion of only Chinese and English-language research, potentially introducing selection bias. The results of this study highlight the incidence of mental health disorders coexisting with acne, which may help to foster greater understanding and awareness among both medical professionals and patients regarding the psychological complexities tied to acne.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) encompasses the development of computer systems capable of tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation. Over time, numerous applications have emerged, with AI's integration into medicine marking a significant leap forward in healthcare delivery, diagnosis, and treatment. Among medical specialties, dermatology stands at the forefront of AI advancements, leveraging machine learning and deep learning to enhance dermatologists' abilities and improve patient care. ChatGPT is an advanced language model by OpenAI, originally designed for conversations, which has expanded its utility into diverse fields, including healthcare and dermatology. In this context, the aim of this review article was exploring the synergistic relationship between ChatGPT and dermatology, examining how this innovative AI model is reshaping skin health management, its potential applications, preliminary data on its efficiency and accuracy, as well as ethical and legal concerns related to the use of its tool.

Pruritus is a hallmark symptom of atopic dermatitis (AD) and is known to worsen patients' health-related quality of life. Lebrikizumab is a high-affinity monoclonal antibody which binds IL-13, a dominant cytokine implicated in AD. This study includes data from two Phase 3 randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy and safety of lebrikizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe AD, ADvocate1 (NCT04146363) and ADvocate2 (NCT04178967). We report a post-hoc analysis to quantify the effect of lebrikizumab vs placebo on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) mediated indirectly through its effect on patient-reported outcomes itch and itch interference on sleep. Approximately two-thirds of the improvement in DLQI experienced by lebrikizumab-treated patients vs placebo-treated patients at Week 16 was mediated by improvement in itch and the interference of itch on sleep.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine neoplasia. MCC complete spontaneous regression (CRS) has been linked to good prognosis. We conducted a retrospective review of a single-center cohort of MCC patients to analyze the characteristics of patients and tumors that exhibited regression. The calculated incidence of regressión was 4.5% (5/112). Median age at diagnosis was 69 years (RIQ 31), tumors were primarily located on the head and neck and patients had low rates of immunosuppression. After a median following-up of 4 years none of the patients showed recurrence or distant metastases. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) positivity was associated with regression (P=0.045). Despite limited understanding of regression mechanisms, biopsy-induced immune responses linked with host and tumor factors such as age,immunosuppression or MCPyV positivity may play an important role. More research in this field is crucial for the comprehension of this rare phenomenon.