Common Dermatologic Conditions Research Articles

Holistic Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: Integrating the Complete Repertory for Quality-of-life Enhancement

Acne vulgaris, a common dermatological condition, significantly impacts the quality of life, particularly in adolescents and young adults. This study investigates the effectiveness of individualized homeopathic treatments selected using the Complete Repertory in alleviating acne symptoms and enhancing patients' quality of life. Over a period of 4-6 months, 101 patients, aged 15 to 25, were treated using the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) and the Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) to evaluate progress. Significant improvements in both physical symptoms and psychological well-being were observed, suggesting that personalized homeopathic regimens could be a viable holistic approach (Schroyens, 2018).

Teledermatology and Virtual Visits for Acne Management: A Review.

Acne vulgaris is a common dermatological condition requiring individualized management. Teledermatology provides convenience and accessibility that is highly suitable for this dermatological condition. Herein, our review aimed to describe the current state of teledermatology in the context of acne management and to assess patient satisfaction, adherence to virtual care, and the experiences of health care providers in delivering remote dermatological services. A systematic search for articles was conducted in Medline, Embase, and PubMed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews. Title, abstract, full-text screening, and data abstraction were carried out in duplicate. One thousand one hundred three nonduplicate articles were screened based on title and abstract review. A total of 21 studies were included in the review. It was found that teledermatology is well-suited to the effective management of acne vulgaris. When compared to in-person care, teledermatology resulted in similar outcomes on several acne-grading scales. Additionally, patient satisfaction was comparable, with a large proportion of patients preferring virtual care to traditional in-person visits. However, compliance was found to be lower for virtual care. There are several secondary benefits to telemedicine, including time savings and greater accessibility to care for rural patients. Teledermatology is an evolving, promising medium for acne management for both clinicians and patients. Future research comparing the effectiveness of different teledermatology platforms, its limitations and pitfalls, and integration of patient and physician preferences to improve treatment outcomes is warranted.

Emergency consultations to pediatric dermatology at a large children’s hospital in Saudi Arabia

Dermatology is commonly considered a non-urgent and outpatient-centered specialty. Limited studies have evaluated skin diseases presenting to the pediatric emergency department. This study aims to characterize the most common pediatric dermatological conditions prompting an emergency department visit between August 2018 and August 2023 in a large children’s hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 183 patients were included. The majority of patients were 2 years old and younger [87 (47.5%)]. Gender was almost equally distributed, with 51.4% of the population being females. Infectious and inflammatory disorders were the most commonly encountered conditions, accounting for 35.5% and 33.9%, respectively. The top three diagnoses were atopic dermatitis (12.02%), impetigo (6.56%), and infantile hemangioma (6.01%). Understanding the variety of skin disorders presented to pediatric emergency departments can positively enhance patient care in dermatology clinics and promote preventative public health initiatives, thus minimizing emergency department visits.

Nonmalignant Dermatologic Disorders in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with extraintestinal manifestations that can affect multiple body systems. Extraintestinal manifestations (EIMSs) are seen in up to 50% of patients with IBD. Skin involvement is particularly common occurring in up to 15%–20% of patients. Skin reactivity presents in multiple forms with unique pathology. Therapy for IBD also may affect the skin directly through inflammatory processes or indirectly because of skin infections. This review will concentrate on the most common nonmalignant dermatologic conditions associated with IBD with a focus on prevalence, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies.

Retrospective Investigation of the Utility of Potassium Hydroxide Smear in the Diagnosis and Management of Cutaneous Fungal Infections by Dermatologists

Abstract Background: Superficial cutaneous fungal infections are common dermatologic conditions. A significant proportion do not present with typical clinical findings. However, the 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) smear, a simple bedside test, is often underused when diagnosing cutaneous fungal infections. Aims: We aimed to evaluate whether KOH smear results altered dermatologists’ diagnosis and management, and the factors that influenced its ability to detect cutaneous fungal infections. Methods: A total of 373 patients with suspected cutaneous fungal infection were identified retrospectively from the dermatology database of inpatient referrals in a Singapore tertiary hospital between 1 January 2017 and 30 June 2020. The dermatologists’ eventual diagnoses, based on their assessment until 2 months post-discharge to allow consideration of KOH smear results and response to treatment, were taken as a gold standard. Statistical analyses evaluated for changes between initial and eventual diagnoses and management relative to the KOH smear. Use of topical steroids, topical and/or systemic antifungals before skin sampling, and whether sampling was done by dermatologically-trained personnel, were assessed for association with KOH smear positivity in eventually diagnosed cases. Results: The percentage of uncertain diagnoses was reduced, and the use of topical antifungal as the sole treatment significantly changed after the KOH smear result was available. The adjusted odds ratio of a positive KOH smear in eventually diagnosed cases was 0.19 when systemic antifungals were used before skin sampling, and 3.03 if sampling was performed by a dermatologically-trained person. Limitations: Limitations of our study include dependence on retrospective medical records which may result in misclassification bias and the limited generalisability of our results to patients managed by non-dermatologists. Conclusions: KOH smear is a useful adjunct in diagnosing and managing cutaneous fungal infections. Clinicians should consider the presence of confounders affecting KOH smears when making an overall clinical diagnosis. Focused training of personnel on skin sample collection may improve the detection rate of KOH smear.

Dermatologic surgery during pregnancy and lactation

It may be necessary for patients to undergo (dermato-)surgical procedures during pregnancy or lactation. Often, there are no drug approvals or guidelines in this context. The following article describes the most common dermatologic surgical conditions during pregnancy and lactation, as well as the special therapeutic considerations and risks to be aware of during treatment. Dermatosurgical procedures are subject to strict indications. Most of these procedures can be performed during pregnancy, but the risks to the mother and fetus must be carefully weighed against the disadvantages of nonsurgical therapy. Although surgery can be performed safely in any trimester, the second trimester and immediate postpartum period are optimal. Surgery should not be delayed for melanoma or high-risk skin cancer. Perioperative positioning and choice of analgesics, antiseptics, anesthetics and antibiotics must be considered carefully to avoid risks to the patient, fetus and infant.

Effectiveness of Azadirachta indica and Ocimum gratissimum for Acne Vulgaris: A Literature Review

Acne vulgaris is a common dermatological condition characterized by inflammation of the pilosebaceous units, predominantly affecting adolescents and young adults. Its multifactorial etiology involves hormonal imbalances, microbial overgrowth, and environmental factors, leading to increased sebum production and inflammation. Conventional treatments often vary in efficacy and tolerability, driving interest in alternative therapies to reduce the severity and recurrence of lesions and enhance appearance, the acne severity. This literature review explores the therapeutic potential of two herbal remedies, Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Ocimum gratissimum (African basil), known for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Azadirachta indica is recognized for its rich phytochemical profile, including compounds like nimbin and azadirachtin, which effectively combat acne pathogens such as Cutibacterium acnes. Meanwhile, Ocimum gratissimum exhibits significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, contributing to skin healing and sebum regulation. The combined use of these herbs offers a holistic approach to acne management, targeting multiple aspects of its pathogenesis, including inflammation and microbial imbalance. The therapeutic benefits of Azadirachta indica and Ocimum gratissimum highlight their valuable role in advancing dermatological care and offer promising prospects for individuals seeking holistic and plant-based solutions for acne management. This review emphasizes the potential and effectiveness of Azadirachta indica and Ocimum gratissimum in advancing dermatological care and providing effective, plant-based solutions for acne management. Keywords: Acne vulgaris, azadirachta indica, clove basil, neem, ocimum gratissimum, treatment

Assessing the Impact of ChatGPT in Dermatology: A Comprehensive Rapid Review.

Background/Objectives: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in dermatology is expanding rapidly, with ChatGPT, a large language model (LLM) from OpenAI, showing promise in patient education, clinical decision-making, and teledermatology. Despite its potential, the ethical, clinical, and practical implications of its application remain insufficiently explored. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness, challenges, and future prospects of ChatGPT in dermatology, focusing on clinical applications, patient interactions, and medical writing. ChatGPT was selected due to its broad adoption, extensive validation, and strong performance in dermatology-related tasks. Methods: A thorough literature review was conducted, focusing on publications related to ChatGPT and dermatology. The search included articles in English from November 2022 to August 2024, as this period captures the most recent developments following the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, ensuring that the review includes the latest advancements and discussions on its role in dermatology. Studies were chosen based on their relevance to clinical applications, patient interactions, and ethical issues. Descriptive metrics, such as average accuracy scores and reliability percentages, were used to summarize study characteristics, and key findings were analyzed. Results: ChatGPT has shown significant potential in passing dermatology specialty exams and providing reliable responses to patient queries, especially for common dermatological conditions. However, it faces limitations in diagnosing complex cases like cutaneous neoplasms, and concerns about the accuracy and completeness of its information persist. Ethical issues, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the need for transparent guidelines, were identified as critical challenges. Conclusions: While ChatGPT has the potential to significantly enhance dermatological practice, particularly in patient education and teledermatology, its integration must be cautious, addressing ethical concerns and complementing, rather than replacing, dermatologist expertise. Future research should refine ChatGPT's diagnostic capabilities, mitigate biases, and develop comprehensive clinical guidelines.

Superficial fungal infections in adults in Northern Finland between 2010 and 2021: A register-based study.

Superficial fungal infections are common dermatological reasons to visit a doctor in primary care in Finland. However, their variable clinical picture and minor symptoms may lead to delayed diagnosis. We aimed to investigate the epidemiology and patient profile of fungal infections treated in secondary care over a decade. This is a retrospective study including adult patients with a fungal infection in the scalp, nails, or superficial skin diagnosed at the Oulu University Hospital, Finland between the years 2010 and 2021. There were 573 patients with male predominance (57.6%). All studied fungal infections were more common in the oldest age group (>61 years). The number of fungal infections increased from the year 2017 onward. Only one-third (37.7%) of the patients were referred to the dermatology clinic because of a suspected dermatophyte infection, and in 46.0% of cases, the diagnostic delay exceeded 6 months. The most common fungal infection was tinea pedis (n = 295, 51.5%) followed by tinea unguium (n = 275, 48.0%); as concomitant infection, they were present in 108 (18.8%) of all patients. The most common pathogen causing a fungal infection was Trichophyton rubrum. During the study period, the incidence of diagnosed superficial fungal skin infections increased. There was a remarkable diagnostic delay from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis in these most common dermatological conditions.

The Clinical Efficacy of Lapachol in Facial Redness Reduction.

Facial erythema from acne, vascular rosacea, or photoaging is a common difficult-to-treat dermatologic challenge. The objective of this study was to examine the role of lapachol in alleviating facial erythema associated with a variety of common dermatologic conditions. Twenty-five healthy female and male subjects 35-65 years of age of Fitzpatrick skin types I-II with mild-to-moderate stable facial erythema from acne, rosacea or photoaging were enrolled in a single-site monadic study. Subjects received the study cream for twice daily application and were assessed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8. The dermatologist investigator and subjects assessed efficacy and tolerability and facial photographic images were taken of all subjects at each visit. Noninvasive erythema assessments of the face were conducted using a colorimeter at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8 to document improvement in facial erythema. Twenty-five out of 25 subjects successfully completed the study without tolerability issues including 12 subjects with rosacea, 6 subjects with photoaging and 7 subjects with acne. After 8 weeks of use, the investigator rated a 44% decrease in facial erythema while the subjects rated a 40% decrease. Facial erythema was also noninvasively assessed with a colorimeter and dermaspectrophotometer (DSP). There was a 26% decrease in skin redness at Week 4 and a 31% decrease in skin redness at Week 8 on the colorimeter L*a*b* scale. This finding was collaborated by the DSP which registered a 29% decrease on the erythema scale at Week 8. Lapachol in a moisturizer formulation was found to be effective in reducing facial erythema from acne, rosacea, and photoaging.

Tirbanibulin as a Novel Treatment in Actinic Keratosis: A Literature Review

Introduction and purpose: Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common dermatological condition that primarily affects fair-skinned individuals due to cumulative ultraviolet light exposure, potentially leading to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). AK therapy is divided into two main branches: lesion-directed therapy (cryotherapy, lasers, and surgical methods) and field cancerization-directed therapy (photodynamic therapy and topical agents). Unfortunately, the occurrence of local skin reactions (LSRs) and the therapy duration counted in weeks disrupt patient compliance. This study aims to review the clinical trials concerning the efficacy, safety, and adverse effects of tirbanibulin, a novel promising treatment for AK, which led to its approval and therapeutic development. Materials and methods: Literature available in PubMed and GoogleScholar databases were reviewed using the following keywords: actinic keratosis; actinic keratosis treatment; tirbanibulin. Results: Tirbanibulin's mechanism involves inducing apoptosis by inhibiting microtubule polymerization, which distinguishes it from other treatments that often cause significant inflammation. Clinical trials demonstrate its high efficacy in clearing AK lesions with a favorable safety profile, leading to regulatory approval. The ease of use and short therapy duration (5 days) ensure patient compliance and satisfaction with the treatment. Conclusion: Further longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm the long-term benefits and positioning of tirbanibulin in AK therapy. Raising public awareness about AK and the importance of early treatment with effective options like tirbanibulin is crucial for improving public health outcomes.

Girth sizes of the body in Ukrainian men and women with various forms of urticaria

The relevance of studying body girth in patients with different forms of urticaria is due to the importance of anthropometric indicators in the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease. Urticaria, as one of the most common dermatological conditions, can present in various clinical forms, each of which may differently impact the body, particularly by altering body circumferences. Examining these indicators in Ukrainian men and women allows for the identification of gender-specific and individual characteristics, which could be crucial for improving treatment and prevention methods for urticaria. The purpose of the work is to establish the peculiarities and sex differences in body girth measurements in young Ukrainian men and women with acute and chronic mild and severe urticaria. Body girth measurements were determined in 40 Ukrainian men and 40 young women (25-44 years according to the age periodization of WHO, 2015) patients with acute (AU) and chronic (CU) urticaria of a mild (MU) and severe (SU) course. Urticaria was diagnosed according to the EAACI/GA²LEN/EuroGuiDerm/APAAACI international guidelines. Anthropometric measurements were performed on the right side of the body. The girth sizes of the upper and lower limbs, neck and trunk were determined with a centimeter tape. As a control group, the girth measurements of the body of practically healthy Ukrainian men (n=82) and women (n=101) of young age were used, which were taken from the data bank of the research center of the National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya. Statistical analysis of girth body dimensions was carried out in the license package "Statistica 6.0" using non-parametric estimation methods. When comparing the body girths of men or women with urticaria with practically healthy men or women, significantly larger values or a tendency towards larger values were established: in sick men, most of the girths of the upper limb (mainly in patients with AU/SU), hips, waist, chest during inhalation and at rest (in patients with AU/MU, AU/SU, CU/MU and CU/SU), neck (in patients with AU/MU, AU/SU and CU/MU); in sick women – shoulder girths in stressed and relaxed states, hips, thighs, neck, waist, chest during inhalation, exhalation and in a calm state (in patients with AU/MU, AU/SU, CU/MU and CU/SU ), forearm in the lower part (in patients with AU/MU and CU/MU), crus in the upper and lower part (in patients with AU/MU and CU/MU). When comparing the girths of the body between men and women with urticaria, only a few significant differences or trends were established: between the men, only larger values of the girths of the neck (in patients with AU/MU compared to AU/SU) and feet (in patients with AU/SU vs. CU/SU); between sick women – greater values of shoulder girths in tense and relaxed states, forearm in the lower part, hand, crus in the upper part, foot, thorax on exhalation and in a calm state (in patients with AU/MU compared to AU/SU), crus (in patients with CU/MU compared to CU/SU). Pronounced manifestations of sexual dimorphism of body girths between Ukrainian men and women with urticaria were also established: in sick men, larger values of hand and neck girths were found (in patients with AU/MU, AU/SU, CU/MU and CU/SU), shoulder girths in tense and relaxed states, forearms in the upper and lower part, feet, waist, chest during inhalation, exhalation and in a calm state (in patients with AU/SU), shoulder in a tense state (in patients with CU/SU), forearm in the upper part (in patients with AU/MU), forearm in the lower part (in patients with CU/MU); in female patients – larger values of hip girth (in patients with AU/MU) and hips (in patients with CU/MU).

Investigating the Performance of VisualDx on Common Dermatologic Conditions in Skin of Color

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) has been used to create diagnostic models, such as VisualDx, to assist in rapidly diagnosing skin conditions. AI diagnostic models are typically trained on image databases of dermatologic conditions, which are known to underrepresent patients with richly pigmented skin. Objectives: We investigated whether VisualDx performed differently when classifying conditions across different skin phenotypes and whether images of conditions processed to resemble richly pigmented skin impacts diagnostic accuracy. Methods: Our image dataset consisted of sixteen common conditions. For each condition, three subgroups were curated: “Fitzpatrick I-III”, “Fitzpatrick IV-VI”, and “Processed”. The “Processed” subgroup contained images from the “Fitzpatrick I-III” subgroup altered to resemble richly pigmented skin. Images were processed by VisualDx to obtain a differential diagnosis list and diagnostic performance was analysed. Results: Across all subgroups, the highest sensitivity ( 97%) was seen in hidradenitis suppurativa, prurigo nodularis, and tinea versicolor. Atopic dermatitis, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and basal cell carcinoma demonstrated the lowest sensitivity (23%, 23%, and 27%, respectively). Significantly greater diagnostic sensitivity was noted for all conditions in the “Fitzpatrick I-III” subgroup (p < 0.001) except acanthosis nigricans, melasma, and melanoma compared to the “Fitzpatrick IV-VI” and “Processed” subgroups. For all conditions, a reduction in sensitivity and specificity was observed in processed images (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Overall, VisualDx demonstrated diagnostic bias for images in the “Fitzpatrick I-III” subgroup, and colour-editing reduced diagnostic accuracy. These results suggest comprehensive databases should be used for future training of AI diagnostic tools to improve performance in all skin phototypes.

53983 Pediatric Dermatology Made Simple: Physician Assessment of Informative Guides on Common Dermatologic Conditions for Spanish-Speaking Patients

53983 Pediatric Dermatology Made Simple: Physician Assessment of Informative Guides on Common Dermatologic Conditions for Spanish-Speaking Patients

Impact of new antifungal medications on onychomycosis prescriptions and costs in Japan: A nationwide claims database study.

Onychomycosis, a fungal nail infection, is a common dermatological condition in Japan, with a prevalence of approximately 5%-10%. Despite the introduction of new antifungal medications and updated treatment guidelines published in 2019, data on real-world prescription trends and the associated medical costs are limited. This study aimed to investigate the prescription patterns and medical costs of topical and oral antifungal medications for onychomycosis in Japan from fiscal years 2014 to 2021 using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan Open Data. We analyzed the annual prescription volumes and medical costs of four antifungal medications: efinaconazole, luliconazole, fosravuconazole, and terbinafine. The prescription volume of efinaconazole, a topical medication launched in 2014, rapidly increased and dominated the market share. Fosravuconazole, an oral medication introduced in 2018, showed an increasing trend, coinciding with a decline in efinaconazole prescriptions. Terbinafine, a well-established oral medication, experienced a substantial decrease in prescription volume. The sex- and age-adjusted prescription volume per 100 000 population was higher among older adults, particularly for efinaconazole. The total medical costs for onychomycosis treatment more than doubled in fiscal year 2015 compared with that for 2014, mainly driven by efinaconazole prescriptions, and exceeded 30 billion Japanese yen in fiscal years 2019-2021. The costs slightly decreased in fiscal years 2020 and 2021, possibly due to the introduction of fosravuconazole. The predominance of topical prescriptions, especially in older adults, raises concerns regarding adherence to the Japanese guidelines that recommend oral antifungals as the first-line treatment for onychomycosis. The substantial increase in medical costs also highlights the economic burden of onychomycosis and the need for cost-effective treatment strategies. This study provides valuable insights into the real-world prescription trends and medical costs of onychomycosis treatment in Japan, suggesting an opportunity to assess potential gaps between guideline recommendations and clinical practice.

Commercial Diagnostics and Emerging Precision Medicine Technologies in Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis.

While psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) are two common dermatological conditions, their diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making pathways are often complex. As a result, there has been increased focus on the development of precision medicine approaches for psoriasis and AD. Two companies at the forefront of dermatology precision medicine research are Mindera Health and Castle Biosciences. Here, we review the technologies developed by these two companies using a dermal diagnostic patch and superficial skin scrapings, respectively, their research published to date, and their future research goals. Research from both companies shows promise in predicting the response of inflammatory skin disease to biologics using minimally invasive techniques. However, challenges to adoption include insurance coverage and patient trust in the technologies. While there are several differences between Mindera Health and Castle Biosciences, they have a shared goal of utilizing minimally invasive technologies to sample skin and predict response to biologic treatments using a panel of optimized biomarkers.

A Novel Treatment of Acne Vulgaris Using a 1927 nm Fractional Thulium Laser: A Case Series.

Acne vulgaris remains one of the most common and problematic dermatological conditions. Recently, a fractional 1927 nm thulium laser has been developed with specific water absorption characteristics which may be of interest in the treatment of acne. Nine consecutive Korean subjects, 6 females and 3 males, ages ranging from 13 to 33 yr, presented with a mixture of inflammatory and noninflammatory acne. Baseline clinical photography, image analysis and lesion counts were performed. A fractional 1927 nm thulium laser (FTL) delivered 6 treatment sessions in 5 subjects and 5 sessions in 4 subjects, 4 weeks between sessions. Pain during treatment was assessed. At 32 weeks after the last treatment session, an independent Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) performed lesion counts and graded the severity of the acne at baseline and the final assessment on a quintile scale. Data were analyzed statistically. All 9 subjects completed the study with significant reductions in the inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions (P values 0.0012 and 0.0081, respectively) with overall lesion counts at the final assessment ranging from 60% to 97.1%, and acne grades in the IGA dropping by an average of 1.67 (range 1 to 3 grades). There was no significant difference in lesion counts or acne grades between the subjects who had 6 treatments and those who had 5 (P = 0.7695). Mild pain was reported during treatment, and no adverse events were reported by either the subjects or investigator. The FTL at the parameters used in the present study caused disruption to the upper portion of the affected follicles and sebaceous glands under an intact stratum corneum, thereby destroying or damaging the causative Cutibacterium acnes. The superficial controlled coagulation additionally induced follicular remodeling and tissue regeneration, potentially contributing to the noticeable results in inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesions.

Phototoxicity of the Ethanolic Extract of Skeletonema marinoi for the Dermocosmetic Improvement of Acne.

Acne is one of the most common dermatological conditions, peaking during adolescence and early adulthood, affecting about 85% of individuals aged 12-24. Although often associated with teenage years, acne can occur at any age, impacting over 25% of women and 12% of men in their forties. Treatment strategies vary depending on the severity, including the use of topical gels or creams containing benzoyl peroxide and retinoids, antibiotics, and systemic or topical isotretinoin. However, these treatments can cause irritation, allergies, and other toxic side effects. Currently, there is no natural-based alternative for antibacterial photodynamic therapy targeting acne using marine drugs or extracts. Through a bioguided screening approach, we identified the ethanol extract of Skeletonema marinoi as highly phototoxic against three bacterial species associated with acne-Cutibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. This extract exhibited phototoxicity in planktonic bacteria under white and red light, disrupted bacterial biofilms, reduced sebum production but also showed phototoxicity in keratinocytes, highlighting the importance of the specific targeting of treatment areas. Further investigations, including fractionation and high-resolution structural analysis, linked the observed phototoxicity to a high concentration of pheophorbide a in the extract. Given its notable in vitro efficacy, this extract holds promising potential for clinical evaluation to manage mild acne. This discovery paves the way for further exploration of Skeletonema pigment extracts, extending their potential applications beyond acne phototherapy to include dermocosmetics, veterinary medicine, and other phototherapy uses.

Penanganan Acne Vulgaris Terkini

Acne Vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder in the pilosebaceous unit. This condition generally manifests as papules, pustules, or nodules especially on the face and can also affect the upper arms, trunk and back. AV is ideopathic, but can also be caused by increased sebum production, hyperkeratinization of hair follicles, colonies of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacteria and inflammatory processes. Some of these causes are related to risk factors as triggers, such as food factors, use of cosmetics, and psychological stress. AV is one of the most common dermatological conditions worldwide with an estimated 650 million people affected by this disease. The study of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) reports that AV attacks around 85% of young adults aged 12-25 years. Based on gender, women suffer more from AV than men with percentages of 69.7% and 30.3% respectively. Treatment of acne vulgaris is based on the level and severity of the acne. Treatment can be divided into pharmacological and physical therapy. Pharmacological therapy is the first line of treatment for acne vulgaris, it can be divided into topical and systemic treatment.

Primary skeletal muscle anaplastic large cell lymphoma mimicking dermohypodermatitis

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) characterized by a strong expression of CD30. ALK-ALCL is a rare subtype that typically affects older adults and has a poor prognosis. It rarely arises in the skeletal muscle, particularly with primary involvement. Herein, we report the case of ALK-ALCL with primary involvement of the muscle. A 69-year-old male patient presented with fever, an erysipeloid placard in the axillary cavity, and the lateral and anterior chest wall initially treated with antibiotic therapy without improvement. A CT scan revealed a tumor proliferation in the pectoralis minor muscle, whose anatomopathological and immunohistochemical studies were in favor of ALCL. ALCL may mimic common dermatological conditions, including dermohypodermatitis. Therefore, in cases where symptoms do not resolve after conventional treatment, radiological examinations or even a biopsy should be considered to determine the cause of the symptoms and to initiate an appropriate treatment strategy. Key words: Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, Dermohypodermatitis, Muscle