Dermatology Outpatient Clinic Research Articles

Effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab for the treatment of psoriasis; six years of clinical experience

BackgroundThis work aimed to investigate the long-term clinical experience with ustekinumab in cases with psoriasis.Materials and methodsThis retrospective cohort research group consisted of cases who presented to the dermatology outpatient clinics between January 2015 and January 2021, diagnosed with psoriasis, and were treated with ustekinumab. Data including gender, age, weight, disease duration, naïve and non-naïve status, psoriasis type, duration of medication, comorbidities, psoriasis area and severity index scores, the causes of treatment discontinuation, and previous treatments were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.Results160 cases with psoriasis were treated with ustekinumab during the research period. Twenty-four patients were excluded. Among 136 cases, 84 (61.8%) were male and 52 (38.2%) were female. We determined 80.55% of the non-naïve cases responded to ustekinumab.ConclusionUstekinumab can be a suitable treatment option for non-naïve and resistant patients. Our data suggest the positive effect persists in cases with favorable responses to the first or second dose of ustekinumab. Also, we determined male cases gave more rapid and more robust responses than female cases, and patients were more willing about continuing the treatment.

Clinical Profile of Contact Dermatitis Patients at the Allergy-Immunology Division of Dermatology and Venereology Outpatient Clinic

Background: Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin response that can be caused by several things. This inflammatory reaction is most often caused by external compounds that become allergens or irritants to the body. Purpose: To evaluate the clinical profile of contact dermatitis patients at the allergy-immunology division of dermatology and venereology outpatient clinic of Dr. Soetomo general academic hospital. Methods: The sampling technique used in this study is a total sampling technique and was processed with Excel descriptively. Result: The most frequent age group diagnosed with contact dermatitis was the 20–45-year-old age group (45.5%). The most frequent gender was female (72.2%). The most frequent occupation was private employee (30.8%). The most frequent suspected causal factor was cosmetics (35.2%). Itching was the most common type of patient complaint (44.1%). Face was the most frequent location (30.8%). Erythematous macules were the most frequent clinical manifestation (45.9%). The diagnosis of contact dermatitis was divided into allergic contact dermatitis ACD (60.4%) and irritant contact dermatitis ICD (39.6%). The most frequent topical therapy was corticosteroid (53.2%). Meanwhile, the most systemic therapy is antihistamine (73.8%). Conclusion: ACD is more prevalent than ICD and is more prevalent in women between the ages of 20 and 45. The most prevalent occupation distribution is among private employees. Cosmetics are the most frequently suspected cause factor. Itch is the most common patient complaint. The face is where contact dermatitis occurs most frequently. Erythematous macules are the most frequent clinical symptom. Corticosteroids and antihistamines are the most commonly given medication.

Retrospective Study: Management of Atopic Dermatitis

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin inflammatory disease characterized by mild to severe itching, relapses, and mostly appears in infants and children. Although there have been current advances in the management of AD, satisfactory treatment has not been achieved. Purpose: To evaluate the treatment of patients with AD in order to provide better management. Methods: A retrospective study of newly diagnosed AD patients at the Allergy and Immunology Division of the Outpatient Unit, Dermatology and Venereology Clinic, Prof. Dr. R.D. Kandou Hospital Manado from 2019-2021. Result: Antihistamines were the most widely prescribed medication, administered to 108 patients of all patients’ visits, and 94 (87%) of them were given cetirizine (the most widely prescribed type). Emollients were used adequately; they included petroleum jelly in 82 patients (90.1%) and urea 10% cream in 9 patients (9.9%). Conclusion: There were 108 AD patients in Dermatology and Venereology Clinic, Prof. Dr. R.D. Kandou Hospital Manado from 2019-2021. Treatment with antihistamine and emollient therapy gave satisfactory results.

A Split-Face Comparative Study in Efficacy and Safety between the Combination of 4% Niacinamide and 4% Kojic Acid Cream versus 4% Hydroquinone Cream for Epidermal Melasma

Background: Melasma is a hyperpigmentation disorder that affects the quality of life, especially in women. Hydroquinone has remained the mainstay of melasma treatment. However, its safety for long-term usage became a great concern. Combination therapy, such as niacinamide and kojic acid, can be used as an alternative melasma treatment due to different mechanisms of action and synergism. Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of a combination of 4% niacinamide and 4% kojic acid (N-K) vs. 4% hydroquinone (HQ) in epidermal melasma. Methods: This was a randomized, double blind, clinical study on 13 female epidermal melasma patients at the Cosmetic Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung. Patients received two creams, a combination of N-K and HQ, for split-face therapy, regardless of the sides of the face. All patients were followed up at 4 and 8 weeks. The clinical efficacy was assessed for skin lightening effects using a spectrophotometer (L* value) and the melasma area severity index (MASI). Adverse effects were assessed in all patients. Result: Both the N-K and HQ groups showed significant improvement in skin lightening and MASI scores on week 8 (p <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in efficacy between the N-K and HQ groups (p >0.05). None of the patients in the N-K group complained of any adverse effects. Whereas in the HQ group, 23.07% presented with pruritus and mild erythema.

Analysis of the relationship between clinical features, treatment options and recurrence of patients diagnosed with anogenital warts

Aims: Our study aimed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with anogenital warts and to investigate the relationship between treatment options and recurrence.
 Methods: The data of patients who were admitted to the dermatology, urology, and gynecology outpatient clinics between 2010 and 2021, and diagnosed with anogenital warts were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics of the patients, presence of other sexually transmitted diseases, anatomical distribution of warts, number of anatomical regions and warts, frequency of recurrence, type of treatment before the first recurrence, and follow-up periods were documented. Statistical analysis was performed and the results were evaluated at a 95% confidence interval and p

Assessment of hand eczema severity by patients using the hand eczema severity index (HECSI).

Hand eczema severity index (HECSI) is a widely used tool for assessment of hand eczema (HE) severity. Generally, HECSI has been used by health care providers, and a validation of the HECSI tool when used by patients is lacking. To evaluate the construct validity and reliability of HECSI as a tool for patients based on comparison to HECSI assessments by physicians. Patients with HE, enrolled from the dermatological outpatient clinic, Bispebjerg Hospital, assessed HE severity with a patient version of HECSI (patient-HECSI). Afterwards, HECSI was assessed by a trained physician (physician-HECSI). This study found a strong correlation and very good absolute agreement between patient-HECSI and physician-HECSI assessments with a correlation coefficient of 0.756 and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.844. Cronbach's alpha was 0.861 indicating very good internal consistency. With a strong construct validity and reliability, the patient-HECSI may be used by patients as a patient-reported outcome assessing their personal HE severity.

Evaluation of skin disease patterns in a tertiary dermatology outpatient clinic in Türkiye

Skin diseases are among the reasons for frequent hospital admissions and bring a significant burden. The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of skin diseases in our dermatology outpatient clinic in a tertiary care hospital in Türkiye. Pediatric and adult patients evaluated in our dermatology outpatient clinics for the first time were included in this cross-sectional observational designed study between January and March 2023. The characteristics of the patients, including age, gender, duration of disease, anatomic localization of the disease, and complaint counts, were recorded in the data collection form. Diagnoses were grouped according to gender, age, and complaint counts. A total of 1381 patients with 1772 skin problems were included in the study. 62.3% of the patients were female (n=860), and 37.7% (n=521) were male. The age range was between 0 and 98 years. The most common diseases were acne (18%), dermatophytosis (8.1%), viral warts (6.5%), seborrheic dermatitis (4.8%), other dermatitis (4.8%), follicular disorders (4.6%), pruritus (3.7%), scabies (3%), benign neoplasms (3%), and urticaria (3%), respectively. 23.4% of the patients (n=324) had at least two complaints. The maximum number of complaints at one visit was 5. The probability of reporting more than one complaint was higher in women and those whose first complaint was on the scalp. In this analysis to determine the patterns of skin diseases, acne, dermatophytosis, and viral warts were found to be important problems. The number of complaints at one visit may vary according to gender and localization.

A Retrospective Evaluation of the Laboratory Findings of Dermatology Patients Whose Biotin Levels Were Checked.

Objective Biotin is widely known to be beneficial for the hair, nails, and skin, but there are only a few studies on biotin. We evaluated whether there is a relationship between biotin levels and age, gender, and frequently observed laboratory findings. We alsoevaluated biotin levels according to the reason for checking biotin levels. Methods One hundred five patients applied to the dermatology outpatient clinic and had their biotin levels checked. Patient files were retrospectively analyzed. Results There were a weak positive (r=0.207) relationship between biotin levels and basophil count, a weak positive (r=0.201) relationship between biotin levels and creatinine, and a weak positive (r=0.314) relationship between biotin levels and cholesterol/triglyceride ratio. There were a weak negative (r=-0.216) relationship between biotin levels and mean platelet volume (MPV) and a moderately negative (r=-0.315) relationship between biotin levels and triglyceride levels. Conclusion Biotin levels do not significantly differ with gender but increase with age. Although a weak correlation was detected between hemogram parameters and biotin levels with basophil percentage and mean platelet volume values, biotin did not significantly change hemogram parameters. The relationship between biotin levels and triglyceride levels was the most critical finding of our study. We recommend examining biotin levels in the patients with high triglyceride levels. When we encounter dermatological side effects related to the use of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, we recommend evaluating biotin levels. We recommend that biotin supplementation be made only in the patients with deficiencies and that biotin levels be measured in the follow-up.

Analysis of patient demographics and attendance at a Far North Queensland public dermatology outpatient clinic.

There is limited literature focussing on the demographics of patients presenting to public dermatology outpatient clinics, with an even smaller amount focussing on clinics in regional Australia. This study presents the first patient demographic analysis for the Cairns Hospital's Dermatology Outpatient Department and analyses the cohort of patients who did not attend their appointments. In doing so, it recommends potential strategies that should be considered to address the issues of patient absenteeism and wait times in a regional setting, while also suggesting future data points that should be collected for analysis. A 4-year retrospective cohort study using demographic data from all referrals with medical officers (N = 10,333) from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2021 at the Cairns Hospital Dermatology Outpatient Department. The hospital is the only facility with a dermatology service within the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service. Data were extracted from the Cairns Hinterland Analytical Intelligence (CHAI) system. Data pertaining to patient demographics, attendance of appointments, triage categories and wait times were collected and reviewed for patients referred during the study period. The Dermatology Outpatient Department services an ever-growing and diverse patient cohort. Barriers to access and long wait times exist for patients referred to the Department. Strategies to combat these issues, such as an increase in funding and resourcing, should be considered to better optimise patient care and the utilisation of health resources.

Evaluation of Dermatology Life Quality Index, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scores of Patients with Genital Dermatoses.

Genital dermatoses contain a group of diseases that affect the skin of the genital area. Genital dermatoses are classified as venereal and nonvenereal. They can affect a patient's life quality and can cause depression, anxiety and stress. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the quality of life index, depression, stress and anxiety in patients with genital dermatoses. Patients admitted to the dermatology outpatient clinic with genital skin complaints between October 2020 and March 2021 were included. A questionnaire including demographic information, a 10-item dermatology life quality index (DLQI) and a 21-item depression anxiety stress score (DASS-21) was filled out by the patients and was calculated. A total of 103 patients were included in this study. Seventy-seven (74.8%) were male and 26 (25.2%) were female. A total of 48.5% (n = 50) patients had venereal genital dermatoses, and 51.5% (n = 53) of the patients had nonvenereal genital dermatoses. In the venereal diseases, syphilis had the highest DLQI, depression, anxiety and stress score while in the nonvenereal diseases, scabies had the highest DLQI, depression, anxiety and stress score. In the nonvenereal group, the mean DLQI score, depression, anxiety and stress scores were statistically significantly higher than the venereal genital dermatoses group (P < 0.01, P = 0.04, P = 0.03 and P = 0.02). The quality of life of patients with genital dermatoses is often poor, with significant levels of depression, anxiety and stress. We believe that screening these patients with DLQI and DASS-21 scores at their first admission and follow-up will benefit dermatologists and patients.

Trichoscopy Features of Indonesian Males with Androgenetic Alopecia in Association with Disease Severity.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a progressive loss of terminal hairs in a specific pattern distribution related to androgen. The dermoscopy of hair and scalp, known as trichoscopy, is a noninvasive method for diagnosing alopecia and other hair and scalp disorders. This study aims to report the correlation between the severity of males with AGA based on Hamilton-Norwood's scale with the clinical characteristics found in trichoscopy. This study included 40 patients aged 25-58 years who visited the dermatology outpatient clinic in a tertiary health facility in Indonesia. Clinical diagnosis was determined through history taking, physical examination, and trichoscopy. Based on Hamilton-Norwood's criteria, patients were divided into two groups: early and late stage. Parameters examined in trichoscopy include yellow dots, white dots, peripilar sign, vellus hair, hair diameter diversity, single-hair follicles, and empty follicles. The Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to analyze the statistical significance between the groups. All participants presented with hair diameter diversity, vellus hair, and empty follicles (100%). None of the study participants had yellow dots. White dots and single-hair follicles were seen in 32 (80%) and 30 cases (75%), respectively. In the late-stage group, these features were more prevalent. Peripilar sign was found in 25 participants (62.50%), and it was more common in the early-stage group. No significant association was found between disease severity and trichoscopy features. The most common trichoscopy findings in particular order were hair diameter diversity, vellus hair, and empty follicles, followed by white dots, single-hair follicles, and peripilar signs. No significant association between alopecia severity and trichoscopy parameters was observed. Studies with a larger number of participants, including a control group, should be conducted to yield more significant results.

Patterns of noncicatricial alopecia in children: a cross-sectional study

Background and aim Hair loss in children is an unpleasant complaint. It represents a challenge for the treating physician, is extremely upsetting to the parents, and has a psychosocial complication for the growing child. Our study aims to clarify the causes and forms of noncicatricial alopecia in a sample of pediatric patients and to identify the common trichoscopic features of each illness. Patients and methods This study was conducted on 300 children who attended the outpatient dermatology clinics at Al-Azhar University in Assiut. Their ages ranged between 2 and 18 years old and they complained of scalp disorder and hair loss. Results Tinea capitis (TC) was the most common form of pediatric alopecia (136 patients, 45%), while alopecia areata (AA) and marginal traction alopecia were the second most common causes with a frequency of 57 (19%) and 56 (18.7%), respectively. Toxic alopecia was identified in 30 (10%) of the patients, telogen effluvium in 11 (3.7%), while six (2%) patients presented with female pattern hair loss, three (1%) patients had short anagen syndrome and only one patient presented with Trichotillomania. The most common trichoscopic features in patients who had TC were comma hair and short, broken hair, while microexclamation marks were the most common trichoscopy features among AA patients. Conclusion TC was the most common cause of pediatric alopecia, followed by AA and marginal traction alopecia. Diagnosis of hair and scalp disorders enhances the diagnostic power beyond basic clinical examination and exposes unique aspects of the diseases, leading to better management.

Epidemiology of alopecia areata in Baqubah city/Diyala-Iraq

Background: Alopecia areata is a disease scalp and body hair leading to patches of non-scoring alopecia which is heterogeyous ,it is unown as autommutte disease, there is no prevention &amp; hard cure.&#x0D; Objective: To determine the prevalence rate according to sex &amp;age and the causative factors of alopecia areata in Baquba city.&#x0D; Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was in Baquba Teaching Hospital dermatological clinic from 1st of October 2020 to 31st of March 2022 at Baquabah teaching Hospital /outpatient Dermatology clinic. The study sample (100) patients with different clinical variants of Alopecia Areata, (71) males and (29) females of different age groups.&#x0D; Results: This study shows that high prevalence among males (71%) with age group (21-30) years old with single patchy alopecia areata with past history of recurrence and associated psychological history. (100) cases of AA were diagnosed. (25%). Single lesion of AA was the most common manifestation (68%). Recurrence history of AA Positive in (55%). Personal history of stress was associated with AA in (64 %). The most common site of alopecia areata was in head (55%).&#x0D; Conclusion: It was concluded that, alopecia areata was more common in male, age (21-30) years, most common single lesion, more in head, with psychological stress history.

Epidemiology of alopecia areata in Baqubah city/Diyala-Iraq

Background: Alopecia areata is a disease scalp and body hair leading to patches of non-scoring alopecia which is heterogeyous ,it is unown as autommutte disease, there is no prevention &amp; hard cure. Objective: To determine the prevalence rate according to sex &amp;age and the causative factors of alopecia areata in Baquba city. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was in Baquba Teaching Hospital dermatological clinic from 1st of October 2020 to 31st of March 2022 at Baquabah teaching Hospital /outpatient Dermatology clinic. The study sample (100) patients with different clinical variants of Alopecia Areata, (71) males and (29) females of different age groups. Results: This study shows that high prevalence among males (71%) with age group (21-30) years old with single patchy alopecia areata with past history of recurrence and associated psychological history. (100) cases of AA were diagnosed. (25%). Single lesion of AA was the most common manifestation (68%). Recurrence history of AA Positive in (55%). Personal history of stress was associated with AA in (64 %). The most common site of alopecia areata was in head (55%). Conclusion: It was concluded that, alopecia areata was more common in male, age (21-30) years, most common single lesion, more in head, with psychological stress history. Keywords: Alopecia areata, prevalence rate, Stress

Papulpustular dermatoses of the face, clinicopathological spectrum and response to treatment

The papulopustular rash on face may be a feature of several inflammatory skin disorders. Clinical features may provide clue to the etiology whereas microbiological testing and histopathologic examination confirm the diagnosis. In adults, facial papulopustular dermatoses include rosacea, perioral dermatitis, eosinophilic folliculitis, infections and medication induced. Our aim was to study variable causes of papulopustular lesions of the face. We conducted a prospective study which included 60 dermatology outpatient clinic patients of variable age groups whom presented with papulopustular lesions involving the face and review their clinicopathological findings as well as their response to therapy. Several diseases were reported including rosacea (47%), demodecosis (20%), bacterial folliculitis (13%), drug induced (7%) and periorificial dermatitis (3%). One case of tinea barbae, pityriosporum folliculitis, eosinophilic folliculitis, lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei, Behcet's disease and perforating folliculitis were reported. In conclusions; Papulopustular dermatoses involving the face are an important problem among dermatology patients with an overlapping in signs and symptoms. Awareness of various causes and their clincopathological features is important for accurate diagnosis and proper management.

Incidence of scabies in Michigan during the COVID‐19 pandemic

AbstractBackgroundBy March of 2020, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) had spread to 72 countries and was designated as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, leading to government policies enacted to keep citizens at home to reduce the spread of disease. Infectious dermatoses such as scabies are often spread by prolonged contact with infected skin. This study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and associated lockdown procedures on the incidence of scabies in the population of Southeast Michigan through a single‐centre retrospective chart review.ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to investigate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and associated lockdown procedures on the incidence of scabies in Southeast Michigan.MethodsThe number of patients diagnosed with scabies at Michigan Medicine outpatient Dermatology clinics from March 2012 to March 2022 was determined. Incidence of scabies diagnosis was compared between years before lockdown to after lockdown.ResultsThere was a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of total dermatology patients diagnosed with scabies at our institution from March 2020 through March 2022 compared with March 2012 through March 2020.ConclusionsThese results differ from trends previously reported in European populations. Although the reason for this disparity in incidence of scabies is unclear, contributing factors may include restrictions on visitor policies and inter‐resident contact in long‐term care facilities, use of ivermectin to treat COVID‐19, and temporary closure of daycare centres.

Experiences Regarding Use and Implementation of Artificial Intelligence-Supported Follow-Up of Atypical Moles at a Dermatological Outpatient Clinic: Qualitative Study.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in numerous medical fields. In dermatology, AI can be used in the form of computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) systems when assessing and diagnosing skin lesions suspicious of melanoma, a potentially lethal skin cancer with rising incidence all over the world. In particular, CAD may be a valuable tool in the follow-up of patients with high risk of developing melanoma, such as patients with multiple atypical moles. One such CAD system, ATBM Master (FotoFinder), can execute total body dermoscopy (TBD). This process comprises automatically photographing a patient´s entire body and then neatly displaying moles on a computer screen, grouped according to their clinical relevance. Proprietary FotoFinder algorithms underlie this organized presentation of moles. In addition, ATBM Master's optional convoluted neural network (CNN)-based Moleanalyzer Pro software can be used to further assess moles and estimate their probability of malignancy. Few qualitative studies have been conducted on the implementation of AI-supported procedures in dermatology. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate how health care providers experience the use and implementation of a CAD system like ATBM Master, in particular its TBD module. In this way, the study aimed to elucidate potential barriers to the application of such new technology. We conducted a thematic analysis based on 2 focus group interviews with 14 doctors and nurses regularly working in an outpatient pigmented lesions clinic. Surprisingly, the study revealed that only 3 participants had actual experience using the TBD module. Even so, all participants were able to provide many notions and anticipations about its use, resulting in 3 major themes emerging from the interviews. First, several organizational matters were revealed to be a barrier to consistent use of the ATBM Master's TBD module, namely lack of guidance, time pressure, and insufficient training. Second, the study found that the perceived benefits of TBD were the ability to objectively detect and monitor subtle lesion changes and unbiasedness of the procedure. Imprecise identification of moles, inability to photograph certain areas, and substandard technical aspects were the perceived weaknesses. Lastly, the study found that clinicians were open to use AI-powered technology and that the TBD module was considered a supplementary tool to aid the medical staff, rather than a replacement of the clinician. Demonstrated by how few of the participants had actual experience with the TBD module, this study showed that implementation of new technology does not occur automatically. It highlights the importance of having a strategy for implementation to ensure the optimized application of CAD tools. The study identified areas that could be improved when implementing AI-powered technology, as well as providing insight on how medical staff anticipated and experienced the use of a CAD device in dermatology.

Kozmetik Ürünlerin Gebelik Durumuna Göre Kullanım Farklılıkları

Method: This cross-sectional study which was performed between May 2017 and January 2018 at a family medicine, dermatology, and obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinic, evaluated differences in the use of nine cosmetic procedures, and 38 different cosmetic and personal care products depending on pregnancy status. Results: The pregnant group and the non-pregnant comparison group both consisted of 219 women. The two most frequently used products in the pregnant group were toothpaste and shampoo (99.1% and 98.1% respectively). The frequencies of use of all the examined products were lower in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women, except for hair gel, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and vaginal cleansing agents. Compared to a pregnant group, being non-pregnant increases the risk of using ten or more cosmetic products 5.8 times fold. Our findings indicated that pregnant women’s use of products declined, except for general hygiene products. Discussion and conclusion:Knowing which products are used most often and which products pregnant women intend to continue to use can guide physicians in terms of advising pregnant women and investigating product exposure.

Epidemiological Profile and Associated Allergic Conditions of Atopic Dermatitis: Data from a Referral Service in Southeastern Brazil

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory, and pruritic dermatosis of high prevalence, especially in childhood. a relevant public health issue. Atopic dermatitis is associated with several factors, including genetic, psychological, infectious, food, and environmental, and may be associated with other manifestations of atopy, such as asthma and rhinitis. Objective: To determine the epidemiological profile and the prevalence of personal and family history of allergy in children with atopic dermatitis at a referral service, comparing it to existing literature. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional and descriptive hospital-based study involving children of both genders under 18 years with clinical diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (Hanifin and Rajka criteria) seen at the Pediatric Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of Hospital Municipal Universitário de Taubaté (HMUT), SP-Brazil, from October 2018 to April 2019. Epidemiological data and data related to personal and family history of allergies were collected from the medical records. Microsoft Excel 2019 was used for compilation and data analysis. Results: Of the 440 consultations in that period, 35 (7.9%) were for atopic dermatitis, of which 23 of them were females (65.7%) and 15 were phototype IV (42.9%); their mean age was 7.7 (standard deviation = 4.3), and the duration of disease ranged from 2 months to 14 years (mean 5.3 years; standard deviation = 4.3). Among the 35 patients, 31 (88.6%) manifested the condition by the fifth year of life. Personal history of allergies was observed in 27 individuals (77.1%), with a predominance of allergic rhinitis and in older age groups. Conclusion: This study, as a pioneer in the region, contributes to the epidemiological profile of patients with atopic dermatitis from the Pediatric Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of HMUT, revealing an early onset and a higher prevalence in females and individuals with higher phototypes. In addition, this study also demonstrated the prevalence of personal and family history of allergies in these patients, consistent with literature.

¿Cuánta carga asistencial suponen las dermatosis pediátricas en la actividad ambulatoria en la dermatología española? Resultados del muestreo aleatorio nacional DIADERM

BackgroundVisits for skin conditions are very common in pediatric primary care, and many of the patients seen in outpatient dermatology clinics are children or adolescents. Little, however, has been published about the true prevalence of these visits or about their characteristics. Material and methodsObservational cross-sectional study of diagnoses made in outpatient dermatology clinics during 2 data-collection periods in the anonymous DIADERM National Random Survey of dermatologists across Spain. All entries with an International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code related to dermatology in the 2 periods (84 diagnoses) were collected for patients younger than 18 years and classified into 14 categories to facilitate analysis and comparison. ResultsIn total, the search found 20 097 diagnoses made in patients younger than 18 years (12% of all coded diagnoses in the DIADERM database). Viral infections, acne, and atopic dermatitis were the most common, accounting for 43.9% of all diagnoses. No significant differences were observed in the proportions of diagnoses in the respective caseloads of specialist vs. general dermatology clinics or public vs. private clinics. Seasonal differences in diagnoses (January vs. May) were also nonsignificant. ConclusionsPediatric care accounts for a significant proportion of the dermatologist's caseload in Spain. Our findings are useful for identifying opportunities for improving communication and training in pediatric primary care and for designing training focused on the optimal treatment of acne and pigmented lesions (with instruction on basic dermoscopy use) in these settings.