Therapeutic approaches to reducing atrophic acne scarring.

Atrophic acne scars are a common and undesirable outcome of acne vulgaris related to both its severity and delay in treatment. Such scars can be classified according to the depth and shape of the collagen loss: ice pick, boxcar, or rolling. The presence of atrophic acne scars can compromise the self-esteem and psychologic well-being of patients, creating a challenge for both the patient and the dermatologist.

Skin biopsy in the context of dermatological diagnosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Background. Skin biopsy is an established method for allying the dermatologist in overcoming the diagnostic dilemmas which occur during consultations. However neither do all skin biopsies produce a conclusive diagnosis nor the dermatologists routinely perform this procedure to every patient they consult.

Pigmentation disorders: hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation.

Pigmentation disorders include a large number of heterogeneous conditions that are usually characterized by altered melanocyte density, melanin concentration, or both, and result in altered pigmentation of the skin. Some of these disorders are extremely common (melasma, vitiligo), whereas others are rare. In this contribution, we review the most common pigmentation disorders that appear on the face.

Methods of detection of circulating melanoma cells: a comparative overview.

Disease dissemination is the major cause of melanoma-related death. A crucial step in the metastatic process is the intravascular invasion and circulation of melanoma cells in the bloodstream with subsequent development of distant micrometastases that is initially clinically undetectable and will eventually progress into clinically apparent metastasis. Therefore, the use of molecular methods to detect circulating melanoma cells may be of value in risk stratification and clinical management of such patients.

Photoaging: prevention and topical treatments.

A rapidly increasing number of people visit dermatologists for the prevention and treatment of aging skin. Sun avoidance and sunscreen use are widely accepted strategies of primary prevention against photoaging. Convincing evidence shows that topical application of retinoids has an effect on reversing, at least partially, mild to moderate photodamage.

Characteristics of psoriasis in Greece: an epidemiological study of a population in a sunny Mediterranean climate.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with important socioeconomic consequences. Data on psoriasis prevalence in Greece is scarce and circumstantially reported. The aim of this study was the recording of psoriatic patients' demographic data, clinical characteristics of the disease, and exacerbating factors.

The role of isotretinoin in acne therapy: why not as first-line therapy? facts and controversies.

Acne is one of the most prevalent diseases in dermatology: Millions of people worldwide experience this distressing condition. To determine the appropriate therapeutic strategy, there is a strong need for a standardized classification system of acne. The exact molecular mechanism of action of isotretinoin is not completely understood; however, oral isotretinoin targets simultaneously at all major mechanisms of acne pathogenesis.

Hormonal therapy for acne: why not as first line therapy? facts and controversies.

Standard systemic therapeutic agents used in acne include oral antimicrobials, isotretinoin, and hormonal agents. Appropriate patient selection is the key to decide when to use hormonal agents as first-line therapy as well as to achieve optimal results. Indications of hormonal therapy in acne in girls and women include proven ovarian or adrenal hyperandrogenism, recalcitrant acne, acne not responding to repeated courses of oral isotretinoin, acne tarda, polycystic ovary syndrome, or the presence of clinical signs of hyperandrogenism such as androgenic alopecia or the presence of the seborrhea, acne, hirsutism, alopecia syndrome.

The role of Propionibacterium acnes in acne pathogenesis: facts and controversies.

We have come a long way since 1896, when it was first suggested that Propionibacterium acnes, found in acne lesions, was the cause of acne. Although several lines of evidence suggest the direct role of P acnes in acne, the mechanism by which P acnes contributes to the pathogenesis of acne is debated. The importance of P acnes in the induction and maintenance of the inflammatory phase of acne has been established.

A review of genetic disorders of hypopigmentation: lessons learned from the biology of melanocytes.

Inherited diseases of pigmentation were among the first traits studied in humans because of their easy recognition. The discovery of genes that regulate melanocytic development and function and the identification of disease-causative mutations have greatly improved our understanding of the molecular basis of pigmentary genodermatoses and their underlying pathogenetic mechanisms. Pigmentation mutants can account for hypo-/amelanosis, with or without altered melanocyte number, resulting in different phenotypes, such as Waardenburg syndrome, piebaldism, Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, Chediak-Higashi syndrome, oculocutaneous albinism and Griscelli syndrome.

Sun exposure behavior and protection practices in a Mediterranean population: a questionnaire-based study.

Objective: Skin cancer campaigns have only recently been implemented in a wide scale in Greece. In order to better target those individuals at risk, we aimed to explore sun exposure behaviors in a sample of the Greek population.

Methods: A total of 802 subjects, randomly selected among the residents of the two largest Greek cities, underwent a questionnaire-based telephone interview, assessing the degree of sun exposure patterns and knowledge of skin cancer risk factors.

Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy and 308-nm excimer laser in the treatment of vitiligo: a review.

Vitiligo is a common and chronic disease with a great impact on patients' quality of life. Phototherapy with narrowband ultraviolet B radiation and excimer laser are two treatment modalities that are used increasingly for the management of the disease with variable results. In this article, we review the efficacy, adverse effects, and possible mechanisms of action of narrowband ultraviolet B and excimer laser in the management of vitiligo.

The value of screening in melanoma.

The incidence of cutaneous melanoma has increased substantially in most white populations during the past several decades. Despite improvements in the early recognition of melanoma and the use of novel diagnostic techniques that enhance our diagnostic capabilities, disease-related mortality remains a significant public health issue. In the absence of effective treatment approaches for advanced disease, the best means for reducing deaths by melanoma are screening as well as professional and public education.

A study of a single variant allele (rs1426654) of the pigmentation-related gene SLC24A5 in Greek subjects.

The SLC24A5 gene, the human orthologue of the zebrafish golden gene, has been shown to play a key role in human pigmentation. In this study, we investigate the prevalence of the variant allele rs1426654 in a selected sample of Greek subjects. Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction was performed in peripheral blood samples from 158 attendants of a dermatology outpatient service.

Infliximab in dermatological treatment: beyond psoriasis.

Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody of the IgG1 class. Experience from its use has been accumulated in rheumatology and gastroenterology by the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, respectively. Because of its TNF-alpha binding capacity it has been approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Seasonal pattern of the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma: a hospital-based study in a Mediterranean country.

Background: Several investigators have described a seasonal variation in the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma. Limited data exist on the seasonality of melanoma diagnosis in Southern European countries.

Patients And Methods: The seasonal pattern of diagnosis was analyzed in 404 Greek patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma (CM) between 1996 and 2004.

Photoprotection: where do we stand?

Ultraviolet sun radiation can cause several deleterious effects on the skin, including photoaging and carcinogenesis. Physical protection and sunscreens are currently the two main types of photoprotection. Overall, people seem informed about the dangers of sun exposure, but sometimes they are not willing to implement the right sun-protection measures.

Established treatments of skin hypermelanoses.

Cutaneous hypermelanoses are frequently encountered conditions that can have severe adverse psychosocial and emotional effects on affected patients. Melasma, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, drug-induced pigmentation, and erythema dischromicum perstans are among the most common cutaneous disorders leading to acquired skin hyperpigmentation. The treatment of these disorders is often challenging and requires a great deal of patience from the patient and a wealth of experience and knowledge from the dermatologist.

Origin, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of facial hypermelanoses.

Facial hypermelanosis is a clinical feature of a diverse group of disorders, the most common of which is melasma. Exposure to sunlight, genetic predisposition, the use of cosmetics, and certain drugs are implicated in the pathogenesis of most facial hypermelanoses. A detailed personal and family history and the histopathologic findings are, in most cases, enough for establishing the correct diagnosis.

Efficacy, predictors of response, and long-term follow-up in patients with vitiligo treated with narrowband UVB phototherapy.

Background: Narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy is considered an accepted therapy for vitiligo.

Objective: We sought to estimate the effectiveness of NB-UVB in patients with vitiligo, identify predictive factors of response, and assess the stability of NB-UVB-induced repigmentation.

Methods: In all, 70 patients with vitiligo were treated twice weekly with NB-UVB.

Human immunodeficiency virus infection and pregnancy.

Human immunodeficiency virus infection profoundly affects the medical community and is spreading rapidly in women of childbearing age worldwide. Transmission of HIV from mother to child can occur in utero, during labor, or after delivery through breast-feeding. Most of the infants are infected during delivery.