SIIV position paper: clinical approach to vulval diseases. Need for quality standards.

This paper summarizes the position of the Italian Society of Vulvology on the clinical approach to vulval disease. A thorough history (general medical, gynaecological, and vulval history) is essential for a successful and fruitful vulvological examination. Characteristics of pruritus (itch) and pain, that are the two main vulval symptoms, should be collected and reported with precision, according to duration, temporal course, location, provocation, and intensity.

Combining topical tretinoin with mometasone furoate in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus: Results of dermoscopic assessment.

The main purpose of the present study was to compare the dermoscopic changes on vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) induced by two different 12-week treatment protocols, namely mometasone furoate 0.1% ointment plus tretinoin 0.05% cream in short-contact therapy (group A) versus the same corticosteroid plus emollient (group B).

Dermoscopy of Inflammatory Genital Diseases: Practical Insights.

Diagnosis of genital inflammatory disorders may be difficult for several reasons, such as their similar appearance, possible misdiagnosis with infectious and malignant conditions, and peculiar anatomic conditions that may lead to modification of clinical features. Dermoscopy could be included as a part of the clinical inspection of genital diseases to support diagnosis, as well as to ideally avoid unnecessary invasive investigation. Practical guidance for the use of dermoscopy in the assessment of the main inflammatory genital diseases is provided, namely for lichen sclerosus, lichen planus, psoriasis, lichen simplex chronicus, and plasma cell mucositis.

Gender differences in genital lichen sclerosus: data from a multicenter Italian study on 729 consecutive cases.

Background: Studies specifically conducted to assess gender differences in genital lichen sclerosus (GLS) are not available. This multicenter study aimed to identify possible gender-related differences on GLS clinical features, history and course, through collecting data from a large mixed-sex sample of patients.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on 729 subjects (53.

Dyspareunia in vulvar lichen sclerosus: an overview of a distressing symptom.

Background: Dyspareunia is a symptom of vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS). This study specifically addressed prevalence and severity of dyspareunia in patients affected with VLS as well as the factors that can influence its occurrence. Changes in the severity of dyspareunia with treatment were also explored.

Mometasone furoate in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus: could its formulation influence efficacy, tolerability and adherence to treatment?

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness, tolerability, and convenience of the cream formulation of mometasone furoate 0.1% (MMF) in the treatment of active vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) and to compare the cream with the ointment formulation.

Methods: The following efficacy parameters were assessed in 27 VLS patients treated with MMF cream for 12 weeks (group A): (i) response rate, (ii) percentage of patients achieving an improvement from baseline of ≥75% in subjective and objective scores, and (iii) mean reduction in subjective and objective scores.

Impact of socioeconomic status and district of residence on cutaneous malignant melanoma prognosis: a survival study on incident cases between 1991 and 2011 in the province of Ferrara, northern Italy.

The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on the prognosis of patients with invasive malignant melanoma (MM) incident from 1991 to 2011 in the province of Ferrara, northern Italy. A total of 750 patients provided by the Area Vasta Emilia Centrale Cancer Registry were included in this retrospective cohort study. Prognosis was analysed in terms of overall survival and specific survival.

What Is the Key to Improving Renal Transplant Recipients' Awareness of Skin Cancer Risk?

Background: Previous studies have shown poor compliance rates regarding sun protection among organ transplant recipients.

Objective: The main objective of the present study was to assess the awareness among renal transplant recipients (RTRs) of their risk of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) development and their sunscreen use. The influence of several potentially relevant variables was also assessed in order to identify possible weak points on which to concentrate efforts in this respect.

Glycaemic index, glycaemic load and risk of cutaneous melanoma in a population-based, case-control study.

Glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) are indicators of dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality and have been associated with increased risk of certain cancers and type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance has been associated with increased melanoma risk. However, GI and GL have not been investigated for melanoma.

Combined therapy in vulvar lichen sclerosus: does topical tretinoin improve the efficacy of mometasone furoate?

Unlabelled: Abstrract Purpose: To assess efficacy and safety profile of combining a potent corticosteroid with a retinoid in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS).

Methods: We retrospectively compared 21 VLS patients treated with tretinoin (T) in short-contact therapy and mometasone furoate (MMF) (group A) and 20 treated with cold cream (CC) and MMF (group B) for 5 consecutive days/week for 12 weeks. The efficacy parameters were the response rate, the percentage of patients achieving an improvement from baseline of ≥75% in subjective and objective scores and the mean reduction in subjective and objective scores.

Contact Sensitization to Emulsifying Agents: An Underrated Issue?

Background: The evidence on the safety of topical preparations containing emulsifiers is limited.

Objectives: The aims of the study were to assess (1) the prevalence of sensitization to some emulsifiers commonly found in topical products, (2) the sensitization to emulsifiers in relation to sex, age, and predisposing factors, and (3) the frequency of concomitant sensitization to other common allergens.

Methods: All consecutive patients presenting to the Allergy Unit of our Dermatological Department for allergological investigation were enrolled.

Rosacea fulminans or acute rosacea? Report of 5 cases and review of the literature.

Rosacea fulminans, previously called pyoderma faciale, is an inflammatory disease considered a dramatic form of rosacea rather than of acne. Typical features are: exclusive facial involvement of young women, sudden onset of large nodules without other signs of acne, remission without scarring or with minimal scars, no recurrences or systemic symptoms. Oral isotretinoin associated with a short course of systemic and topical corticosteroids represent the recommended treatment.

Relapses of primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma in a female immunocompetent patient with persistent chlamydophila pneumoniae and human herpesvirus 8 infection.

Background: We have previously reported the case of an immunocompetent female patient with a primary cutaneous CD30+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (PCALCL) located on her upper right eyelid characterized by the presence of a concurrent active infection by C. pneumoniae and Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8). This finding suggested for the first time a possible association of C.

Hypermethylation-Induced Inactivation of the IRF6 Gene as a Possible Early Event in Progression of Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma Associated With Lichen Sclerosus.

Importance: The molecular mechanism leading to the development of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) from vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) is unknown.

Objective: To assess the possible involvement of the IRF6 tumor-suppressor gene in the development of VSCC from VLS.

Design: In laboratories at the University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy, IRF6 gene expression and promoter methylation were investigated in paraffin-embedded VSCC and adjacent vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and VLS specimens, in cancer-free VLS (cfVLS) specimens, and in healthy skin specimens by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis and by sequencing of PCR-amplified bisulfite-treated DNA.

Modern Electronic Devices: An Increasingly Common Cause of Skin Disorders in Consumers.

: The modern conveniences and enjoyment brought about by electronic devices bring with them some health concerns. In particular, personal electronic devices are responsible for rising cases of several skin disorders, including pressure, friction, contact dermatitis, and other physical dermatitis. The universal use of such devices, either for work or recreational purposes, will probably increase the occurrence of polymorphous skin manifestations over time.