Multidisciplinary Rheuma-Derma Clinics: 5 Years of Experience at the San Marco Hospital in Catania.

Introduction: Early psoriatic arthritis (PsA) diagnosis is critical to prescribe timely treatment to prevent the irreversible joint damage and the many other problems that patients with PsA experience. This retrospective study aimed to highlight the benefits of a Rheuma-Derma Clinic focused on the early diagnosis and prompt treatment of PsA with a shared approach among Italian psoriasis patients. Diagnosing PsA early is the main goal to reduce joint damage and disability in the patients affected.

Inter-observer evaluation of erythema-directed photography for the assessment of erythema and telangiectasias in rosacea.

Background: Persistent centrofacial erythema associated with telangiectasias is one of the most common phenotypes of rosacea in clinical practice, and the assessment of each component is crucial as each of them may require a different approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter-observer reliability of standard photography vs erythema-directed photography for the assessment of erythema and telangiectasias in rosacea.

Materials And Methods: One hundred full-face images of 50 rosacea patients (50 standard photographs and 50 erythema-directed digital photographs) were evaluated by 8 independent experienced dermatologists using a 5-item score for erythema and telangiectasias, respectively.

The Influence of Pregnancy on the Clinical Evolution and Prognosis of Pre-Existing Inflammatory and Autoimmune Skin Disorders and Their Management.

Background: Although the possible occurrence of typical dermatoses during pregnancy is well recognized, little is known about the influence of pregnancy on the clinical evolution and prognosis of different pre-existing chronic dermatological disorders.

Summary: In this study a comprehensive search of the available literature and reviews has been undertaken in order to collect and analyze articles reporting pre-existing chronic skin disorders in pregnant women and report current knowledge on their particular clinical and therapeutic aspects.

Inverse Psoriasis: From Diagnosis to Current Treatment Options.

Inverse psoriasis represents a clinical variant of psoriasis that is sometimes difficult to diagnose due to its clinical similarity with other skin disorders involving the folds, mainly including mechanical intertrigo, fungal and bacterial infections, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and lichen planus. Dermoscopy represents a useful tool for an enhanced non-invasive diagnosis. The treatment of inverse psoriasis may be challenging and include topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, vitamin D analogs, traditional oral systemic therapies such as cyclosporine and methotrexate, and biologic therapies.

A Noninvasive Aid for Office-Based Gynecologists for the Diagnosis of Common External Genital Disorders.

Background: Gynecology and dermatology share the diagnosis and the management of some disorders of the female external genital area. In the last decade, clinical diagnosis in dermatology has dramatically improved, thanks to the introduction of dermatoscopy.

Technique: Dermatoscopy is a noninvasive, rapid, and simple technique performed with an affordable handheld instrument called dermatoscope, endowed with a light source and a high-quality lens achieving 10 times magnification.