Impact of light dose and fluence rate on the efficacy and tolerability of topical 5-ALA photodynamic therapy for actinic keratoses: A randomized, controlled, observer-blinded intrapatient comparison study.

Background: Conventional photodynamic therapy (cPDT) is an effective treatment option for field cancerization and multiple actinic keratoses (AK). The main side effect of cPDT is pain during illumination which in severe cases might necessitate early termination of treatment. Modification of treatment parameters such as light dose and fluence rate is a promising approach to mitigate PDT-associated pain.

Consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of sclerosing diseases of the skin, Part 1: Localized scleroderma, systemic sclerosis and overlap syndromes.

The term 'sclerosing diseases of the skin' comprises specific dermatological entities, which have fibrotic changes of the skin in common. These diseases mostly manifest in different clinical subtypes according to cutaneous and extracutaneous involvement and can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from each other. The present consensus provides an update to the 2017 European Dermatology Forum Guidelines, focusing on characteristic clinical and histopathological features, diagnostic scores and the serum autoantibodies most useful for differential diagnosis.

Consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of sclerosing diseases of the skin, Part 2: Scleromyxoedema and scleroedema.

The term 'sclerosing diseases of the skin' comprises specific dermatological entities, which have fibrotic changes of the skin in common. These diseases mostly manifest in different clinical subtypes according to cutaneous and extracutaneous involvement and can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from each other. The present consensus provides an update to the 2017 European Dermatology Forum Guidelines, focusing on characteristic clinical and histopathological features, diagnostic scores and the serum autoantibodies most useful for differential diagnosis.

Benign cephalic histiocytosis in a 2-year-old boy with an inconspicuous clinical presentation at onset.

We report on a 2-year-old boy whose initially inconspicuous skin lesions later on evolved into a typical clinical presentation of benign cephalic histiocytosis (BCH). The diagnosis of BCH can often be made on clinical grounds without the need for an extensive diagnostic work-up. Given the benign and self-limited course of the disease treatment is not required and the clinical management can be limited to a watchful waiting approach.

Efficacy of two different methods of cold air analgesia for pain relief in PDT of actinic keratoses of the head region - a randomized controlled comparison study.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective method for treating actinic keratosis (AK) with pain during illumination representing the major side effect. The efficacy of two different cooling methods for pain relief in PDT of AK in the head region was compared.

Methods: Randomized, assessor-blinded, half side comparison study in 20 patients with symmetrically distributed AK on the head.

S1 Guideline: Diagnosis and therapy of vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a common skin disorder characterized by immune-mediated destruction of melanocytes. Non-segmental vitiligo, the most common clinical subtype, has usually a chronic course and often results in significant psychosocial consequences for the affected patient. Early recognition, awareness of comorbidity, precise assessment of disease extent and activity, evaluation of impairment of quality of life as well as rapid initiation of treatment based on currently available evidence-based therapies are crucial cornerstones in the management of vitiligo.

Coxsackie B3 Virus-induced Acute Hemorrhagic Edema of Infancy.

Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy (AHEI) is a cutaneous leukocytoclastic small vessel vasculitis of unknown incidence. It affects mostly infants aged 4 to 24 months. The distinctive features of AHEI include a generally healthy-appearing child with low-grade or absent fever and rarely painful targetoid purpuric edematous lesions.

Effectiveness and clinical predictors of drug survival in psoriasis patients receiving apremilast: A registry analysis.

Background: Little is known about the effectiveness and drug survival associated with apremilast under real-world conditions.

Objective: To investigate the influence of patient and disease characteristics on drug survival associated with apremilast and to elucidate clinical effectiveness with regard to the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) reduction.

Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, multicenter analysis from the Austrian Psoriasis Registry.

Effectiveness of narrowband UVB phototherapy and psoralen plus UVA photochemotherapy in the treatment of generalized lichen planus: Results from a large retrospective analysis and an update of the literature.

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the efficacy and safety of different phototherapeutic modalities in the treatment of cutaneous lichen planus (LP).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the chart data of 53 patients with generalized LP who had been subjected to narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) or photochemotherapy (PUVA) between January 1997 and April 2020. Of these, 30 patients had received NB-UVB, 18 patients oral PUVA and 5 patients bath PUVA.

Biologic drug survival rates in the era of anti-interleukin-17 antibodies: a time-period-adjusted registry analysis.

Background: Drug survival rates reflect efficacy and safety and may be influenced by the availability of alternative treatment options. Little is known about time-dependent drug survival in psoriasis and the effect of increasing numbers of biologic treatment options.

Objectives: To determine whether drug survival is influenced by the availability of treatment options and by factors such as gender, psoriatic arthritis or previous biologic treatment.

The impact of occlusive vs non-occlusive application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (BF-200 ALA) on the efficacy and tolerability of photodynamic therapy for actinic keratosis on the scalp and face: A prospective within-patient comparison trial.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective treatment for actinic keratoses (AK). PDT is usually performed with occlusion of the photosensitizer prior to subsequent illumination.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of occlusive versus non-occlusive application of a 5-aminolevulinic gel (BT-200 ALA) for PDT of multiple AK on the scalp or face.

Association of Clinical and Demographic Factors With the Severity of Palmoplantar Pustulosis.

Importance: Although palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) can significantly impact quality of life, the factors underlying disease severity have not been studied.

Objective: To examine the factors associated with PPP severity.

Design, Setting, And Participants: An observational, cross-sectional study of 2 cohorts was conducted.

[Eosinophilic annular erythema in a 20-month-old girl].

We report on a 20-month-old girl with urticarial and partially annular skin lesions that were disseminated over the whole integument. The lesions persisted over 1 week and then gradually faded and reappeared on new body sites. The histological examination of a skin biopsy revealed an urticarial inflammation pattern with interstitial edema and a diffuse infiltration with many eosinophilic granulocytes without flame figures, neutrophils and lymphocytes.

Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Depression in Patients With Early-Stage Mycosis Fungoides and the Effect of Oral Psoralen Plus UV-A (PUVA) Photochemotherapy on it.

Little is known about psychological discomfort and quality of life (QoL) in early stage mycosis fungoides (MF) and the effect of psoralen plus UV-A (PUVA) on it. To evaluate QoL, anxiety, and depression with validated instruments in early stage MF patients and whether PUVA treatment improves it. Patients with stage IA to IIA MF were treated with PUVA twice weekly for 12-24 weeks, followed by maintenance treatment or not, in a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Disparate effects of adalimumab and fumaric acid esters on cardiovascular risk factors in psoriasis patients: results from a prospective, randomized, observer-blinded head-to-head trial.

Background: The effect of adalimumab and fumaric acid esters (FAE) on the cardiovascular risk associated with psoriasis has only been investigated scarcely in randomized controlled studies.

Objective: The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled head-to-head trial was to compare the influence of adalimumab and FAE on cardiovascular disease markers in psoriasis patients.

Methods: Sixty-five patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were randomly assigned to adalimumab or FAE treatment for 6 months.