Pregnane X receptor reduces particulate matter-induced type 17 inflammation in atopic dermatitis.

Background: Epidemiological evidence suggests that particulate matter (PM) exposure can trigger or worsen atopic dermatitis (AD); however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Recently, pregnane X receptor (PXR), a xenobiotic receptor, was reported to be related to skin inflammation in AD. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of PM on AD and investigate the role of PXR in PM-exposed AD. Methods: In vivo and in vitro AD-like models were employed, using BALB/c mice, immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT), and mouse CD4 + T cells. Results: Topical application of PM significantly increased dermatitis score and skin thickness in AD-like mice. PM treatment increased the mRNA and protein levels of type 17 inflammatory mediators, including interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-23A, IL-1ß, and IL-6, in AD-like mice and human keratinocytes. PM also activated PXR signaling, and PXR knockdown exacerbated PM-induced type 17 inflammation in human keratinocytes and mouse CD4 + T cells. In contrast, PXR activation by rifampicin (a human PXR agonist) reduced PM-induced type 17 inflammation. Mechanistically, PXR activation led to a pronounced inhibition of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. Conclusion: In summary, PM exposure induces type 17 inflammation and PXR activation in AD. PXR activation reduces PM-induced type 17 inflammation by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway. Thus, PXR represents a promising therapeutic target for controlling the PM-induced AD aggravation.

Adiponectin Prevents Skin Inflammation in Rosacea by Suppressing S6 Phosphorylation in Keratinocytes.

Numerous recent evidence highlights epidemiological connections between rosacea and metabolic disorders. However, the precise path through which metabolic factors impact rosacea risk is still unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the role of adiponectin, a crucial adipokine that regulates metabolic homeostasis, in the pathogenesis of rosacea. We elucidated a detrimental feedback loop between rosacea-like skin inflammation and decreased levels of skin adiponectin. To elaborate, rosacea lesional skin exhibits diminished adiponectin expression compared with nonlesional areas in the same patients. Induction of rosacea-like inflammation reduced adiponectin levels in the skin by generating inflammatory cytokines that suppress adiponectin production from subcutaneous adipocytes. Conversely, complete depletion of adiponectin exacerbated rosacea-like features in the mouse model. Mechanistically, adiponectin deficiency led to heightened S6 phosphorylation, a marker of the mTORC1 signaling pathway, in the epidermis. Adiponectin significantly inhibited S6 phosphorylation in cultured keratinocytes. Notably, replenishing adiponectin whole protein or topically applying an agonist for adiponectin receptor 1 successfully improved rosacea-like features in mice. This study contributes to understanding the role of adiponectin in skin inflammation associated with rosacea pathophysiology, suggesting that restoring adiponectin function in the skin could be a potential therapeutic strategy.

Facial Dermatoses Associated With Mask-Wearing in the COVID-19 Era: A Nationwide, Cross-Sectional, Multicenter, Questionnaire-based Study.

BACKGROUND: Daily usage of facial masks during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic influenced on facial dermatoses. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the impact of mask-wearing habits on facial dermatoses. METHODS: A nationwide, observational, questionnaire-based survey was conducted from July through August 2021, involving 20 hospitals in Korea. RESULTS: Among 1,958 facial dermatoses, 75.9% of patients experienced aggravation or development of new-onset facial dermatoses after wearing masks. In aggravated or newly developed acne patients (543 out of 743), associated factors were healthcare provider, female gender, and a long duration of mask-wearing. Irritating symptoms, xerosis, and hyperpigmentation were more frequently observed in this group. Aggravated or newly developed rosacea patients (515 out of 660) were likely to be female, young, and have a long duration of mask-wearing per day. Seborrheic dermatitis patients who experienced aggravation or de novo development (132 out of 184) were younger, and they more frequently involved the chin and jaw in addition to the nasolabial folds and both cheeks. Contact dermatitis patients (132 out of 147) with aggravation or de novo development tended to be female, involve both cheeks, and complain of pruritus. Aggravated or newly developed atopic dermatitis patients (165 out of 224) were more likely to be female, and had a higher baseline investigator global assessment score before mask-wearing. CONCLUSION: Clinical features and factors related to aggravation were different according to the types of facial dermatoses.

Consensus Report on Truncal Acne: The Korean Acne and Rosacea Society Experts Panel.

BACKGROUND: More than half of acne patients have truncal acne on their chest, back, and shoulders. However, since most studies on acne have focused on the face, data on clinical characteristics and proper management for truncal acne are insufficient. OBJECTIVE: To establish a Korean Acne Rosacea Society (KARS) consensus for experts' perception and treatment patterns of truncal acne. METHODS: We conducted two rounds of the Dephi technique to gather expert opinion and reach a consensus on truncal acne. The first round comprised 48 questionnaires focusing on various aspects such as epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and more, while second rounds consisted of 26 questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 36 dermatologists (36/38 KARS members, 94.7%) completed this survey. In the first-round survey, consensus was reached on 20 out of the 48 questions (41.7%). In the second-round questionnaire, consensus was achieved on 9 of the 26 questions (34.6%). The most unresponsive lesion to truncal acne treatment was scars (atrophic/hypertrophic). The most commonly used treatments for each non-inflammatory and inflammatory truncal acne lesions were selected to use topical retinoids (78.1% of the responders) and oral antibiotics (93.8% of the responders). CONCLUSION: Our study has yielded valuable insights into the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life of patients with truncal acne. We anticipate that this study will inspire further comprehensive research for individuals with truncal acne.

Hair loss after drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS): A multicentric retrospective case series.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe cutaneous drug adverse reaction characterized by various cutaneous and systemic manifestations. However, reports on the various patterns of alopecia after DRESS are lacking. Thus, we aimed to describe cases of alopecia after DRESS and review the literature. This multicentric retrospective study reviewed the records of 182 patients diagnosed with DRESS from 2009 to 2021; of these, 10 who had alopecia after DRESS were included. Patients were diagnosed with permanent alopecia (n = 4), telogen effluvium (n = 5), and alopecia areata (n = 1), and were treated with topical minoxidil or alfatradiol (6; 60%), topical corticosteroids (3; 30%), dietary supplements (6; 60%), systemic corticosteroids (1; 10%), and intralesional corticosteroid injection (2; 20%). Although patients with permanent alopecia did not show hair regrowth after 6 months, those with telogen effluvium and alopecia areata experienced marked clinical improvement within 6 months. Various types of alopecia can persist over an extended period, even after the resolution of an acute episode of DRESS.

Clinical Factors Affecting the Effectiveness of 1550-nm Erbium-Doped Fractional Photothermolysis Laser for Individual Atrophic Acne Scar Types.

INTRODUCTION: Although non-ablative fractional resurfacing is frequently used for atrophic acne scars, few studies have examined clinical factors affecting the effectiveness of non-ablative fractional laser in individual atrophic acne scar types (icepick, rolling, and boxcar scars). Herein, we evaluated the clinical factors affecting the effect of non-ablative fractional laser for individual atrophic acne scar types using objective assessment tools. METHODS: Thirty-one patients who had been treated by 1550-nm erbium-doped fractional laser for atrophic acne scars were retrospectively reviewed. Icepick, rolling, and boxcar scars were counted using photographs, and acne scar reduction efficiency (ASRE%; the percentage reduction of post-acne scar count from baseline counts) was calculated. RESULTS: The median count of each scar type was significantly reduced at the end of the final session. Boxcar scars responded better (median ASRE 59.2%) than rolling (ASRE 40.6%, p = 0.017) and icepick scars (ASRE 19.1%, p = 0.010). Concomitant isotretinoin use resulted in a greater ASRE and a significantly greater improvement in icepick scars. Patients aged 25 years or younger showed a higher ASRE, with a greater improvement in boxcar scars. CONCLUSION: 1550-nm fractional laser treatment for atrophic acne scars was more effective in patients who were younger and taking isotretinoin concurrently.

Clinical Signs of Kawasaki Disease from the Perspective of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Recruiting Erythrocytes: A Literature Review.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis affecting children younger than 5 years of age. Early period in life is marked by rapid somatic growth with cell proliferation and immaturity of the immunity with dominant innate immune system. Coronary complications in KD are the most common acquired heart disease in children, yet the diagnosis of KD still depends on the clinical diagnostic criteria. Glossy red lips and conjunctival injection are characteristic signs enabling pediatricians to make the initial diagnosis of KD; however, little is known why these are so characteristic. The diagnostic criteria of KD seem to be scattered in seemingly irrelevant body systems such as the eyes, lips, skin, and heart. KD is classified as a connective tissue disease. Recently, red blood cells (RBCs) have emerged as important modulators in innate immune response. RBCs are reported to participate in extracellular matrix remodeling and upregulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in dermal fibroblasts. Also, fibroblast growth factors and microRNAs associated with fibrosis are drawing attention in KD. The cardinal signs of KD appear at the border of muco-cutaneous junction. Head and neck regions are abundant in tissues undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Interstitial carditis and valve insufficiency as well as coronary arterial lesions may complicate KD, and these lesions present in tissues that originated from epicardial progenitor cells by EMT. Having reviewed the recent research on KD, we presume that the signs of KD present at borders between keratinized and non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium where the EMT is still ongoing for the rapid somatic growth where RBCs are recruited as an innate immune response and to prevent excessive fibrosis in mucosa. KD presents scarcely in adults with somatic growth and immune maturation completed. In this review, we attempted to explain the reasons for the clinical manifestations of KD and to search for a link among the diagnostic clues in the perspective of EMT during the somatic growth and immune system maturation in children with KD.

Risk of Skin Cancer and Actinic Keratosis in Patients with Rosacea: A Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study.

The association between rosacea and skin cancer remains inconclusive, with conflicting reports. The aim of this nationwide population-based cohort study was to determine the risk of skin cancer in patients with rosacea. A rosacea cohort (n = 11,420) was formulated and evaluated from 2010 to 2019. The incidence rate ratios of actinic keratosis, cutaneous melanoma, keratinocyte carcinoma and gastric, colorectal, and liver cancer were analysed in comparison with a matched control group, and multivariable stratified Cox proportional hazards model analysis was performed. The risk of actinic keratosis and keratinocyte carcinoma was increased in the rosacea group compared with the control group, with adjusted hazard ratios of 6.05 (95% confidence interval 3.63-10.09) and 2.66 (1.53-4.61), respectively. The risk of cutaneous melanoma and gastric, colorectal and liver cancer was not increased, with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.69 (0.25-11.37), 0.81 (0.59-1.10), 0.91 (0.69-1.18) and 1.32 (0.89-1.95), respectively. These results reveal an increased risk of actinic keratosis and keratinocyte carcinoma in patients with rosacea.

Clinical Characteristics of 9 Adult Patients with Granulomatous Periorificial Dermatitis and Comparison with Childhood Granulomatous Periorificial Dermatitis.

To our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of granulomatous periorificial dermatitis (GPD) in adult patients in contrast to childhood GPD (CGPD). We report cases of 9 adult patients with GPD with regards to the clinical and histopathological characteristics and their management. GPD in adults may be an entity that is actually underdiagnosed, especially in middle-aged females. It is a benign disorder, albeit requiring a relatively long-term treatment. Unlike CGPD, GPD in adults is frequently accompanied by pruritus with predilection for the eyelid and should be treated initially with oral medication.

Comparison of Therapeutic Effects of Topical Calcineurin Inhibitor and Moisturizing Cream on Pruritic External Auditory Canal.

Although pruritic external auditory canal (PEAC) is a relatively common symptom, particularly in the geriatric population, its pathophysiology and appropriate treatment remain to be elucidated. We compared the therapeutic efficacy of pimecrolimus, a topical calcineurin inhibitor (CI), and a moisturizing cream (MC) in patients with PEAC. Thirty-nine patients (73 ears) were prospectively enrolled and treated topically twice daily with the CI (n = 20, 39 ears) or the MC (n = 19, 34 ears) for two weeks. The change in itching sensation was evaluated subjectively using a self-questionnaire at immediately, one month, and two months after self-application, and objectively by changes in erythema grading. Although topical treatment with the CI resulted in a more rapid improvement than treatment with the MC in patients with PEAC, the final outcomes did not differ between the groups. Furthermore, similar improvements in erythema scores were noted. The results of this study suggest that the MC, which rejuvenates the normal physiological status of the ear canal skin, may greatly benefit those elderly patients more susceptible to PEAC, without any concerns about adverse events and underlying comorbidities. Expanding upon the understanding of the role of moisturizers in the treatment of pruritic ears merits attention, as this knowledge provides a good example of the clinical guidelines for the management of PEAC.

Eccrine Nevus on the Neck: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Eccrine nevus is an extremely rare benign cutaneous hamartoma that usually occurs in childhood and adolescence. It has a wide range of clinical manifestations, and histological findings reveal a proliferation of structurally normal eccrine ducts. Herein, we present a case of eccrine nevus on the neck of an 8-year-old girl. Our literature review reveals that the head and neck region is a rare anatomical location for eccrine nevus as it has a predilection for extremities. Our review also suggests that overlying skin changes are common in eccrine nevus regardless of accompanying localized hyperhidrosis.