Differential diagnosis of contact dermatitis: A practical-approach review by the EADV Task Force on contact dermatitis.

The diagnosis of eczema ('dermatitis') is mostly clinical and depends on the clinical history and exploratory objective findings (primary lesions, patterns). Contact dermatitis remains as an important condition in the group of eczematous disorders, with important socioeconomic and occupational relevance. Although irritant and allergic contact dermatitis have a different pathogenesis, both are characterized by a rather typical morphology, are triggered by external factors and tend to occur primarily in the area of contact with the exogenous agent. In addition, allergic and irritant dermatitis may also co-exist. The importance of diagnosing contact dermatitis, especially when allergic in nature, is both due to the possibility of avoiding the trigger, and due to its role in aggravating other skin conditions. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity of clinical presentations in daily practice may pose an important challenge for the suspicion and correct diagnosis of contact dermatitis. Furthermore, other conditions, with different pathogenesis and treatment, may clinically simulate contact dermatitis. The Task Force aims to conduct a review of the unifying clinical features of contact dermatitis and characterize its main clinical phenotypes, and its simulators, in order to contribute to an early suspicion or recognition of contact dermatitis and enable a correct differential diagnosis.

Beyond Avoidance: Advanced Therapies for Contact Dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis (CD) is a common and burdensome condition divided into irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Treatment relies on accurate diagnosis and identification of the trigger, because definitive treatment is irritant or allergen avoidance. However, avoidance is not always possible, such as when the patient is reacting to a necessary medical device, when the trigger is integral to the patient's occupation, and when avoidance is practically untenable. In these cases, treatment is particularly challenging, especially because the literature on treatments in this clinical scenario is limited. In addition, CD has a complex pathophysiology that varies according to the trigger type, leading to variable treatment efficacy. This article reviews the current literature on treatments for CD with a focus on treatments when trigger avoidance is not feasible.

Global Guidelines in Dermatology Mapping Project (GUIDEMAP)-A systematic review of the methodological quality of contact dermatitis clinical practice guidelines.

The Global Guidelines in Dermatology Mapping Project (GUIDEMAP) assesses the methodological quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for high-burden skin diseases. This review focuses on contact dermatitis. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Emcare, Epistemonikos, PsycINFO and Academic Search Premier for CPGs published between 1 November 2018 and 1 November 2023. Prespecified guideline resources were hand searched. Two authors independently undertook screening, data extraction and quality assessments. Instruments used were the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II Reporting Checklist, the U.S. Institute of Medicine's (IOM) criteria of trustworthiness, The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's National Guideline Clearinghouse Extent Adherence to Trustworthy Standards (NEATS) Instrument and Lenzer's Red Flags. Twenty five CPGs were included, exhibiting heterogeneity in both the topics they addressed and their methodological quality. Whereas the CPGs on management of hand eczema from Denmark, Europe and the Netherlands scored best, most CPGs fell short of being clear, unbiased, trustworthy and evidence-based. Disclosure of conflicts of interest scored well, and areas needing improvement include 'strength and wording of recommendations', 'applicability', 'updating' and 'external review'. Adhering to AGREE II and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) enhances methodological quality.

Is Food-Triggered Atopic Dermatitis a Form of Systemic Contact Dermatitis?

Food allergy in atopic dermatitis is mediated by complex immune interactions between genetics, diet, environment, and the microbiome. When contact between inflamed skin and food antigens occurs, contact hypersensitivity can develop. Consequently, systemic contact dermatitis (SCD) can occur after ingestion of allergenic foods or food additives in the setting of a Th2 response with CLA-positive T cells, triggering dermatitis where skin resident memory lymphocytes reside. This phenomenon explains food-triggered dermatitis. Atopy patch tests (APTs) detect sensitization to food proteins responsible for SCD, which in turn can be confirmed by oral food challenge with delayed interpretation. We summarize the literature on using APTs to identify foods for oral challenge with dermatitis as an outcome. In dermatitis patients at risk for Th2 skewing based on a history of childhood-onset flexural dermatitis, shared decision-making should include a discussion of identifying and avoiding food and food additive triggers, as well as identifying and avoiding all contact allergens, prior to initiation of systemic therapy for dermatitis.

Insight Into Dermatology Providers' Perspectives on Approaches to Sensitive Skin: A Pilot Survey.

Sensitive skin (SS) is a common patient complaint; however, there are no consistent guidelines to guide dermatologists' approaches to diagnosis and management of SS. Attendees of an international dermatology conference were surveyed to gauge dermatology providers' experiences and perspectives on SS. Survey results suggest that although the definition and diagnosis of SS are ambiguous, SS is increasingly being considered as a unique condition. Patients are commonly seeking dermatologic care for SS; however, dermatologists identified challenges with diagnosis, counseling patients, selecting products or medications, and assessing clinical improvement. These data highlight both a significant demand and a current need for improved provider resources for SS. Citation: McCormick ET, Desai S, Friedman A. Insight into dermatology providers’ perspectives on/and approaches to sensitive skin: a pilot survey. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22(9):950-951. doi:10.36849/JDD.7450.

Sexually transmitted infections lesions found during colonoscopies

Introduction: Anal examination and videoanoscopy (VA) are rarely performed during colonoscopies. In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in lesions of sexually transmitted anal and rectal infections, but these conditions are not noticed or reported during routine colonoscopy. Objective: To raise awareness regarding the fortuitous findings of lesions and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in colonoscopy exams and to demonstrate that anal examination and VA provide important information and should be routinely performed. Methods: We conducted a descriptive retrospective study in 16,132 patients screened by colonoscopy and VA between 2006 and 2018. Among numerous other findings, the presence of anal condylomata and sexually transmitted retitis or perianal dermatitis was observed. The rates of each finding were calculated, and the patients were subdivided by sex and into age groups by blocks of ten years. Results: Among the 16,132 colonoscopies performed, 26 cases of condyloma (0.16%) and 50 cases of proctitis or perianal dermatitis suspicious for STI (0.33%) were found. Conclusion: Performing anal examination and VA systematically in all routine colonoscopies enabled the identification of numerous anal conditions, including several fortuitous cases of STIs. The study proposes that anal examination and VA should be performed in all routine colonoscopies and, in suspected cases, complementary tests for STIs. (AU)

Effectiveness of a Skin Care Program With a Cream Containing Ceramide C and a Personalized Training for Secondary Prevention of Hand Contact Dermatitis.

Background/Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate the effectiveness of personalized training on skin protection associated with the regular use of ceramide-containing cream (CC) versus other creams (OC) for improving hand contact dermatitis. Methods: We performed a double-center randomized trial that enrolled workers with hand dermatitis. All workers received personalized training. The intervention was 3 times per day application of the study emollient. The control arm used an emollient of choice without ceramide, as needed. The primary outcome was improvement in hand dermatitis at 1 and 3 months of follow-up. Results: In total, 102 patients with hand dermatitis were enrolled in this study. Improvement in dermatitis was found in 40%, 52.5%, 50%, and 63% of OC and CC, at the first and second follow-ups, respectively. The use of CC was significantly associated with an improvement in dermatitis (odds ratios 2.6; 95% confidence intervals 1.30-5.2), analyzed using generalized equation estimation during the follow-up. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that an educational personalized intervention could improve the signs and symptoms in patients with hand dermatitis, and the use of a CC resulted in a significantly better outcome during the 3 months of follow-up.

Hypersensitivity Reactions to Homemade Topical Preparations.

Homemade topical preparations are becoming increasingly popular due to the widespread belief that herbal and natural products are a safer and better option in the treatment of various conditions. However, homemade topical preparations can precipitate allergic and irritant reactions, depending on the herbal composition of the preparation. Hypersensitivity reactions to such preparations range from contact allergic dermatitis, contact irritant dermatitis, contact urticaria, toxic reaction, photosensitivity, and phototoxic reaction. In Europe, and especially in the Mediterranean area, medicinal herbs from the Compositae family and aromatic Mediterranean herbs are most frequently used in the formulation of topical preparations. Although plants are regarded as strong sensitizers, the number of reported cases of hypersensitivity reactions is relatively small. The problems are limitations in diagnostics due to the lack of necessary patch test substances and the danger of active sensitization during testing. Caution is required in patients prone to allergies and those with existing dermatoses, who should be advised to use registered preparations. The first step in management is cessation of exposure, followed by implementation of topical corticosteroids. Systemic corticosteroid therapy is reserved for more severe cases.

Dermatitis por Paederus. Acerca de tres casos / Paederus dermatitis. About three cases

Resumen La "dermatitis por Paederus", es una dermatitis vesicante secundaria al contacto con coleópteros de este género. Se describen más de 600 especies de Paederus, con predominio en áreas tropicales y subtropicales, varias de ellas se asocian a dermatitis. Al ser apretado o aplastado contra la piel, la hemolinfa que contiene paederina, lesiona la epidermis, por medio del bloqueo de la mitosis de células epiteliales basales y células suprabasales. Se exponen tres casos clínicos dermatológicos con lesiones características compatibles con "dermatitis por Paederus". Se realiza además una revisión bibliográfica sobre el tema, a fin de exponer los puntos más importantes de esta patología de gran interés médico y que representa en muchas ocasiones desafíos diagnósticos.

Summary "Paederus dermatitis" is a vesicant dermatitis secondary to contact with this beetle. There are more than 600 species of Paederus described, with a predominance in tropical and subtropical areas, some of these are associated with dermatitis. When they are pressed or crushed against the skin, releases secretions with pederin, that causes an injury in the epidermis, by mitosis blocking of basal and suprabasal epithelial cells. This article describes three dermatological clinical cases with charac-teristic lesions compatible with "Paederus dermatitis". In addition a bibliographic review is presented in order to expose the most important points of this medical interest pathology, that frequently represents diagnostic challenges.