Integrated sun protection advice for the South African population.

Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is associated with several cutaneous adverse effects. However, to the best of our knowledge, in South Africa there are no formal guidelines on sun protection. A group of South African dermatologists and researchers convened over the course of 1 year to deliberate on integrated advice for sun protection among the multi-ethnic South African population. For people with light skin and those with genetic skin disorders (e.g., oculocutaneous albinism), sun protection was identified as critical to prevent sunburn, skin cancer, and photoaging. The evidence is less clear for people with medium and darker skin types, especially the latter, in whom melanin may confer a degree of protection against some parts of the solar spectrum. Recent studies have demonstrated that visible light can cause pigmentary changes in individuals with darker skin types in particular. Sun protection for people of all skin colors is beneficial to protect against photoaging and ocular damage. Herein sun protection advice is suggested for South Africans of all skin colors to reduce morbidity and mortality from sun exposure, particularly relating to skin cancer. Several knowledge gaps are identified as future research priorities.

Cross-sectional study of acral melanoma awareness in a group of South African final phase medical students.

BACKGROUND: Acral melanoma refers to melanoma arising on the palms, soles and nail unit, which are sun-protected areas and ultraviolet exposure is not a risk factor. Acral melanoma is associated with a poorer prognosis than other melanoma subtypes most likely due to the high rates of delayed diagnosis. Acral melanoma affects all skin types equally. There is a misconception that people with more pigmented skin types (Fitzpatrick 4-6) do not develop melanoma, due to the protective effect of melanin. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine acral melanoma knowledge and awareness of a group of South African, final phase medical students. METHODS: This was a quantitative and cross-sectional study. A questionnaire consisting of 20 clinical images of skin lesions requiring a diagnosis and management plan was distributed. Responses to six images of melanomas were analysed. Further questions to measure acral melanoma knowledge and related issues were included in the study. A biostatistician appropriately managed statistical analysis. RESULTS: Hundred and one final phase medical students' answers were gathered and analysed. Only 7.9% of the participants diagnosed all six melanomas correctly; 61.4% correctly diagnosed ≥50% of the melanomas. While 77.2% of the participants identified all non-acral cutaneous melanoma correctly, only 8.9% identified all acral melanomas. However, of all participants making the correct diagnosis, >90% selected the appropriate management plan (urgent referral). LIMITATIONS: This study examined a small sample of trainee healthcare workers. The results cannot be assumed to apply to all South African healthcare workers. Responses given in a questionnaire may not reflect actual behaviour. The dermatology division in question has made acral melanoma a research priority, thus acral melanoma knowledge in this group may in fact be better than in other institutions. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that groups of imminent doctors have low rates of recognition of melanoma, particularly acral melanoma. This is consistent with high levels of primary misdiagnosis of acral melanoma reported in the literature. Fortunately, these participants managed the melanomas they diagnosed appropriately in >90% of cases. This confirms that the deficit in the participant group is awareness and knowledge. Those aware of the disease immediately acknowledged the need for urgent referral.

Clinicopathological Features of Seborrheic-Like Dermatitis in HIV-Infected Adults: A Single Institutional Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Atypical and severe clinical presentations of seborrheic-like dermatitis (SLD) are associated with HIV infection, correlating with advanced disease or low CD4 counts. Previous studies documented histological findings characteristic of seborrheic dermatitis in HIV-positive patients. OBJECTIVE: To expand current knowledge of the clinicopathological characteristics of SLD in South African HIV-seropositive individuals. METHODS: This prospective study included HIV-seropositive adult patients presenting with SLD to a dermatology clinic from March 2017 to April 2018. A dermatologist established the diagnosis of SLD and the severity of the disease. Detail about antiretroviral therapy (ART), the latest CD4 count, and the viral load was retrieved from the patients' clinical records. Histopathological assessment of the patients' skin biopsies was recorded using standardized data sheets and semiquantifiable grades. RESULTS: This study included 13 women and 17 men. Fifty percent of patients showed severe or very severe SLD. Six (20.0%) patients presented with erythroderma. Statistical analysis did not show a significant correlation between severity of disease and CD4 count, viral load, or ART, respectively. This study confirmed that the presence of confluent parakeratosis, necrotic keratinocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils with leukocytoclasia, and leukoexocytosis are histopathological clues to SLD occurring in HIV-seropositive patients. CONCLUSION: SLD in HIV patients may present with varying clinical severity, including erythroderma. The association between the prevalence and severity of SLD with CD4 count, viral load, and ART requires further studies with larger patient populations. The presence of specific histopathological features in a skin biopsy of SLD is a clue to the diagnosis of HIV.

The tumor genetics of acral melanoma: What should a dermatologist know?

Dermatologists stand at the gateway of individualization of classification, treatment, and outcomes of acral melanoma patients. The acral melanoma genetic landscape differs in vital ways from that of other cutaneous melanomas. These differences have important implications in understanding pathogenesis, treatment, and prognosis. The selection of molecularly targeted therapy must be adapted for acral melanoma. It is also critical to recognize that tumor development is far more complex than an isolated event, reliably treated by a medication acting on a single target. Tumors exhibit intratumor genetic heterogeneity, metastasis may have different genetic or epigenetic features than primary tumors, and tumor resistance may develop because of the activation of alternative genetic pathways. Microenvironmental, immune, and epigenetic events contribute and sustain tumors in complex ways. Treatment strategies with multiple targets are required to effectively disrupt the tumor ecosystem. This review attempts to translate the current molecular understanding of acral melanoma into digestible concepts relevant to the practice of dermatology. The focus is tumor genetics defining potentially treatable cancer pathways, contextualized within the relevant pathologic and molecular features.

Dowling-Degos Disease Presenting Primarily with Comedones and Atrophic Scarring.

Dowling-Degos disease (DDD) is a rare genodermatosis primarily presenting with reticulated pigmentation of the flexures. Secondary features include comedones and atrophic scarring. We present a patient with histologically confirmed DDD whose predominant clinical finding was of comedones and scarring, with less prominent pigmentation, thus expanding the clinical spectrum of DDD.

Retrospective Value of Skin Biopsy in Histologically Confirmed Cases of the Perivascular Dermatitis Subgroup of the Inflammatory Dermatoses.

Skin biopsy is a commonly used and valuable tool in the diagnosis of diseases of the skin. The inflammatory dermatoses are a subgroup that presents diagnostic difficulties from both a clinical and a histopathological perspective. This study examines a particularly challenging subgroup of the inflammatory dermatoses, that is, perivascular dermatitis. The final conclusions of the histological report of 163 biopsies considered to fall into the perivascular dermatitis group were examined, and the value skin biopsy added in the final diagnosis of each case was evaluated. The 2 most valuable potential outcomes of the histopathological report: consistent with clinical diagnosis with strong evidence of a specific diagnosis and new, unexpected, helpful, specific diagnosis, occurred in 40 reports (24.54%).

Dermatological manifestations of measles infection in hospitalised paediatric patients observed in the 2009 - 2011 Western Cape epidemic.

Introduction. Measles is an acute vaccine-preventable infection common in childhood. In this study, the common dermatological signs of measles were designated the 'classic dermatological measles syndrome'. Methods. We attempted to ascertain the prevalence of 'non-classic' dermatological measles presentation in 69 paediatric patients admitted to New Somerset Hospital, Western Cape, during the recent South African measles outbreak. The patients were examined and photographed, after informed consent had been obtained, and findings were assessed by 1 dermatology consultant and 6 dermatology registrars. Measles infection was confirmed in 38 of the patients by means of IgM testing. The data were analysed using Stata version 11.1 statistical software. Outcomes. Of the group, 17.4% (95% CI 8.2 - 26.6%) displayed a classic measles dermatological picture, although all had been clinically diagnosed and admitted as complicated measles cases. Those serologically confirmed to have measles (N=38), 26.3% (95% CI 11.6 - 40.9%) conformed to the classic dermatological picture. Therefore, a significant majority of these patients presented with what was considered in this study to be a 'non-classic' dermatological picture. Conclusions. Measles infection in a paediatric population requiring admission may frequently present without a full-house classic dermatological picture. Recognised signs in isolation may be of greater value than the classically described syndrome as a whole. 'Non-classic' dermatological forms may occur more frequently than anticipated in complicated cases needing admission. Skin necrosis may be associated with measles.