Estimated Frequency of Psychodermatologic Conditions in Alberta, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Psychodermatologic disorders are difficult to identify and treat. Knowledge about the prevalence of these conditions in dermatological practice in Canada is scarce. This hampers our ability to address potential gaps and establish optimal care pathways. OBJECTIVES: To provide an estimate of the frequencies of psychodermatologic conditions in dermatological practice in Alberta, Canada. METHODS: Two administrative provincial databases were used to estimate the prevalence of potential psychodermatological conditions in Alberta from 2014 to 2018. Province-wide dermatology claims data were examined to extract relevant International Classification of Disease codes as available. Claims were linked with pharmacy dispensation data to identify patients who received at least 1 psychoactive medication within 90 days of the dermatology claim. RESULTS: Of 243 963 patients identified, 28.6% had received at least 1 psychotropic medication (mean age: 47.9 years; 67.5% female). Rates of concurrent psychotropic medications were highest for pruritus and related conditions (46.7%), followed by urticaria (44.5%) and hyperhidrosis (32.8%). Among patients with psychotropic medications, rates of antidepressants were highest (56.3%), followed by anxiolytics (37.1%). Across billing codes, besides hyperhidrosis (71.2%), diseases of hair (61.4%) and psoriasis (59.1%) had the highest rates of antidepressant dispensations. Patients with atopic dermatitis had the highest rates for anxiolytic prescriptions (54.3%). CONCLUSION: In a 5-year window, more than a quarter of the identified dermatology patients in Alberta received at least 1 psychotropic medication, pointing to high rates of potential psychodermatologic conditions and/or concurrent mental health issues in dermatology. Diagnostic and care pathways should include a multidisciplinary approach to better identify and treat these conditions.

Hair disorders in patients with cancer.

Cytotoxic chemotherapies, molecularly targeted therapies, immunotherapies, radiotherapy, stem cell transplants, and endocrine therapies may lead to hair disorders, including alopecia, hirsutism, hypertrichosis, and pigmentary and textural hair changes. The mechanisms underlying these changes are varied and remain incompletely understood, hampering the development of preventive or therapeutic guidelines. The psychosocial impact of chemotherapy-induced alopecia has been well documented primarily in the oncology literature; however, the effect of other alterations, such as radiation-induced alopecia, hirsutism, and changes in hair color or texture on quality of life have not been described. This article reviews clinically significant therapy-related hair disorders in oncology patients, including the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, severity grading scales, patient-reported quality of life questionnaires, management strategies, and future translational research opportunities.

How much disability is caused by fibrofolliculomas during Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome?

BACKGROUND: Facial fibrofolliculomas (FFs) develop mainly on the face of patients with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS) after the second decade and increase in number and size during life. OBJECTIVES: Measurement of the impairment of health-related quality of life (HQoL) related to facial FFs in a series of French patients with BHDS in an analytical epidemiology study using two self-reported HQoL questionnaires. STUDY DESIGN: The Dermatology Life Quality Index© (DLQI) and a modified version of the validated French version of the Cardiff Acne Disability Index© (CADI) were sent to 19 patients with BHDS. Demographic and clinical data were collected. ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was performed using SAS version 9. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (56% male, 44% female, mean age 50.2 years) responded. Self-reported alteration in HQoL was reported in approximately one-third of the patients. The mean DLQI score (maximum 30) was low 2.2 (±4.3, range 0-18). Six (33.3%) had small effect on life (score 2-5) and one patient (5.5%) had a very large effect on her life (score 11-20) scoring 18. The mean CADI score (maximum 15) was a low 3.3 (±4.36, range 0-13). Five patients (31.1%) scored over 5 (>33% impairment). The highest DLQI and CADI scores were related to higher number of FFs. Limitation relies on the absence of validation of the modified version of the CADI. CONCLUSIONS: This study stresses the burden of facial FFs for a minority of patients and the importance of providing a local treatment.

[Psychological consequences of chronic hair diseases]. / Le retentissement psychologique des pathologies chroniques du cheveu.

The author is looking to the psychological consequences of chronic hair diseases through a review of the recent literature. In general those consequences are depending on the coping skills and on the personality traits. The effect of hair loss on the quality of life is similar to that of a severe psoriasis. The most important effect is a loss of self-confidence. This is enhanced by an insecure or ambivalent attachment pattern. The coping skills will therefore be different and less flexibles. Two psychiatric syndromes are first mentioned: the body dysmorphic syndrome (very slight or imaginary defect in appearance) and trichotillomania. Androgenetic alopecia leads to an important suffering in women mostly. Alopecia induced by cancer chemotherapy has been reported to cause changes in self-concept and body image. This does not return to the previous state after regrowth of hair for a majority of patients. A cosmeto-oncologic care strategy is developed in our department to improve the quality of life of the patients during this difficult coping period. Alopecia areata has an important psychiatric comorbidity: mostly anxiety and depression. Old stressful life events are frequently reported at the onset of the disease revealing a chronic stress. Those patients have difficulties to express their feelings (what is called alexithymia). With a systemic vision this is interpreted as an unconscious task of avoiding family conflicts. This conflicts are raising the anxiety of family splitting coming from early loss or death in the previous generations. A cautious family therapy helps to change those unconscious myths.

Longitudinal study of trachomatous trichiasis in The Gambia: barriers to acceptance of surgery.

PURPOSE: Investigation of compliance with surgery for trachomatous trichiasis has become a priority of the World Health Organization. This study was conducted to investigate attitudes toward trichiasis and its treatment and to determine the rate of surgical uptake in The Gambia. METHODS: A 1-year longitudinal study was performed in 190 subjects with trichiasis. Persons with major trichiasis (involving five lashes or more) were referred for surgery, and those with minor trichiasis were advised to epilate. Outcome measures included attitudes toward trichiasis and its treatment, reported barriers to surgical uptake, acceptance rates for surgery, and factors affecting acceptance. RESULTS: Twenty-three percent (95% confidence interval [CI] 16.5%-30.6%) of subjects with major trichiasis attended for surgery during the year. Degree of ignorance about surgery, symptoms impeding work, and a multiple income source for the head of household predicted attendance. Reported lack of time predicted nonattendance. Sixty-eight percent of patients who had undergone surgery were trichiasis free at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Poor attendance for surgery remains a problem in The Gambia. Barriers include ignorance and lack of time and money. Health education and surgical delivery strategies are needed to overcome these barriers. Regular audit of surgical results is necessary, with retraining where indicated.

Trichotillomania: ophthalmic presentation.

PURPOSE: A case of trichotillomania, or compulsive hair-pulling, involving the eyelids is presented to alert ophthalmologists to this common, but frequently overlooked cause of eyelash and eyebrow alopecia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clinical records of a 33-year-old woman suffering from trichotillomania were reviewed. Compulsive hair-pulling began in childhood and had become chronic. Psychiatric intervention was unsuccessful. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of trichotillomania is made on history and slit-lamp examination findings. A skin biopsy may be necessary to exclude alopecia areata. Adults should be referred to a psychiatrist. Although childhood disease is usually benign, often reflecting a disturbed parent-child relationship, in adults hair-pulling is generally chronic and associated with psychiatric illness.

Immunofluorescence findings in rapid whitening of scalp hair.

Rapid whitening of scalp hair developed during a three-month period along with a diffuse, subtotal alopecia in a patient. Immunofluorescence microscopy of biopsy material showed prominent deposits of IgG and IgM in a granular pattern in the epithelium of the lower portions of hair follicles. Some return of the color and amount of scalp hair occurred within a year, but occasional bouts of hair loss continued to occur. It is theorized that the rapid graying was caused by a selective loss of pigmented hair, which was perhaps caused by an immunologic mechanism. Some of the findings suggest that the cause of this patient's loss of hair color may be different from those of patients who have been previously described as having rapid whitening of scalp hair because of alopecia areata or vitiligo.