Treatment of mild to moderate acne with a fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres and papain glycospheres.

AIM: A fixed combination of 0.1% hydroxypinacolone retinoate (synthetic esther of 9-cis-retinoic acid), 1% retinol in glycospheres and 2% papain in glycospheres in aqueous gel has been recently introduced into the Italian market in order to reduce the incidence and severity of irritant contact dermatitis caused by topical retinoids, without compromising their efficacy. Primary objectives of this sponsor-free, pilot, open, multicenter study were to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of this gel in patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face. METHODS: Ninety-eight Caucasian patients (28 males and 70 females), with an age ranging from 15 to 40 years, were treated with the gel once daily for 12 weeks. Acne severity and treatment efficacy were evaluated by means of the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) and lesions count. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients were considered evaluable. A 41% mean reduction in the GAGS score was observed; a 40.8% mean reduction of total lesions was recorded; 15.3% of patients experienced mild to moderate local side effects (dryness, peeling, erythema, burning). No patients stopped the treatment because of these side effects. CONCLUSION: This study, based on a high number of evaluable patients, demonstrates that this fixed combination is an effective and safe option for the treatment of comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face. A controlled clinical study is necessary to confirm these data.

[Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita. 4 new cases and review of the literature]. / Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita. Quatre nouveaux cas et revue de la littérature.

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) is characterized by a persistent vascular mottling of the skin, usually on the limbs. Four cases (2 males and 2 females) followed up for varying lengths of time are reported. In the first patient, whose vascular lesions were mild, careful re-examination after 10 years revealed some scars. In the second patient the lesions were located on the right side of the body, notably on the leg; 6 years later atrophic scars and a brownish plaque were visible on that leg. In the third patient the lesions occupied almost the entire body, although one side was more affected than the other and hypotrophic; the child's face was asymmetrical because of hypoplasia of the jaw and curvature of the nose; after 1 year the patient's general condition was satisfactory and the skin lesions were less evident but still present. In the fourth patient hypoplasia of a lumbar vertebra was discovered; the skin lesions were similar to those observed in the third patient. Examination of the deep vessels, performed whenever possible, did not show any abnormality, but the possibility of future vascular defects, such as varicosities, must be considered. While some authors emphasize the functional character of the disease, in our opinion the high frequency of multiple associated congenital abnormalities makes CMTC not only a vascular disorder but also a syndrome including other neuroectodermal and mesodermal defects. Therefore, any patient presenting with the cutaneous changes typical of CMTC should be examined with this in mind.

[Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita. Description of a further case]. / Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita. Descrizione di un nuovo caso.

A new case of Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita is reported. This disease is characterized by a persistent vascular mottling of the skin generally on the limbs. In our case the lesions were present on almost the entire body even if one side was more affected, this one was also lipotropic. The face of the child was asymmetric because of the jaw's hypoplasia and nose curvature. The examination of the deep vessel did not show any abnormality but the possibility of future vascular defects as varicosities must be considered. The nosological entity of this disease is discussed.

Cutaneous metastases from laryngeal carcinoma.

The authors describe a case of cutaneous metastases from a squamous cell carcinoma of the laryngeal vestibule. The skin lesions, which consisted of nodules localized to the forehead and left arm, appeared 2 years after diagnosis of the primary tumor. The skin manifestations preceded lung metastases by 5 months.