Corticophobia among Parents of Children with Atopic Dermatitis: Assessing Major and Minor Risk Factors for High TOPICOP Scores.

Corticophobia, fear of applying topical corticosteroids (TCSs), is a rising issue in industrialized countries, despite the actual safety of TCSs for atopic dermatitis (AD). Patients attending the Pediatric Dermatology Unit for skin examination were screened for AD. AD patients were included, and data were collected. Parental corticophobia was evaluated through the Topical Corticosteroid Phobia (TOPICOP) questionnaire. The χ2 test and logistic regression were used to analyze statistical associations between parental corticophobia (mild/moderate vs. severe) and patients' and parents' characteristics. Overall, 100 patients were included (53 females; 47 males; mean age 5.9 years): 44 had mild/moderate AD (EASI ≤ 21), and 56 had severe AD (EASI > 21) (mean EASI 19.7). Of the patients, 33 never consulted healthcare providers for AD, and 67 did. Parental education was low/intermediate in 60 cases and high (gymnasium/university degree) in 40. Mean parental DLQI was 10.7. Mean parental TOPICOP was 39.1%: 51 had mild/moderate corticophobia (TOPICOP ≤ 50%), and 49 had severe corticophobia (TOPICOP > 50%). At the χ2 test, corticophobia was associated with mild/moderate AD (OR 20.9487; 95% CI 7.2489-60.5402; p < 0.001), older age of patients (OR 4.1176; 95% CI 1.7880 to 9.4828; p < 0.001), early disease onset (OR 9.8925; 95% CI 2.7064-36.1596; p < 0.001), and previous healthcare professional consultations (OR 4.9279; 95% CI 1.9335-12.5597; p < 0.001). Also, severe parental corticophobia was very significantly associated with severe parental involvement of life quality (OR 33.3333; 95% CI 10.9046-101.8937; p < 0.001) and with high education of parents (gymnasium or university degree) (29/49) (OR 5.2727; 95% CI 2.1927-12.6790; p < 0.001). At logistic regression, high parental DLQI (p < 0.0001), high parental education (p < 0.0338), older age of patients (p = 0.0015), and early disease onset (p < 0.0513) accounted for major risk factors influencing severe parental corticophobia. Assessing risk factors for corticophobia is essential for addressing groups of parents at higher risk for corticophobia using educational programs, to overcome unfounded fears and augment treatment adherence.

Facial pruritic skin rash in a Nigerian boy with atopic dermatitis.

We present the case of a 4-year-old boy with annular, pruritic macules on the face who did not respond to the application of topical immunosuppressive therapy for atopic dermatitis. In this case report, we emphasize how pruritic annular macules that are not responsive to immunosuppressants should always be suspected of being tinea incognita.

Childhood vitiligo developing after COVID-19 infection.

Both COVID-19 and vaccinations against it have been related to immune cutaneous manifestations. Here, we present a case of childhood vitiligo, developed after a COVID-19 infection.

Pediatric spitzoid lesions of the ear: a single-center experience and review of the literature.

Spitzoid lesions are challenging melanocytic lesions comprising benign, intermediate, and malignant lesions. In this study, we aimed to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of clinical and dermatoscopical evaluations of pediatric spitzoid ear lesions. We collected and analyzed, clinically, dermatoscopically, and histologically, pediatric spitzoid ear lesions. We also conducted a systematic review of the literature. At the Pediatric Hospital Gaslini, excision and histopathological evaluation were performed on eight cases: 87.5% of the lesions were consistent with Spitz nevus (SN), and 12.5% with atypical Spitz tumor (AST). Notably, multiple (≥2) dermatoscopical irregularities were present in 5 of 7 SN (71%), yet none were found in AST (0%, 0/1) (Fisher's exact test, P=0.375). From systematic research in the literature, 9 patients were included in this review. At histology, 88.9% were SN and 11% AST. Remarkably, also in the literature, multiple dermatoscopical irregularities were present in most SN (75%, 6/8), but not in the identified AST (0%, 0/1) (P=0.3333). We present a monocentric study on pediatric spitzoid ear lesions. Importantly, dermatoscopical irregularities were not significantly associated with AST, neither in our series nor in the reviewed literature (respectively P=0.375 and P=0.3333), supporting the fact that relying only on the dermatoscopical aspect of spitzoid lesions is not accurate enough for the special site of the ear, where dermatoscopy could actually be misleading.

Paediatric Spitzoid Neoplasms: 10-Year Retrospective Study Characterizing Histological, Clinical, Dermoscopic Presentation and FISH Test Results.

INTRODUCTION: Spitzoid lesions are a wide tumour class comprising Spitz nevus (SN), atypical Spitz tumour (AST) and Spitz melanoma (SM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a single-centre-based retrospective survey on all histologically diagnosed spitzoid lesions of paediatric patients (1-18 years) of the last 10 years (2012-2022). Histopathological reports and electronic records of patients were used to retrieve relevant data regarding patients' features, clinical and dermatoscopical aspects of lesions when recorded, and FISH tests when present. RESULTS: Of 255 lesions, 82% were histologically benign, 17% atypical, 1% malignant. Clinically, 100% of SM were large (≥6 mm) and raised; AST were mainly large (63%), raised (98%), pink (95%). Small (≤5 mm), pigmented, flat lesions correlated with benign histology (respectively 90%, 97%, 98% SN) (p < 0.0001). Dermatoscopical patterns were analysed in 100 patients: starburst pattern correlated with benign histology (26% SN (p = 0.004)), while multicomponent pattern correlated with atypical/malignant lesions (56% AST, 50% SM (p = 0.0052)). Eighty-five lesions were subjected to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH): 34 (71% AST; 29% SN) were FISH-positive; 51 (63% SN; 37% AST) were FISH-negative (p = 0.0038). DISCUSSION: This study confirmed predominant benign histology (82%) of paediatric spitzoid lesions, thus detecting 17% AST and 1% SM, highlighting the need for caution in handling spitzoid lesions. CONCLUSION: Until AST are considered potentially malignant proliferations and no reliable criteria are identified to distinguish them, the authors suggest a prudent approach, especially in children.

Treatment of Pediatric Anogenital Warts in the Era of HPV-Vaccine: A Literature Review.

Anogenital warts (AWs) represent a therapeutic challenge, especially in infants, due to sensitive skin and frequent disease recurrence. Though the initial wait-and-see approach is often adopted in asymptomatic immunocompetent children, with spontaneous clearing in almost 90% of cases within two years, persistent or symptomatic lesions can be reasonably treated. However, few studies have been conducted on children. Consequently, most treatments on patients under age 12 are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Herein, we review possible therapies for pediatric use in AW and report an illustrative case of a two-year-old boy with atopic skin and symptomatic, persistent AWs who was successfully treated with topical podophyllotoxin, without adverse effects or recurrence. Among available therapies for AWs, topical therapies, such as immunomodulating-agents (topical imiquimod 5% and 3.75% cream, sinecatechins 15% ointment) and cytotoxic agents (podophyllotoxin and cidofovir) are considered manageable in children because of their low aggressiveness. In particular, podofillotoxin gel 5% and imiquimod 5% cream have been reported to be safe and efficacious in children. Currently, HPV vaccination is not recommended as a treatment for established HPV infection and AWs, yet a possible therapeutic role of HPV vaccination was recently suggested in the literature and deserves mention.

Disseminated life-threatening viral skin rash in a child with atopic dermatitis.

We report the case of a toddler, with a history of mild atopic dermatitis (AD) since early infancy, presented to the Giannina Gaslini, a pediatric polyclinic hospital, 14 days after measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination, for the occurrence of a disseminated vesico-pustular rash, accompanied by general malaise, fever, restlessness, and anorexia. Eczema herpeticum (EH) was diagnosed clinically and confirmed by laboratory examinations. The exact pathogenesis of EH in AD is still debated and possibly involves an inter-play between altered cell-mediated and humoral immunity, failure to up-regulate antiviral proteins, and exposure of viral binding sites through the dermatitis and an epidermal barrier failure. We hypothesize that in this particular case, MMR vaccination might have played an additional important role in the alteration of innate immune response, facilitating the manifestation of herpes simplex virus type 1 in the form of EH.

Is ultraviolet radiation avoidance affecting bone health in melanoma patients?

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has numerous beneficial effects on human health, including stimulating vitamin D and serotonin production and immuno-regulatory activities. Conversely, UV radiation is also classified as a group one carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. PURPOSE: To investigated the effects of UV radiation avoidance in melanoma patients in terms of vitamin D levels but also of bone mineral density and trabecular bone microarchitecture. METHODS: We conducted an observational study investigating the effects of UV radiation avoidance in 31 melanoma patients in terms of vitamin D levels but also of bone mineral density and trabecular bone microarchitecture by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. Data were compared with two control groups of healthy subjects, who were chronically exposed or not exposed to UV radiation during their lifetime. RESULTS: Melanoma patients had on average slightly lower levels of vitamin D, without reaching statistical significance (P = .135). No significant difference was found across the three groups on T-scores of femoral neck (P = .544), of total hip (P = .617) and of lumbar spine P = .155). No significant difference was found on and trabecular bone score across exposure groups (P = .895). CONCLUSION: UV radiation avoidance does not seem to significantly impact vitamin D levels nor bone health in melanoma patients. Thus, UV protective behavior is advisable for all melanoma patients.

The microbiome and its relevance in complex wounds.

Chronic wounds include arterial, venous, diabetic and pressure ulcers. The term "chronic wound" defines wounds that have not healed within three months. The possible causes that transform a simple wound into a chronic one are the object of study, and research has focused on infection as one of the crucial factors in producing and maintaining chronic wounds. In fact, 60% of chronic wounds are colonized by bacteria living in a biofilm. A biofilm is a complex aggregation of microorganisms characterized by the secretion of an adhesive and protective matrix. The two most common biofilm generators are Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Several conditions constitute risk factors for the formation of biofilms, such as diabetes mellitus, venous insufficiency, malnutrition, cancer, oedema, and repetitive trauma. There are no standard diagnostic tests to determine the presence of biofilms, but there are several clinical indications which can help, and performing a tissue biopsy is better than a swab. Wound bed preparation is a crucial part of biofilm treatment and surgical or conservative sharp wound debridement are the preferred treatments that are effective in removing or reducing biofilms. We report three cases of complex wounds and their treatment.