Dermoscopic Evaluation of Actinic Changes in the Lips of Indigenous Children Living at High Altitude in Ecuador: A Descriptive Study.

BACKGROUND High altitude increases sunlight exposure, resulting in actinic keratosis, which predisposes people to skin cancer. The dermoscopy procedure evaluates keratotic and pigmented skin changes. This study aimed to describe the clinical and dermoscopic actinic changes in the lips of 25 indigenous children living at high altitude in Ecuador. MATERIAL AND METHODS An observational study was conducted in a public school in the Andes region of Ecuador (August-November 2019). Twenty-five children, males and females, age 5-15 years were assessed by complete physical examination, digital dermoscopic photographs, and punch biopsies. Descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test were used to summarize and analyze the data. RESULTS We included 17 (68%) boys and 8 (32%) girls with a mean age of 9.8±2.0 years. Clinical lips findings reported desquamation [52% Upper Lip (UL); 40% Lower Lip (LL)], fissuring (8% UL; 8% LL), scabs (8% UL; 8% LL), and discoloration (40% UL; 20% LL). Dermoscopic features included a white-yellow lip color (24% UL; p=0.02). The main morphologic pattern of blood vessels was monomorphic (88% UL; p<0.001), polymorphous (60% LL; p<0.001), dotted pattern (64% UL; 28% LL; p=0.02), and linear-irregular (32% UL; 72% LL; p=0.01). Girls had radiating white structures on UL (p=0.025), while boys presented white structureless areas (UL 63.6%; LL 77.8%; p=0.032). No differences in dermoscopic findings were observed according to Fitzpatrick scale score (FSS). Punch biopsies showed no indications of actinic cheilitis. CONCLUSIONS Dermoscopic features in indigenous children living in high altitudes were related to actinic damage, but histopathological findings were negative.

Assessment of Predictors of Sun Sensitivity as Defined by Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype in an Ecuadorian Population and Its Correlation with Skin Damage.

BACKGROUND: The Fitzpatrick skin phototype scale (FSPTS) is a widely used instrument to assess skin type. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey collected responses from 254 subjects from Quito regarding self-reported FSPTS, gender, age, education, and tobacco and alcohol consumption. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine if ethnicity, hair color, and eye color significantly predict FSPTS. In addition, we studied the correlation between FSPTS and the SCINEXA scale with Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Ethnicity, eye color, and hair color are significant independent predictors of FSPTS (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patient self-reported race and pigmentary phenotypes are inaccurate predictors of sun sensitivity as defined by Fitzpatrick skin phototype. Our study does not fully represent the population of the country. There are limitations to using patient-reported race and appearance in predicting individual sunburn risk.

Impacto familiar de la severidad de la dermatitis atópica en menores de 12 años / Family impact of the severity of atopic dermatitis in children under 12 years

Contexto: la dermatitis atópica es una enfermedad de etiología desconocida, con predisposición genética y participación de factores ambientales. Más del 80% de niños afectados debutan antes de los 5 años de edad. No se disponen en el país reportes que demuestren la relación entre la severidad de la enfermedad y el impacto familiar que genera la misma. Objetivo: determinar el grado de afectación familiar en niños diagnosticados de dermatitis atópica que acudieron a la consulta externa del "Centro de la Piel" y su relación con la severidad de la enfermedad. Diseño: estudio epidemiológico analítico transversal de período. Métodos y sujetos: el estudio se realizó en niños menores de 12 años que acudieron a la consulta médica del "Centro de la Piel", con diagnóstico de dermatitis atópica entre julio a noviembre del 2015. Se empleó un muestreo aleatorio simple para universo infinito con objetivo cualitativo. La severidad de la dermatitis atópica se clasificó según la escala validada SCORAD. El impacto familiar se determinó con el cuestionario del impacto familiar de la dermatitis DFI y la funcionalidad familiar con la escala de APGAR familiar. Lasasociaciones entre las variables estudiadas se resumieron con Odds Ratio de prevalencia (OR) y los correspondientes intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC 95%) obtenidos mediante distribución binomial. Para el contraste de hipótesis, se calculó el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson. Resultados: el estudio reveló que de los 145 participantes, 34 (23,45%) presentaron dermatitis atópica leve, 94 (64,83%) moderada y 17 (11,72%) severa. Se encontró que en más de la mitad de familias investigadas (57,24%) el impacto familiar de la enfermedad fue moderado, 33.1% leve y 9,66% severo. Al relacionar las variables, se demostró que el grado de afectación familiar es proporcional a la severidad de la dermatitis, estadísticamente significativa (valor p= <0,01). La esfera familiar de mayor afectación fue la económica evidenciándose la relación existente entre agravamiento del cuadro con el incremento de los gastos derivados del tratamiento (OR: 5,5; IC 95%: 2,4-12,6). Conclusión: la severidad de la dermatitis atópica se relacionó significativamente con el nivel de impacto familiar percibido por el cuidador. (AU)

Context: Atopic dermatitis is a disease of unknown etiology, with genetic predisposition and participation of environmental factors. More than 80% of affected children debu-tan before 5 years of age. There are no reports in the country that demonstrate the relationship between the severity of the disease and the family impact generated by it. Objective: to determine the degree of family involvement in children diagnosed with atopic dermatitis who attended the outpatient clinic of the "Skin Center" and its relationship with the severity of the disease. Design: cross-sectional analytical epidemiological study of period. Methods and subjects: the study was conducted in children under 12 years of age who attended the "Skin Center" medical consultation, with a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis from July to November 2015. Simple random sampling was used. for infinite universe with qualitative objective. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: the severity of atopic dermatitis was classified according to the SCORAD scale. The family impact was determined with the family impact questionnaire of DFI dermatitis and family functionality with the family APGAR scale. The associations between the variables studied were summarized with Odds Prevalence Ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) obtained by binomial distribution. For the hypothesis test, the Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated. Results: the study revealed that of the 145 participants, 34 (23.45%) presented mild atopic dermatitis, 94 (64.83%) moderate and 17 (11.72%) severe. It was found that in more than half of the families investigated (57.24%) the family impact of the disease was moderate, 33.1% mild and 9.66% severe. By relating the variables, it was shown that the degree of family involvement is proportional to the severity of the dermatitis, statistically significant (p value = <0.01). The most affected family sphere was the economic one, showing the relationship between worsening of the table and the increase in the expenses derived from the treatment (OR: 5.5, 95% CI: 2.4-12.6). Conclusion: the severity of atopic dermatitis was significantly related to the level of family impact perceived by the caregiver. (AU)