Topical non-pharmacological treatment of eczema: an Italian consensus.

Eczematous diseases (contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, hand eczema) are among the most frequent findings in dermatological clinical practice. A large body of evidence exists on structural and functional skin barrier damage in eczematous diseases, and on the importance of interventions aimed to repair such damage. While there is substantial agreement on pharmacological treatment, more sparse data are available on role, indications and usefulness of topical non-pharmacological treatments, despite significant research and progress in the composition and technology of emollients, cleansers and barrier creams significantly changed and expanded the functional activities of these products. This often leads to inadequate prescription and/or use, which increase individual and social costs of the disease and make the products useless or, in some cases, even counterproductive. This consensus document, discussed and compiled in a series of meetings by a group of Italian dermatologists experienced in the field of eczematous diseases, summarizes epidemiology and clinical features of the nosological entities of the "eczema family", illustrates the chemical/biochemical structure of emollients, cleansers and barrier creams, and aims to help physicians to exploit the full potential of available products, by providing a detailed but practical guide on characteristics, indications and correct use of non-pharmacological treatments currently available for eczematous diseases.

Molecular characterization of xerosis cutis: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Xerosis cutis or dry skin is a highly prevalent dermatological disorder especially in the elderly and in patients with underlying health conditions. In the past decades, numerous molecular markers have been investigated for their association with the occurrence or severity of skin dryness. The aim of this review was to summarize the molecular markers used in xerosis cutis research and to describe possible associations with different dry skin etiologies. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of molecular markers of xerosis cutis caused by internal or systemic changes. References published between 1990 and September 2020 were searched using 'MEDLINE', 'EMBASE' and 'Biological abstracts' databases. Study results were summarized and analyzed descriptively. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO database (CRD42020214173). RESULTS: A total of 21 study reports describing 72 molecules were identified including lipids, natural moisturizing factors (NMFs), proteins including cytokines and metabolites or metabolic products. Most frequently reported markers were ceramides, total free fatty acids, triglycerides and selected components of NMFs. Thirty-one markers were reported only once. Although, associations of these molecular markers with skin dryness were described, reports of unclear and/or no association were also frequent for nearly every marker. CONCLUSION: An unexpectedly high number of various molecules to quantify xerosis cutis was found. There is substantial heterogeneity regarding molecular marker selection, tissue sampling and laboratory analyses. Empirical evidence is also heterogeneous regarding possible associations with dry skin. Total free fatty acids, total ceramide, ceramide (NP), ceramide (NS), triglyceride, total free amino acids and serine seem to be relevant, but the association with dry skin is inconsistent. Although the quantification of molecular markers plays an important role in characterizing biological processes, pathogenic processes or pharmacologic responses, it is currently unclear which molecules work best in xerosis cutis.

Dermatological complications of therapy with biologics in inflammatory autoimmune diseases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cutaneous adverse events (CAEs) occur in up to 10 % of patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) treated with antitumor necrosis factor (TNF)α agents. The aim of this clinical study was to track and observe the course of CAEs in all biologic therapies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The population for this study consisted of patients with CAEs under biologic therapy who were examined by experienced board-certified dermatologists in the outpatient department of the University Hospital Essen, Department of Dermatology. RESULTS: Altogether 39 patients with a total of 45 CAEs were included in this study. In 60 % of the cases a form of paradoxical psoriasis was diagnosed. Two thirds (66.6 %) of the patients with CAEs were diagnosed with an underlying inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). TNFα antagonists were the triggering agents in about 95 % of the cases. Changes in biological therapy were required in nearly half of the cases (46.2 %). Almost 90 % of the patients had either a complete (42.1 %) or a partial response (47 %). CONCLUSIONS: Management of CEAs under biological therapy can be challenging in clinical practice. Case discussions between gastroenterologists, rheumatologists and dermatologists should be undertaken to best manage patients with CAEs and avoid unnecessary changes of therapy.

Eccema de los pies: oportunidad de las pruebas epicutáneas / Suitability of Patch Testing in Foot Eczema

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Microscopia confocal de reflectancia in vivo: papel emergente en el diagnóstico no invasivo, así como en el seguimiento de las dermatosis eccematosas / In Vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscopy: Emerging Role in Noninvasive Diagnosis and Monitoring of Eczematous Dermatoses

Tanto el diagnóstico como el seguimiento en la dermatología dependerán en gran medida de una evaluación visual. Cuando no se puede llegar al diagnóstico, se procede a realizar una biopsia cutánea, un procedimiento invasivo y que con frecuencia los resultados retrasan debido a la demora del transporte, así como al procesamiento de la muestra. Por otro lado, las biopsias pueden destruir las lesiones, lo que imposibilitará realizar un seguimiento clínico de la evolución de la lesión a estudio. La microscopia confocal de reflectancia in vivo (MCR) ofrece una alternativa diagnóstica a la biopsia cutánea. Esta técnica captura en tiempo real imágenes de alta resolución y se utilizará en la evaluación de diversas condiciones dermatológicas. La identificación de características específicas en la MCR podría ayudar a diferenciar dermatosis con una morfología clínica similar. La dermatitis alérgica de contacto (DAC) y la dermatitis irritativa de contacto (DIC) se diagnostican generalmente gracias a pruebas epicutáneas; estas, a su vez, se basarán en un sistema de valoración subjetiva. El uso de la MCR tanto en la detección temprana, como en la clasificación de la intensidad de la DC, ha sido estudiado en múltiples estudios. Existirán algunas características comunes en la MCR de la DAC como de la DIC. Entre estas podemos señalar la disrupción del estrato córneo, la formación de vesículas, la exocitosis, la espongiosis y la paraqueratosis. Las características específicas para la DAC serán la presencia de vasodilatación, el aumento del grosor epidérmico, edema intercelular y acantosis. Las características específicas de la DIC son la presencia de los corneocitos disgregados y queratinocitos en diana. Esta revisión resume la utilidad de la MCR en las condiciones eccematosas de contacto cutáneas y busca incentivar futuras investigaciones, así como incrementar el interés clínico en esta prometedora técnica

Dermatologic diagnosis and monitoring have been dependent largely on visual grading. A skin biopsy is performed in case of diagnostic uncertainty, but can be traumatic, and results are delayed due to time for specimen transport and processing. Biopsies also destroy specimens, prohibiting lesion evolution monitoring. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) offers a diagnostic alternative to skin biopsy. RCM captures real-time, high-resolution images, and has been piloted for the evaluation of various dermatologic conditions. Identification of unique RCM features may distinguish dermatoses with similar clinical morphologies. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) are diagnosed by patch testing that currently uses a subjective scoring system. RCM has increasingly been studied for early detection and severity grading of CD. Common RCM features shared by ACD and ICD are stratum corneum disruption, vesicle formation, exocytosis, spongiosis, and parakeratosis. Features unique to ACD are vasodilation, increased epidermal thickness, intercellular edema, and acanthosis. Features unique to ICD are detached corneocytes and targetoid keratinocytes. This review summarizes the use of RCM in evaluating contact eccematous conditions and aims to spark future research and interest in this promising tool

Eczema en los pies en una consulta de alergia cutánea: estudio retrospectivo de 13 años / Foot Eczema in a Skin Allergy Unit: Retrospective Study of 13 Years

Introducción: La dermatitis de pies es un motivo frecuente de consulta en las Unidades de Alergia Cutánea. Objetivos: Conocer las características demográficas, el diagnóstico y los alérgenos más frecuentemente implicados en los pacientes a los que se les han practicado pruebas epicutáneas. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional transversal en un Servicio de Dermatología con todos los pacientes estudiados con la batería estándar española durante 13 años (2004-2016). Comparamos los resultados de las pruebas epicutáneas y los diagnósticos finales entre los distintos subgrupos de pacientes con eczema de pies. Resultados: Estudiamos un total de 3.265 pacientes; 308 (9,4%) presentaban eczema en los pies, 176 (57,9%) tenían afectación solo en los pies y 132 (42,1%) afectación concomitante en manos y pies. En el subgrupo con afectación exclusiva en los pies se observó un mayor porcentaje de pacientes con pruebas epicutáneas positivas (61,5% solo pies, 53,4% manos y pies). En el subgrupo de afectación concomitante de manos y pies se observó un menor porcentaje de pruebas epicutáneas positivas entre los menores de 18 años (51,3% en menores y 64,4% en mayores). El alérgeno con relevancia presente más frecuente en todos los subgrupos fue el dicromato potásico. La dermatitis de contacto alérgica (49,1%) fue el diagnóstico más frecuente en los pacientes con afectación exclusiva de los pies, mientras que en los pacientes con eczema en manos y pies fue la psoriasis (33,6%) en los adultos y la dermatitis atópica en los menores de 18 años (60,0%). Conclusión: La realización de pruebas epicutáneas es de gran utilidad tanto en los pacientes con eczema de afectación exclusiva de los pies como en aquellos con afectación concomitante de manos y pies

Introduction: Foot eczema is a common complaint encountered by skin allergists. Objective: To study a series of patients with foot eczema who underwent patch testing and describe their demographic profile, diagnoses, and the main allergens involved. Material and methods: Cross-sectional observational study of all patients tested with the standard Spanish patch test series at a dermatology department over a period of 13 years (2004-2016). We studied patch test results and definitive diagnoses by comparing different subgroups of patients with foot eczema. Results: Of the 3,265 patients included in the study, 308 (9.4%) had foot eczema, 176 (57.9%) had foot eczema only and 132 (42.1%) had concomitant foot and hand eczema. Positive patch test results were more common in patients with foot eczema only (positivity rate of 61.5% vs. 53.4% for foot and hand eczema). In the subgroup of patients with concomitant foot and hand involvement, patients aged under 18 years had a lower rate of positive results (51.3% vs. 64.6% for patients >18 years). Potassium dichromate was the most common allergen with current relevance in all subgroups. The main diagnosis in patients with foot involvement only was allergic contact dermatitis (49.1%). In the subgroup of patients with concomitant hand and foot eczema, the main diagnoses were psoriasis in adults (33.6%) and atopic dermatitis in patients aged under 18 years (60.0%). Conclusion: Patch tests are a very useful diagnostic tool for patients with foot eczema with or without concomitant hand involvement

Liquen aureus: eccema con halo dorado / Lichen aureus: the eczema with a golden halo

Presentamos un caso de liquen aureus en una mujer joven de 22 años, rara lesión cutánea que pertenece al grupo de las dermatosis purpúricas pigmentadas, diagnosticada por biopsia, que no precisó otro tratamiento que la exéresis de la lesión y que ha tenido una evolución favorable. Es una lesión eritematosa de la piel, con aspecto de su fondo dorado, de etiología desconocida y que, por su escasa sintomatología y pronóstico benigno, muchas veces es infradiagnosticada, por lo que debe ser conocida para hacer un diagnóstico diferencial eficiente

We present the case of a 22-year-old young woman with lichen aureus, a rare skin lesion that belongs to the group of pigmented purpuric dermatosis. It was diagnosed by biopsy and did not require any other treatment than the excision of the lesion, with a favorable evolution. Lichen aureus is an erythematous skin lesion with a golden background of unknown etiology. It is often underdiagnosed because it presents few symptoms and has a benign prognosis, so it should be known to make an effective differential diagnosis

Reacciones cutáneas debido al uso de icodextrina en pacientes en diálisis peritoneal / Skin reactions with the use of icodextrin in peritoneal dialysis patients

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Terra firma-forme dermatosis: Differential diagnosis and response to salicylic acid therapy.

Terra firma-forme dermatosis (TFFD), first described by Duncan in 1987, is a relatively common but probably underdiagnosed condition, characterized by a reticular hyperpigmented dirtlike eruption resistant to washing with common soap but typically removed with rubbing with 70% isopropyl alcohol. We present a case of TFFD in an 8-year-old boy with rapid response to 5% salicylic acid in petrolatum ointment.

Treatment of human scabies with oral ivermectin. Eczematous eruptions as a new non-reported adverse event / Tratamiento de la sarna en humanos con ivermectina oral. Erupciones eccematosas como nuevos efectos adversos no reportados

Background: Oral ivermectin is an alternative therapy for human scabies infection due to its ease of administration and good safety profile. However, there is no definitive consensus on the optimal dosing regimen. Objective: To describe the treatment of human scabies with different dosages of oral ivermectin and the possible adverse events. Methods: 23 patients with human scabies were treated with oral ivermectin: 10 patients received a single oral dose of 200μg/kg and 13 a dose of 400μg/kg. A second, or even a third dose, was administered in cases of treatment failure. Results: A complete clinical response was achieved by all of the patients. The first ten patients required at least two (80%) or three (20%) doses of ivermectin for complete resolution of the infection. The remaining cases resolved with a single 400μg/kg oral dose. Within the first 72h after the administration of oral ivermectin, new cutaneous lesions were observed in eleven patients (47.8%). Cutaneous biopsies showed signs of subacute eczema. The eruption was treated with topical corticosteroids and emollient therapy. There was no other new drug administration or a history of irritants. There was no history of atopic diathesis except for one patient. Conclusions: Oral ivermectin is an effective therapy for the treatment of human scabies. A single 400μg/kg oral dose demonstrated high efficacy and good tolerance. However, the appearance of eczematous cutaneous lesions induced by oral ivermectin has not previously been reported in the literature. Dermatologists should be aware of this possible adverse event (AU)

Introducción: La ivermectina oral es una alternativa terapéutica en el tratamiento de la escabiosis humana debido a su fácil administración y buen perfil de seguridad. Sin embargo, no existe un consenso definido sobre un esquema adecuado de dosificación. Objetivo: Describir el tratamiento de escabiosis en humanos con diferentes dosis de ivermectina oral y sus posibles efectos adversos. Métodos: 23 pacientes con escabiosis fueron tratados con ivermectina oral; 10 pacientes recibieron una única dosis de 200 μg/kg y 13 pacientes, una dosis de 400 μg/kg. Una segunda, e incluso, una tercera dosis fueron administradas en casos de fallo terapeútico. Resultados: Todos los pacientes tuvieron respuesta clínica al tratamiento. Los primeros 10 pacientes necesitaron, al menos, 2 dosis (80%) o 3 dosis (20%) para conseguir una remisión completa de la infección. En el resto de pacientes se resolvió con una única dosis oral de 400 μg/kg. En las primeras 72 horas tras la administración de ivermectina oral se observaron nuevas lesiones cutáneas en 11 pacientes (47,8%). Las biopsias cutáneas mostraron signos de eccema subagudo. Se realizó tratamiento con corticoterapia tópica y emolientes. No había antecedentes de toma de otros fármacos, contacto con agentes irritantes ni historia de dermatitis atópica salvo en 1 paciente. Conclusiones: Ivermectina oral es una terapia eficaz en el tratamiento de escabiosis humana. Una dosis única de 400 μg/kg demostró una alta eficacia y buena tolerancia. Sin embargo, la aparición de lesiones cutaneas eccematosas inducidas por ivermectina oral no había sido descrito previamente en la literatura y por tanto, consideramos que los dermatólogos deberían conocer este posible efecto adverso (AU)

The Endocannabinoid System and Its Role in Eczematous Dermatoses.

The skin serves as the foremost barrier between the internal body and the external world, providing crucial protection against pathogens and chemical, mechanical, and ultraviolet damages. The skin is a central player in the intricate network of immune, neurologic, and endocrine systems. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) includes an extensive network of bioactive lipid mediators and their receptors, functions to modulate appetite, pain, mood, and memory, and has recently been implicated in skin homeostasis. Disruption of ECS homeostasis is implicated in the pathogenesis of several prevalent skin conditions. In this review, we highlight the role of endocannabinoids in maintaining skin health and homeostasis and discuss evidence on the role of ECS in several eczematous dermatoses including atopic dermatitis, asteatotic eczema, irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and chronic pruritus. The compilation of evidence may spark directions for future investigations on how the ECS may be a therapeutic target for dermatologic conditions.

Atopic dermatitis in adults: a diagnostic challenge

Atopic dermatitis (AD) has a prevalence of 1%-3% in adults. Adult-onset AD has only been defined recently, and lack of familiarity with this condition and confusion regarding the appropriate terminology persist. AD may first appear in childhood or de novo in adults and is characterized by pronounced clinical heterogeneity. The disease often deviates from the classic pattern of flexural dermatitis, and there are forms of presentation that are specific to adults, such as head-and-neck dermatitis, chronic eczema of the hands, multiple areas of lichenification, or prurigo lesions. Although diagnosis is clinical, adult-onset AD frequently does not fit the traditional diagnostic criteria for the disease, which were developed for children. Thus, AD is often a diagnosis of exclusion, especially in de novo cases. Additional diagnostic tests, such as the patch test, prick test, skin biopsy, or blood test, are usually necessary to rule out other diseases or other types of eczema appearing concomitantly with AD. This article presents an update of the different forms of clinical presentation for AD in adults along with a proposed diagnostic approach, as new treatments will appear in the near future and many patients will not be able to benefit from them unless they are properly diagnosed (AU)

La dermatitis atópica (DA) en el adulto tiene una prevalencia del 1-3%. Es una entidad de reciente acuñamiento, que no todo el mundo conoce y sobre la que existe una gran confusión terminológica. Puede iniciarse en la infancia o presentarse de «novo» en el adulto. Presenta una gran heterogeneidad clínica y con frecuencia no sigue el patrón clásico de dermatitis flexural. Además, existen formas de presentación más propias de adulto como son la dermatitis de la cabeza y el cuello, eczema crónico de manos, áreas de liquenificación múltiple o lesiones de prurigo. Aunque su diagnóstico es clínico, muchas veces la DA del adulto no cumple los criterios diagnósticos «clásicos» de DA, pues están pensados para niños. Por eso, suele ser un diagnóstico de exclusión, sobre todo los casos de «novo». Suele precisar de la realización de pruebas diagnósticas para descartar otras enfermedades distintas u otro tipo de eczema sobreañadido a la DA. Las pruebas diagnósticas que pueden resultar útiles para ello son: pruebas epicutáneas, prick test, biopsia cutánea y una analítica sanguínea. Realizamos una actualización de las distintas formas de presentación clínica de la DA del adulto y establecemos unas pautas para llegar a su diagnóstico, pues en un futuro inmediato, con la aparición de nuevos tratamientos, muchos de estos pacientes no podrán beneficiarse de los mismos por no estar adecuadamente diagnosticados (AU)

Dermatological emergencies: one-year data analysis of 8,620 patients from the largest Portuguese tertiary teaching hospital.

Skin conditions frequently lead to emergency department (ED) visits. While most are benign in course, some will present as true dermatological urgencies/emergencies, requiring admission. To present data on skin diseases most frequently found in the ED, and those most frequently requiring admission at the largest Portuguese tertiary teaching hospital, and to explore an association between epidemiological variables and frequency of diagnoses within this context. A retrospective study was conducted on all patients examined during 2012 for dermatology emergency consultation (DEC) at the Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal. Association between epidemiological variables (gender and age of patients, and season of the year) and frequency of diagnoses was investigated. In total, 8,620 patients were examined by a dermatologist in the ED, constituting 3.9% of all ED visits in our centre. Overall, 333 diagnoses were made, the most frequent of which was eczema not-otherwise-specified (9.4%). However, infectious and parasitic diseases constituted the leading motive for DEC (31.5%). Only 264 patients were admitted, with 65 diagnoses leading to admission. Nine diagnoses alone led to 60% of all admissions. Infectious and parasitic diseases constituted the leading cause of admission (34.7%). An association between frequency of diagnoses and gender, age, and season was identified. Despite the variety of dermatological pathologies, only a limited group of diseases was responsible for most of the true dermatological emergencies. Therefore, in the absence of a readily available dermatologist, knowledge of these entities, as well as demographic and environmental data, may help to improve the management of these patients.

Tatuajes de henna negra, ¿temporales? / Black henna tattoos, are they temporary?

Los tatuajes de henna natural (marrón/roja) se llevan realizando desde antaño con escasos efectos secundarios. En la actualidad está aumentando la práctica de tatuajes temporales de henna negra (que está adulterada principalmente con parafenilendiamina [PPD]) gracias a su aparente inocuidad y a su desaparición en pocas semanas. La PPD es un colorante sintético de uso frecuente en tintes capilares, que permite mejorar sus propiedades cosméticas, pero, secundariamente, presenta un gran poder sensibilizante, lo que ha propiciado la aparición de múltiples casos de eccemas de contacto, muchos de ellos en niños y adolescentes, debido a la cada vez más amplia oferta de tatuadores y al desconocimiento de los padres acerca de los riesgos de esta práctica. Nuestra labor como pediatras es informar adecuadamente a los padres acerca de estos riesgos, con el fin de evitar los efectos dañinos derivados de ella. Presentamos un caso de dermatitis de contacto tras la realización de un tatuaje y revisamos de forma breve la bibliografía publicada al respecto (AU)

Tattoos of natural red/brown henna have been traditionally performed with a few side effects. Black henna temporary tattoos, which contain paraphenylenediamine (PPD), have become increasingly popular because of their apparent harmlessness and disappearance in few weeks. PPD is a synthetic colorant used in hair dyes which improves its cosmetic properties; but, secondly, it has a great sensitization power. Due to that sensitization many cases of allergic contact dermatitis occurring after tattooing have been reported, especially in children and teenagers, since there are many tattoo-painters and the parents are unaware of the risks of these tattoos. Our labor as pediatricians should be to report parents on the risks of this practice properly for avoiding harmful effects. We present one case of allergic contact dermatitis after tattooing and briefly review the literature on the risks of this practice (AU)

Melanoma con fenómeno de Meyerson: características clínicas y dermatoscópicas / Melanoma With Meyerson's Phenomenon: Clinical and Dermoscopic Features

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Lesiones eccematosas y cuadro ictiosiforme adquirido como forma de presentación de un linfoma anaplásico de células grandes CD30+ / Eczematous lesions and acquired ichthyosis as a presenting finding of CD30+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma

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