Atopic dermatitis (AD) places significant burden not only on quality of life, but is also associated with considerable costs to healthcare systems. Diagnosis of AD may be challenging when it starts in adolescence or adulthood, and is further complicated as its manifestations are different from those generally seen in children. Accordingly, better definition of diagnostic criteria for adult onset AD is needed to avoid misdiagnosis and undertreatment in adult patients. To provide practical ...

BACKGROUND: Disperse dyes are well-known contact sensitizers. However, they are not included in the majority of commercially available baseline patch test series.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the outcome of patch testing with a textile dye mix (TDM) consisting of eight disperse dyes at dermatology clinics in various countries.

PATIENTS/MATERIALS/METHODS: Two thousand nine hundred and seven consecutive dermatitis patients at 12 dermatology clinics representing nine countries were tested ...

BACKGROUND: The role of palladium and nickel sensitization in oral disease and dermatitis is not fully understood.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether sensitization to these metals was associated with exposure to dental alloys and oral and skin complaints/symptoms in a European multicentre study.

METHODS: In six dermatology clinics, patch tests with palladium (3% Na2 PdCl4 ; Pd = 102.0 µmol/g) and nickel (5% NiSO4 .6H2 O; Ni = 190.2 µmol/g) were performed in consecutive patients, and ...

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in treating elderly patients with atopic dermatitis from baseline to 52 weeks.MethodsA retrospective observational real-life study was conducted in a group of elderly patients with severe atopic dermatitis treated with dupilumab for 52 weeks. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥ 65 years; diagnosis of atopic dermatitis made by an expert dermatologist; Eczema Area and Severity Index ≥ 24; and a ...

BACKGROUND: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) caused by nail acrylates, also including methacrylates and cyanoacrylates here, is being increasingly reported.

METHODS: A retrospective study in 11 European Environmental Contact Dermatitis Research Group (EECDRG) clinics collected information on cases of ACD caused by nail acrylates diagnosed by aimed testing between 2013 and 2015.

RESULTS: Among 18 228 studied patients, 136 had ACD caused by nail acrylates (0.75%; 95%CI: 0.60-0.90), ...

BACKGROUND: The use of permanent hair dyes exposes hairdressers to contact allergens such as p-phenylenediamine (PPD), and the preventive measures are insufficient.

OBJECTIVES: To perform an in vivo test to study the protective effect of gloves commonly used by hairdressers.

PATIENTS/MATERIALS/METHODS: Six gloves from Sweden, Italy and Germany were studied: two vinyl, one natural rubber latex, two nitrile, and one polyethylene. The hair dye used for the provocation was a dark shade ...

Environmental and genetic risk factors are involved in the development of melanoma. The role of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene has been investigated and differences according to geographic areas have been described. To evaluate the role of some clinical and genetic risk factors in melanoma development, we performed a case–control study involving 101 melanoma patients and 103 controls coming from South-Eastern Italy (Puglia), after achieving informed consent. We confirmed the ...

BACKGROUND: The relationship between atopic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis is frequently debated, particularly in children. The impaired skin barrier of atopic subjects can facilitate the penetration of exogenous agents and its mutations in the filaggrin gene might be implicated in an increased risk to develop contact dermatitis. Moreover, atopic children are protractedly exposed to chemical substances contained in skin care products from an early age.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: ...

10 out of 22 marble workers handling a bicomponent resin, based on epoxy resin and ortho-cresyl glycidyl ether (CGE), developed contact dermatitis and airborne contact dermatitis within 20 days to 2 months of exposure. All 22 subjects were patch tested with epoxy resin, bisphenol A, epichlorohydrin and a series of reactive diluents. The 10 symptomatic subjects were all positive to the reactive diluent CGE, and 4 of them also to epoxy resin. The other reactive diluents that gave positive ...

BACKGROUND: The 1- and the 2-euro coins consist of nickel alloys, which release nickel. The nickel released by far exceeds the amount allowed by the European Union Nickel Directive referring to products intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin. As there is only temporary contact with the skin, the clinical relevance of nickel-containing coins with regard to nickel dermatitis is a matter of debate, although there is evidence that the nickel released from the coins ...

BACKGROUND: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is defined as spontaneous occurrence of wheals and/or angioedema for ≥6 weeks. Omalizumab is a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody effective in refractory CSU, but its mechanism of action and markers predictive of response remain not completely defined.

OBJECTIVES: To correlate baseline levels of two proposed biomarkers, total IgE (bIgE) and d-dimer (bd-dimer), and clinical parameters to omalizumab response and to relapses after drug ...

BACKGROUND: Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is a highly disabling genodermatosis characterized by skin and mucosal fragility and blistering. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most devastating complications, having a high morbidity and mortality rate. Patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa were reported to have up to a 70-fold higher risk of developing cSCC than unaffected individuals. Immune cells play a role in cancer ...