Ablative fractional CO2 laser is an effective and safe therapeutic option for XP with significantly shorter downtime and higher patient satisfaction compared with SP CO2 laser.

BB-UVA can be considered as an alternative treatment line for vitiligo.

Both types of Ultraviolet (UV), UVB (290-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm), produce increased pigmentation or tanning. However, no evaluation of UVA alone in the treatment of vitiligo has been reported. Therefore, it was the purpose of this work to study the pigmentogenic effect of UVA (5 and 15 J/cm(2)) in vitiligo. The study included 20 randomly selected patients with vitiligo involving more than 30% of the body surface area with a bilateral/symmetrical distribution. They were equally divided into two groups each of 10 patients. All patients received three weekly sessions of UVA, 15 J/cm(2) in group I and 5 J/cm(2) in group II, a total of 48 sessions over 16 weeks. Overall pigmentation of 60% and above was recorded in 50% and 10% of patients in groups I and II, respectively. We conclude that broadband UVA alone, without psoralens, and in appropriate doses may be of important therapeutic value in vitiligo.

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Although incomparable to methotrexate, combined sulfasalazine and pentoxifylline produced a good response in cases of extensive psoriasis. Multicentre studies are needed to validate these results.

Background and Objectives Q‐switched Nd:YAG (QS‐Nd:YAG) toning (low fluence, large spot size, and high frequency) has been used successfully for the treatment of melasma, especially in dark skin phototypes. Punctate leukoderma was found to be a frequent complication that reduced the safety of this procedure. Combining low power fractional CO2 laser, which is another effective melasma laser therapy, might improve the efficacy and safety of this procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate  the effect of combining low power fractional CO2 laser with QS‐Nd:YAG toning in the treatment of melasma. Study Design/Materials and Methods A randomized comparative split‐face study included a total of 30 patients with bilateral, symmetrical melasma. All patients received QS‐Nd:YAG toning on one randomly selected side of the face, while the other side randomly received either low power fractional CO2 alone (group A) or combined QS‐Nd:YAG toning with low power fractional CO2 (group B). QS‐Nd:YAG toning sessions were scheduled every two weeks for nine consecutive sessions, and low power fractional CO2 sessions were received every 4 weeks for three consecutive sessions. The assessment was done using the modified melasma area and severity index (mMASI) score, spectrophotometry (melanin index [MI] and erythema index [EI]), photography, blinded physician assessment, and patient satisfaction (at baseline, 1 week and 8‐12 weeks after the last treatment sessions). Results A significant reduction in the mMASI score and MI was obtained with all treatment regimens. On comparing different modalities, group A reduction in mMASI and MI was significantly greater on the side receiving QS‐ND:YAG toning (64.03% and 8.27%, respectively), than the side receiving low power fractional CO2 laser alone (36.02%. 2.64%, respectively). On the other hand, reduction of mMASI score and MI showed no statistical significance between the side receiving QS‐Nd:YAG toning alone and the combined modality. Punctate leukoderma occurred in four cases (13%) on the side receiving QS‐Nd:YAG toning. Conclusion QS‐Nd:YAG toning is significantly more effective than low power fractional CO2 in the treatment of melasma when used separately. Although combining low power fractional CO2 with QS‐Nd:YAG toning does not increase its efficacy, it minimizes the incidence of the undesirable punctate leukoderma complication and achieves lower recurrence. This combination can thus be recommended as a safe and effective measure for the treatment of melasma. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Replicating the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the TNFAIP3, IL12B and IL23R genes with psoriasis vulgaris, in subjects from different ethnic backgrounds, underlines their importance in the pathogenesis of the disease. In contrast, the lack of any association between rs20541 (IL13) and psoriasis in our Egyptian cohort suggests the existence of important inter-ethnic genetic differences in psoriasis susceptibility.

BackgroundStriae distensae are frequent undesirable skin lesions that result in considerable esthetic concern. Treatment has always been challenging. Several modalities are available; however, none of them is consistently effective. Laser has become a popular therapeutic alternative. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the possible therapeutic effect of a long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser in striae distensae using histological and quantitative morphometric studies. Patients and methods Forty female patients with striae (group I: striae rubra and group II: striae alba) were included. All patients received four laser sessions at 4-week intervals. Three skin biopsies were obtained from every patient: one from normal control skin, the second from the selected striae before treatment, and the third from the same striae 1 month after treatment. Paraffin-embedded skin sections were subjected to histological and quantitative morphometric studies for assessment of collagen and elastic fibers. ResultsIn both groups, some clinical improvement was achieved, which was statistically nonsignificant. However, histological examination showed increased collagen and decreased elastic fibers with reorganization after treatment. The image analyzer showed a significant quantitative increase in the mean area percent of collagen fibers and decrease in the mean area percent of elastic fibers. Side effects were nonsignificant, mostly pain during the session and pigmentary alterations. ConclusionAlthough the clinical improvement in the treated striae was nonsignificant, the histological improvement was significant, with few side effects. The use of different laser parameters with a long follow-up period may improve the clinical response.