The Google search engine analysis provided insight for this study into the unexpectedly large number of unmet medical needs of those suffering from pruritus within Germany, especially that of specific localizations on the body.

BackgroundExperts worldwide agree that skin cancer is a global health issue, but only a few studies have reported on world populations’ interest in skin cancer. Internet search data can reflect the interest of a population in different topics and thereby identify what the population wants to know.ObjectiveOur aim was to assess the interest of the German population in nonmelanoma skin cancer and melanoma.MethodsGoogle AdWords Keyword Planner was used to identify search terms related to nonmelanoma skin cancer and melanoma in Germany from November 2013 to October 2017. The identified search terms were assessed descriptively using SPSS version 24.0. In addition, the search terms were qualitatively categorized.ResultsA total of 646 skin cancer-related search terms were identified with 19,849,230 Google searches in the period under review. The search terms with the highest search volume were “skin cancer” (n=2,388,500, 12.03%), “white skin cancer” (n=2,056,900, 10.36%), “basalioma” (n=907,000, 4.57%), and “melanoma” (n=717,800, 3.62%). The most searched localizations of nonmelanoma skin cancer were “nose” (n=93,370, 38.99%) and “face” (n=53,270, 22.24%), and the most searched of melanoma were “nails” (n=46,270, 70.61%) and “eye” (n=10,480, 15.99%). The skin cancer‒related category with the highest search volume was “forms of skin cancer” (n=10,162,540, 23.28%) followed by “skin alterations” (n=4,962,020, 11.36%).ConclusionsOur study provides insight into terms and fields of interest related to skin cancer relevant to the German population. Furthermore, temporal trends and courses are shown. This information could aid in the development and implementation of effective and sustainable awareness campaigns by developing information sources targeted to the population’s broad interest or by implementing new Internet campaigns.

Background According to the World Health Organization, mental health is a state of well-being and not merely the absence of disease. However, studies exploring subjective well-being in patients with skin diseases are very rare. Objectives To assess subjective well-being, i.e. 'happiness', in patients with different skin diseases and to compare them to other patient groups and healthy controls. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from 12/2017 to 04/2019. Patients receiving in-or outpatient care for psoriasis, atopic eczema, nummular eczema, mastocytosis, skin cancer (malignant melanoma and keratinocyte carcinoma), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) were recruited at two hospitals in Bavaria, Germany. Healthy individuals living in or near Munich served as a control group. All participants filled in a questionnaire assessing happiness, measured as positive affect (PA), negative affect and satisfaction with life (SWL; together representing subjective well-being) and a heuristic evaluation of one's own happiness. Results Data from 229 dermatologic patients (53.3 AE 18.5 years, 48% women), 49 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (48.9 AE 18.7 years, 43% women), 49 patients with HIV (46 AE 10.1 years, 10% women) and 106 healthy controls (38.4 AE 13.4 years, 49% women) were analysed. Compared to the controls, dermatologic patients reported lower heuristic happiness (P = 0.023) and PA (P = 0.001) but higher SWL (P = 0.043). Patients with psoriasis and atopic eczema reported the lowest happiness, as they reported significantly lower PA (P = 0.032 and P < 0.001) and heuristic happiness (P = 0.002 and P = 0.015) than the control group. Patients with skin cancer reported higher SWL than the control group (P = 0.003). Dermatologic patients reported lower happiness than patients with HIV but reported greater happiness than patients with IBD. Conclusions Dermatologic patients experience lower levels of happiness, especially PA, compared to healthy controls. As PA is linked to desirable health outcomes, targeting PA could be a promising holistic approach for the treatment of skin diseases.

To investigate the value of anorexiant medications as an adjunct to other forms of weight control therapy, we studied 121 people in a 34-week, double-blind clinical trial of 60 mg extended-release fenfluramine plus 15 mg phentermine resin versus placebo added to behavior modification, caloric restriction, and exercise. Participants weighed 130% to 180% (154% +/- 1.2%, mean +/- SEM) of ideal body weight (1983 Metropolitan Life tables) and were in good health. By week 34, participants receiving active medication lost an average of 14.2 +/- 0.9 kg, or 15.9% +/- 0.9% of initial weight (n = 58), versus a loss of 4.6 +/- 0.8 kg or 4.9% +/- 0.9% of initial weight by subjects taking placebo (n = 54; p less than 0.001). On visual analog scales, participants rated fenfluramine plus phentermine as more helpful than placebo (50.3 +/- 0.5 versus 20.3 +/- 0.3) and not bothersome (fenfluramine plus phentermine, 17.4 +/- 0.3 versus 13.5 +/- 0.2). Blood pressure decreased and pulse remained unchanged in both groups. Dry mouth was the most common adverse effect in subjects receiving fenfluramine plus phentermine; all adverse effects decreased after 4 weeks. Only nine participants left the study in the first 34 weeks. Two subjects from each group left the study as a result of adverse effects. Overall, fenfluramine plus phentermine used in conjunction with behavior modification, caloric restriction, and exercise aided weight loss and continued to be efficacious for 34 weeks.

Worldwide 2–3 million cases of keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) are diagnosed annually. Sun‐related knowledge is essential for adequate protection against solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), the main risk factor for KC. The goal was (i) to provide an updated overview of primary prevention against KC including skin cancer‐related knowledge, attitudes and sun protection behaviour (SPB) of outdoor workers, the general population and medical professionals as well as (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of sun protection programmes. We conducted a systematic review of articles indexed for MEDLINE on PubMed using selected MeSH terms and keywords related to the studied topic as well as an extensive hand search of publications between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2018. We identified 51 relevant cross‐sectional studies and 22 interventional studies. Sun‐related knowledge and attitude showed substantial differences with some alarming results, including people who had not even heard about skin cancer before. Reported SPB varied enormously between the included studies, with none of the studies providing an overall sufficient SPB in their examined sun protection measures. However, sun protection programmes using new technologies seem to have great potential to increase sun‐related knowledge and SPB. In countries worldwide, particularly in those where KC is not yet a public health issue, UVR protection should be promoted by healthcare institutions and authorities, politicians, cancer foundations and dermatologists to increase awareness as well as SPB and to decrease the worldwide burden of KC.

Summary Background and objectives The Internet is a commonly used source of health‐related information. Social media allow psoriasis patients to seek and share information about their disease. However, they also involve risks such as misinformation and envy. The aim of this study was to explore the relevance and suitability of Facebook as a source of disease‐related information for patients with psoriasis. Patients and methods Cross‐sectional study consisting of an online survey (11/2017–01/2018). The link was published on a German information website focused on psoriasis. We also collected data about the respondents' general and disease‐related Facebook habits as well as their assessment of opportunities and risks of Facebook in the context of psoriasis. Results 101 participants with psoriasis completed the questionnaire. Of these, 75 % reported using Facebook at least once a month, and 72 % of Facebook users stated that they had searched for disease‐related information on Facebook. Active members of psoriasis‐related Facebook groups deemed Facebook more helpful for coping with psoriasis. 60 % of Facebook users reported unreliable information and 57 % reported sales promotions regarding psoriasis when using Facebook. Conclusions We found that Facebook is a relevant source of information for psoriasis patients. However, the quality of information offered seems insufficient and needs to be improved.

Abstract. Prior research has shown an association between Facebook users’ likelihood of engaging in social surveillance (i.e., browsing through friends’ postings without directly interacting with them), their experience of envy, and their depressive symptoms. Yet the directionality and duration of this effect are unclear. Drawing on the stress generation hypothesis, we postulate that depression increases Facebook surveillance and envy, which may increase depression over time. Using a cross-lagged longitudinal design with two waves spaced 1 year apart, we find that, as expected, depression was associated with more Facebook surveillance and more envy, both initially and 1 year later. However, neither Facebook surveillance nor envy at Time 1 increased depression at Time 2. Instead, depression predicted envy, and envy predicted Facebook surveillance over time. The results show the utility of the stress generation hypothesis in a social media context and have implications for Facebook users’ psychological well-being.

Patients with genital psoriasis have a poorer quality of life and more sexual distress. Therefore, we conducted an online-based nationwide survey across Germany addressing persons living with psoriasis. Overall, we had 344 participants. Of these, 198 (57.6%) stated to have genital psoriasis and 83 (24.1%) did not see a doctor at the moment. Most prevalent reasons to avoid sexual activities were 'shame,' 'pain,' and 'fear of rejection.' Avoidance of sexual contact is high in individuals reached via this online-survey and needs to be further addressed. Furthermore, the approach of reaching out affected individuals, not only patients, could represent a great asset for future health care. Patients with genital psoriasis show poorer outcomes regarding quality of life and sexual distress than those without. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of genital psoriasis and to determine factors associated with the avoidance of sexual activities due to psoriasis in a non-clinical setting. A cross-sectional, person-centered, and online-based nationwide survey was conducted in Germany between March and June 2019. A multiple logistic regression model was used to analyze the data. Furthermore, free-text answers were provided. Overall, 344 individuals with psoriasis participated. Of these, 198 (57.6%) reported having genital psoriasis and 261 (75.9%) currently received medical care. Duration of psoriasis, subjective overall severity, and pain during sex were associated with the avoidance of sexual activities. Most prevalent reasons to avoid sexual activities were 'shame,' 'pain,' and 'fear of rejection.' Sexual distress was high in this sample and a person-centered care approach needs to be further promoted.