Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease characterized by intensely pruritic lesions. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis is increasing in developing regions, including Africa and the Middle East. However, these regions are underrepresented in the dermatology literature, and a better understanding of the growing burden of atopic dermatitis in Africa and the Middle East is necessary. Herein, we summarize current knowledge on atopic dermatitis epidemiology, disease burden, and treatment options in Africa and the Middle East, highlighting the unmet needs of patients in these regions. With these needs in mind, we provide clinical recommendations for appropriate management of atopic dermatitis in Africa and the Middle East. Funding Pfizer Inc. Plain Language Summary Plain language summary available for this article.

A high incidence of skin diseases such as pyoderma and intertrigo among pilgrims of such a large congregation is understandable. Investigating these skin infections is worthwhile because they are preventable, easily diagnosed, and are curable in the majority of patients.

Background: Data on the epidemiology of telogen effluvium (TE) are limited, and its true incidence is largely unknown. Our aim is to calculate the prevalence of TE and evaluate its comorbidities and its relation to iron-deficiency anemia.Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 279 medical records of the patients with TE seen at Hera Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, between 2011 and 2013.Results: Of 279 female patients (mean age: 29.82 years), 58.5% of the patients were between the age of 21 and 40. Hypothyroidism was reported in 21.1% of the patients, dermatitis in 11.8%, diabetes mellitus in 5.7%, and bronchial asthma in 3.6%. Low hemoglobin was observed in 94.9% of the patients, low MCH in 99.6%, and low hematocrit in 90.21%. Serum ferritin was at 630 ng/mL in 64% of the patients and 670 ng/mL in 89.1%. The systemic treatment included the following: iron supplementation in 58.8%, folic acid in 51.3%, and zinc in 25.1%. Topical treatments included steroid in 63.1%, minoxidil in 34.8%, hair tonic in 68.8%, and antidandruff in 19.4%.Conclusions: All patients were females, with most of their ages of onset between 21 and 40. It was commonly associated with irondeficiency anemia and hypothyroidism. Ó 2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).

The current treatment of psoriasis patients with biologic agents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is mainly based on clinical experience. Although there are published international guidelines for treatment with biologics, such as the European S3 guidelines (a joint project of the European Dermatology Forum, the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, and the International Psoriasis Council), many nations have found it beneficial to develop country-based guidelines that incorporate specific regional aspects of therapy (legal and practical). With the expanded role of biologic agents in the treatment of psoriasis in Saudi Arabia, a need for local Saudi guidelines has become evident. Here we present a practical approach to the evidence-based clinical administration of biologics for professionals who treat patients with psoriasis.