Background: The value of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) monitoring during isotretinoin therapy is still a matter of debate because of the rarity of muscular and kidney damage in this setting. The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence of CPK elevation during a low starting dose isotretinoin regimen and to discuss the clinical approach to patients with increased CPK. Methods: We reviewed the records of the acne patients from 2015 to 2018 at the University of Ferrara and at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Routine clinical and laboratory follow-up was analyzed. Results: The records of 328 patients were included in the study. Abnormal CPK levels were observed in 5.5% of cases. Revised Leeds acne scores and visual assessment scale (VAS) measurements decreased significantly after isotretinoin therapy. Discussion: The adoption of the low starting dose isotretinoin regimen is associated with low incidence of CPK elevation. The finding of CPK over the conventional value of 5 times above the limit was rarely observed and was never as-sociated with kidney damage. Therefore, it should be interpreted as a relatively benign phenomenon that does not require the interruption of isotretinoin therapy and that should be managed mainly through the reassurance of the patient.

Partial trisomy‐13 mosaicism (PT13M) is a rare condition. Among its possible associated cutaneous features, phylloid hypomelanosis (PH), characterized by leaf‐like macules reminiscent of floral ornaments in the form of round or oval spots and patches and oblong lesions, is typical. Two cases of PH associated with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) have been already reported in the literature. We report a third child with PH due to PT13M associated with HS‐like lesions limited to hypomelanotic regions. We hypothesize that follicular occlusion genes may be located in the duplicated part of chromosome 13.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome is a rare genodermatosis characterized by keratitis, neurosensorial auditory impairment and ichthyosiform skin involvement. Frequent complications of the syndrome are chronic, opportunistic cutaneous infections, and the development of skin cancers. Several cases of association between KID syndrome and other conditions, including hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), are described in the literature. This correlation could be explained by the hyperproliferative state of the epidermis, which occurs in KID syndrome and may favor follicular plugging. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The aim of this study was to describe a very rare case of association between KID syndrome and HS and its complex therapeutic management. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The failure of the drugs commonly used in HS and the excellent results of surgery, although difficult to achieve, were experienced. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Despite the technical difficulties related to surgery, namely, cutaneous superinfections, frequent dehisce of the suture, and closure by secondary intention, the authors strongly recommend the surgical approach in these patients.

Purpose The impact of malignant melanoma (MM) on patients’ psychophysical well-being has been poorly addressed. We aimed to assess the perceived burden in patients with a diagnosis of MM, using two different tools, one generic and one specific for MM, such as Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure (PRISM) and Melanoma Concerns Questionnaire (MCQ-28), respectively. The correlation between PRISM and MCQ-28 subscales and the relevance of disease and patient-related variables were also investigated. Methods This single-centre, cross-sectional study included all adult consecutive MM patients who attended our Dermatology Unit from December 2020 to June 2021. Demographics and disease-related data were recorded. PRISM and MCQ-28 were administered. Results One hundred and seventy-one patients were included (mean age: 59.5 ±14.9 years.; 48.0% males). Median time from MM diagnosis to inclusion was 36 months. Nearly 80% of the patients had in situ or stage I MM. Overall, 22.2% of the patients reported a PRISM score <100mm and similar percentages provided scores indicating impaired quality of life, as assessed with MCQ-28 subscales. A weak, albeit significant, correlation was found between PRISM scores and ACP, CON and SOC2 subscales. The most relevant association found was that between lower PRISM scores and higher-stage MM. Conclusions In the study population, mostly affected with superficial MM, their perception of the burden associated with MM did not appear either particularly dramatic or disabling. PRISM seems a reliable system for capturing and quantifying the domains correlated with the emotive dimension of MM, especially MM-related concerns and willingness to face life

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), together with other inflammatory diseases, is involved in a syndromic network where different combinations of signs and symptoms characterize the definition. The observation of the concurrent occurrence of HS, pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in detail ulcerative colitis (UC), led the authors to describe a new association. The patient, a 36-year-old woman, who saw IBD as the first appearing condition, shortly followed by HS and PG, was referred because of a clinical situation quickly worsening. A severe aggravation of both GI symptoms and general systemic situation total led to total colectomy. Surprisingly, shortly after the radical surgical treatment of UC, the cutaneous manifestations of HS and PG with no specific treatment almost completely disappeared suggesting the existence of a common etiopathogenetic mechanism and possibly an inductor role of UC on the other disorders. The presentation of this case offers the opportunity to deal with the fact that the resolution of one of the associated conditions may lead to the clearance of one or more of the others. It confirms a pathogenetic link between them and the pivotal role of one of them, in this case colitis.

Objective A recently proposed self‐assessment questionnaire aimed at diagnosing sensitive skin provided promising results in a relatively small population. The main objectives were: (i) to assess the reliability of the aforementioned questionnaire in a larger population and verify the cut‐off score previously found to predict skin sensitivity (defined as positivity to LAST, lactic acid stinging test) and (ii) to define a formula that yields the probability of a positive LAST result. Methods Adult volunteers were included in this observational, cross‐sectional, extended study. Both LAST‐positive subjects, who were considered as having sensitive skin (‘patients’) and negative ones (‘controls’) completed the questionnaire, which concerned sensitivity to possible triggers of unpleasant skin sensations in real life. A cumulative score (questionnaire‐based skin sensitivity score, 0–10) was calculated from the sum of all items. Results Three hundred and sixty‐four subjects were enrolled, 214 patients and 150 controls. The mean questionnaire‐based skin sensitivity score was significantly higher among patients than controls. Using two different methods, cut‐off values of 4 and 5 were defined for the identification of LAST‐positive subjects, with 76.6% and 72.8% accuracy, respectively. Scores below 4 or above 5 showed a high (80% or better) negative or positive predictive value, respectively. The coefficients found that in multivariate analysis for each questionnaire item, gender and age allowed us to calculate the probability of LAST positivity with higher precision taking into account the ‘relative weight’ of each factor. Conclusion With small variations in the results, the self‐assessment questionnaire confirmed its reliability for diagnosing sensitive skin in clinical practice.

Urticaria is an inflammatory skin disorder that may occur in isolation or associated with angioedema and/or anaphylaxis. Clinically, it is characterized by the presence of smooth, erythematous or blanching, itchy swelling, called wheals or hives, which greatly vary in size and shape and last less than 24 h before fading to leave normal skin. Urticaria is the consequence of mast-cell degranulation that can be caused by immunological or non-immunological mechanisms. From a clinical point of view, many skin conditions can mimic urticaria and their recognition is mandatory for a correct management and therapeutic approach. We have reviewed all of the main relevant studies which addressed differential diagnosis of urticarial, published until December 2022. The National Library of Medicine PubMed database was used for the electronic research. The present review offers a clinical narrative overview, based on the available literature, of the principal skin disorders that can be misdiagnosed as urticaria (mainly autoinflammatory or autoimmune disorders, drug-induced reactions, and hyperproliferative diseases). The aim of this review is to provide clinicians a useful tool for correctly suspecting and identifying all of these conditions.

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