The current study introduces the combination of topical PRP and FCL as an effective, safe modality in the treatment of atrophic acne scars with shorter downtime than FCL alone and better tolerability than FCL combined with ID PRP.

No abstract

Narrowband ultraviolet (NB‐UV)B is accepted as corner stone therapy for vitiligo. Its influence on the expression of IL‐17, IL‐ 22 and FoxP3 as markers for the Th17 and Tregs lineages has not been studied before in the context of non‐segmental vitiligo (NSV). The study included 20 active NSV patients who received 36 NB‐UVB sessions and 20 controls. Clinical evaluation Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) and determination of tissue expression of IL‐17, IL‐22 and FoxP3 by qRT‐PCR (lesional, perilesional) were carried out before and after therapy. Baseline levels of IL‐17 and IL‐22 were significantly higher in patients, whereas FoxP3 was significantly lower. After therapy, IL‐17 and IL‐22 significantly dropped, whereas FoxP3 significantly increased (lesional, perilesional). Baseline and post‐treatment VASI showed significant positive correlations with IL‐17 and IL‐22 and significant negative correlation with FoxP3 expression. Restoration of the balance between Th17 and Tregs might represent a novel pathway for the improvement that NB‐UVB exerts in vitiligo patients.

This cross-sectional multicenter study aimed to evaluate serum CXCL-10, as an activity marker for vitiligo, and compare it with other putative serum and tissue markers. Serum CXCL-10 was compared to interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-17 using ELISA in 55 non-segmental vitiligo patients (30 active and 25 stable) and 30 healthy controls. Marginal skin biopsy was taken for immunohistochemical evaluation of CD8+T cells and CXCL-10+ve cells. Serum levels of CXCL-10, IL-17, and IL-6 were elevated in all vitiligo patients compared to controls (p < .05). All investigated serum markers were higher in active versus stable vitiligo. Tissue expression of CXCL-10+ve cells and CD8+ve T cells was stronger in vitiligo patients compared to controls, and tissue CXCL-10+ve cell expression was stronger in active versus stable cases. Positive correlations were noted between the different serum and tissue markers. CXCL-10 was the most specific, whereas IL-6 was the most sensitive serum marker to distinguish active from stable disease.

Summary Background Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare skin cancer. Standard treatment in the UK is either wide local excision (WLE) or Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). It is unclear which approach has the lower recurrence rate. Objectives We undertook a retrospective comparative review of surgical management of DFSP in the UK National Health Service in order to define (i) current surgical practice for primary and recurrent DFSP, (ii) local recurrence rates for primary DFSP and (iii) survival outcomes for DFSP. Methods A retrospective clinical case‐note review of patients with histologically confirmed DFSP (January 2004 to December 2013) who have undergone surgical treatment. Results The surgical management of 483 primary and 64 recurrent DFSP in 11 plastic surgery and 15 dermatology departments was analysed. Almost 75% of primary DFSP (n = 362) were treated with WLE and 20% (n = 97) with MMS. For recurrent DFSP, 69% (n = 44) and 23% (n = 15) of patients underwent WLE and MMS, respectively. Recurrent primary DFSP occurred in six patients after WLE and none after MMS. The median follow‐up time was 25·5 months (interquartile range 6·8–45·1) for new and 19·8 (IQR 4·5–44·5) for recurrent DFSP [Correction added on 1 Feb 2021, after first online publication: 4.8 years (interquartile range 3.5‐5.8) was incorrect], with eight reported deaths during the follow‐up analysis period (one confirmed to be DFSP related). Conclusions WLE was the most common surgical modality used to treat DFSP across the UK. The local recurrence rate was very low, occurring only after WLE. Although a prospective randomized controlled trial may provide more definitive outcomes, in the absence of a clearly superior surgical modality, treatment decisions should be based on patient preference, clinical expertise and cost.

Alopecia areata (AA) is an extremely common form of nonscarring hair loss, with a calculated lifetime risk of 2%. It affects both sexes and has no racial predilection, and it represents a significant healthcare burden. 1 Despite the high prevalence, there are no evidence-based treatments for AA. 2 Recent research has uncovered new insights into the etiopathogenesis of AA, which opened the door to the development of new treatment options. 3 Lacarrubba and colleagues first described the trichoscopic features of AA in 2004. Since then, numerous studies showed interest in studying the role of trichoscopy in the diagnosis, assessment of disease activity, severity, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring of AA. 4,5 Treatment by intralesional corticosteroids (ILCs) remains a standard of care in adults with limited patchy AA. 6-8 However, success rates vary, and local cutaneous atrophy and telangiectasia are common adverse effects. 9Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained much ground, in several medical fields including dermatology and plastic surgery, because of its ability to promote wound healing, 10 its skin rejuvenating effects, 11 and its ability to promote hair growth. 12,13

Both treatment modalities are effective and safe in the treatment of atrophic acne scars, with significantly higher scar response to the fractional Er:YAG laser treatment.

The use of PTX and SSZ as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of PV induced a faster and more significant decrease in the serum level of TNF-alpha, and this decrease was associated with rapid clinical improvement.