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Psychodermatology is a subspecialty of dermatology that is of increasing interest to dermatologists and patients. The case for the provision of at least regional psychodermatology services across Europe is robust. Psychodermatology services have been shown to have better, quicker and more cost‐efficient clinical outcomes for patients with psychodermatological conditions. Despite this, psychodermatology services are not uniformly available across Europe. In fact many countries have yet to establish dedicated psychodermatology services. In other countries psychodermatology services are in development. Even in countries where psychodermatolgy units have been established, the services are not available across the whole country. This is especially true for the provision of paediatric psychodermatology services. Also whilst most states across Europe are keen to develop psychodermatology services, the rate at which this development is being implemented is very slow. Our paper maps the current provision of psychodermatology services across Europe and indicates that there is still very much more work to be done in order to develop the comprehensive psychodermatology services across Europe, which are so crucial for our patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease that can have a high impact on quality of life, especially due to itch and skin pain. This paper utilizes expertise from members of the International Society of Atopic Dermatitis (ISAD)/Oriented Patient‐Education Network in Dermatology (OPENED) task force to review the epidemiology, pathophysiology and exacerbating factors of itch and pain in atopic dermatitis. General principles of treatment are provided, as well as a more detailed evaluation of topical and systemic therapies. Educational and psychological approaches to itch and pain in atopic dermatitis are proposed, along with expert recommendations for the management of itch and pain in atopic dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acne causes profound negative psychological and social effects on the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The European Dermatology Forum S3-Guideline for the Treatment of Acne recommended adopting a QoL measure as an integral part of acne management. Because of constantly growing interest in health-related QoL assessment in acne and because of the high impact of acne on patients’ lives, the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Force on QoL and Patient Oriented Outcomes and the Task Force on Acne, Rosacea and Hidradenitis Suppurativa have documented the QoL instruments that have been used in acne patients, with information on validation, purposes of their usage, description of common limitations and mistakes in their usage and overall recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many events, including the COVID‐19 pandemic, have accelerated the implementation of teledermatology pathways within dermatology departments and across healthcare organizations. Quality of Life (QoL) assessment in dermatology is also a rapidly developing field with a gradual shift from theory to practice. The purpose of this paper organized jointly by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Task Force (TF) on QoL and patient‐oriented outcomes and the EADV TF on teledermatology is to present current knowledge about QoL assessment during the use of teledermatology approaches, including data on health‐related (HR) QoL instruments used in teledermatology, comparison of influence of different treatment methods on HRQoL after face‐to‐face and teledermatology consultations and to make practical recommendations concerning the assessment of QoL in teledermatology. The EADV TFs made the following position statements: HRQoL assessment may be an important part in most of teledermatology activities; HRQoL assessment may be easily and effectively performed during teledermatology consultations. It is especially important to monitor HRQoL of patients with chronic skin diseases during lockdowns or in areas where it is difficult to reach a hospital for face‐to‐face consultation; regular assessment of HRQoL of patients with skin diseases during teledermatology consultations may help to monitor therapy efficacy and visualize individual patient's needs; we recommend the use of the DLQI in teledermatology, including the use of the DLQI app which is available in seven languages; it is important to develop apps for dermatology‐specific HRQoL instruments for use in children (for example the CDLQI and InToDermQoL) and for disease‐specific instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents several abstracts related to the field of dermatology. Study of sensitization induced by fragance components in mice; Cases of keratoacanthoma centrifugum marginatum; Lipoproteins and lipoproteic parameters in psoriatic patients.

The Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology would like to express their gratitude to the reviewers who contributed significantly to their publications in 2023. The list includes a diverse range of individuals from various countries who reviewed three or more papers. This acknowledgment demonstrates the importance of their expertise and dedication to the field of dermatology and venereology. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The members of the Task Force on Contact Dermatitis and the Task Force on Occupational Dermatoses of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), of the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), and the members of the UEMS Section of Dermatology‐Venereology (UEMS‐EBDV) we want to vindicate the fundamental role that the specialist in Dermatology has in the diagnosis and management of Immuno‐mediated /allergic Diseases. Objective: In disagreement with the blueprint paper of the UEMS section of Allergology (2013), in which dermatologists are excluded from one of their core activities it was decided to write this consensus paper. Discussion: The skin occupies a crucial place in the broad spectrum of allergic diseases; there is no other organ with such a multitude of different clinical conditions mediated by so many pathogenetic immune mechanisms. Subsequently, dermatologists play a fundamental role in the management of immune‐mediated diseases including among others contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria and angioedema or cutaneous adverse drug, food and arthropod reactions. The essential role of dermatology in the diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive management of immune mediated /allergic diseases which is crucial for patient management is justified from both the academic and professional point of view. Conclusion: Based on the best care of the patient with cutaneous immune allergic disease a multidisciplinary approach is desirable and the dermatologist has a pivotal role in patient management. Be so good and no one will not ignore you, dermatologist. Ideally Dermatology should be governed according the following Henry Ford statement: "Arriving together is the beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New treatment options may lead to an increased interest in using reliable and sensitive instruments to assess health‐related quality of life in people with alopecia areata (AA). The purpose of this paper is to present current knowledge about quality of life assessment in AA. The dermatology‐specific Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was the most widely reported health‐related quality of life instrument used in AA. Three AA‐specific (Alopecia Areata Symptom Impact Scale, Alopecia Areata Quality of Life Index and Alopecia Areata Patients' Quality of Life) and three hair disease‐specific instruments (Hairdex, Scalpdex and 'hair‐specific Skindex‐29') were identified with a range of content and validation characteristics: there is little evidence yet of the actual use of these measures in AA. Scalpdex is the best‐validated hair disease‐specific instrument. Further extensive validation is needed for all of the AA‐specific instruments. The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Force on Quality of Life and Patient Oriented Outcomes recommends the use of the dermatology‐specific DLQI questionnaire, hair disease‐specific Scalpdex and the alopecia areata‐specific instruments the Alopecia Areata Symptom Impact Scale or Alopecia Areata Quality of Life Index, despite the limited experience of their use. We hope that new treatment methods will be able to improve both clinical signs and health‐related quality of life in patients with AA. In order to assess the outcomes of trials on these new treatment methods, it would be helpful when further development and validation of AA‐specific instruments is being encouraged and also conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pharmaceutical approach to skin disease has been hugely successful, but despite effective drugs being available and used, there are still vast numbers of people who continue to have some level of persisting skin disease and continue to experience quality of life (QoL) impairment. So the question that needs to be answered, while we await further advances in our drug‐based armamentarium, is how can we improve patients' QoL, beyond drugs? A working group was formed from members of the EADV Task Force on QoL and Patient Oriented Outcomes. Participants were asked to suggest all the ways in which they considered patients' QoL may be improved beyond medicines. Four groups of management approaches that may improve QoL in dermatology were identified: interventions within the dermatology service (hospitalization, multidisciplinary teams, patch testing and establishing relevant allergens and education), external services (corrective make‐up, climatotherapy and balneotherapy), psychological (psychological intervention, cognitive therapy, hypnosis), lifestyle (lifestyle behavioural changes, religion and spirituality and music). The ultimate aim of therapy is to eradicate a disease in an individual and return the person's life to normal. But until the day comes when this has been achieved for every skin disease and for every patient there will be a need to support and assist many patients in additional non‐pharmaceutical ways. These 'adjuvant' approaches receive too little attention while dermatologists and researchers strive for better pharmacological therapy. The different ways in which patients may benefit have been reviewed in our paper, but the reality is that most have a very poor evidence base. The research challenges that we have to meet are to identify those approaches that might be of value and to provide evidence for their optimal use. In the meantime, clinicians should consider the use of these approaches where QoL remains impaired despite optimal use of standard therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assessment of treatment effects in clinical trials requires valid information on treatment adherence, adverse events and symptoms. Paper‐based diaries are often inconvenient and have limited reliability, particularly for outpatient trials. Objectives: To investigate the utility of an electronic diary (e‐diary) application for patients with skin diseases in outpatient clinical trials. Methods: An e‐diary application was developed and technically validated. Treatment adherence was defined as topical administration by the patient, and patient‐reported outcomes, i.e. pain and itch, were evaluated by the e‐diary in six clinical trials on newly tested topical drugs. Additionally, the proportion of patients capturing the applied topical drug by camera and filling in the pain and itch scores was defined as e‐diary adherence, and patients' perception of usefulness and acceptability of the e‐diary were evaluated. Results: Treatment adherence rates of the included 256 patients were high (median 98%, range 97–99%). E‐diary adherence was also high with a median of 93% (range 87–97%) for capturing the applied drug by camera, and 89% (range 87–96%) and 94% (range 87–96%) for entering respectively the itch and pain score. Daily symptom scores provided good insights into the disease burden, and patients rated the e‐diary as good to excellent with respect to user acceptability. Conclusions: The results suggest that the e‐diary is an excellent way to ensure proper treatment administration, indicated by both the high user acceptability scores and high treatment adherence. Moreover, the e‐diary may also be valuable for frequent and reliable monitoring of patient‐reported outcomes in daily clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of teledermatology in an inpatient setting is not well-established, with limited data published compared to the outpatient setting. Use of teledermatology by dermatology hospitalists is effective in the diagnosis and management of inpatient disease. It has, however, been demonstrated that teledermatology may be effective for managing inpatient dermatologic disease, leading to highly concordant diagnostic and management decisions.1,2 Involvement of dermatologists in the care of hospitalized patients has been found to improve patient outcomes3 with inpatient teledermatology reducing response times.4 We set up a store-and-forward, fully digitized, virtual inpatient referral service to replace our traditional paper-based, face-to-face (FTF) inpatient referral pathway, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. [Extracted from the article]

The patient is the centre of a web of relationships, and the impact of his/her disease on family members and caregivers must be taken into account. The aim of this study was to identify the specific instruments that measure the impact of a dermatological disease on the quality of life (QoL) of family members, by performing a systematic search of the literature. Fifteen papers were identified, describing the creation and validation of nine instruments. Four of them concerned atopic dermatitis (Dermatitis Family Index, DFI; Parents' Index QoL Atopic Dermatitis, PiQoL- AD; QoL in primary caregivers of children with atopic dermatitis, QPCAD; Childhood Atopic Dermatitis Impact Scale, CADIS), two measured the impact of psoriasis in family members (Psoriasis Family Index, PFI; FamilyPso), one the impact of epidermolysis bullosa (Epidermolysis Bullosa Burden of Disease, EB-BoD), one of ichthyosis (Family Burden Ichthyosis, FBI), and one was generic for dermatological conditions (Family Dermatology Life Quality Index, FDLQI). The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology quality of life taskforce recommends that the impact of a skin disease on family and caregivers should be measured as part of any thorough evaluation of the burden of a disease. Guidelines are given to choose the most appropriate instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Studies about health care of psoriasis patients in Germany are predominantly carried out in dermatological centres, which results in a certain selection bias. To collect data from other sources of patients, the German Centre of Health Services Research in Dermatology conducted a series of web-based studies. The extent of how data on health care on psoriasis gathered online vary from paper and pencil data is yet to be explored. Objective 1 To collect reliable treatment and benefit online data from psoriasis patients in Germany. 2 To compare these with data gathered at dermatological centres. Methods On the ‘psoriasis-hilfe.de’ web portal, psoriasis patients were asked to complete the online version of a questionnaire, which has already been used as a paper and pencil version in the national psoriasis study ‘PsoHealth’. Subsequently, difference analyses were conducted between the two data sets. Results The PsoWeb sample ( n = 1071) varies to a high extent from the PsoHealth sample ( n = 2009) regarding the achievement of treatment goals and treatment satisfaction. Irrespective of age, sex and duration of disease, the online sample showed lower treatment satisfaction and fewer patient-defined benefits. Conclusion The findings suggest that patients in the online sample are less satisfied with their health care, which also could have been their motive for participating online. It is important to gather data online because it increases the data pool and permits inclusion of people who are not incorporated in clinical settings. However, online data cannot directly replace data collected in clinics because they are also subject to selections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis paper provides an updated review of the use of antidepressant drugs in dermatology. Some of the psychiatric disorders that are usually comorbid with dermatological disorders and respond to antidepressants include major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, social phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder usually secondary to trauma and abuse during early life. Cutaneous symptoms may be the feature of a primary psychiatric disorder, e.g. cutaneous body image problems, dermatitis artefacta, neurotic excoriations and trichotillomania, or psychiatric syndromes may be comorbid with a primary dermatological disorder such as the association of major depressive disorder or social phobia with psoriasis and obsessive compulsive disorder with acne excoriee. Some of the salient pharmacological properties of the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants are reviewed. The review indicates that the SSRI antidepressants are potentially beneficial in the management of all the major psychiatric syndromes that are encountered in dermatological disorders. The generally more favourable side-effect profile of the SSRIs, such as lower cardiotoxicity in contrast to the TCAs, has made them the first-line agents for the treatment of depression. Furthermore, some of the pharmacological properties of the antidepressant agents that are not related to their antidepressant activity, such as the histamine H1 blocking effect of TCAs, such as doxepin, amitriptyline and trimipramine, are of benefit in dermatological conditions such as urticaria and pruritus. This paper reviews the general guidelines for use of antidepressants and salient drug–drug interactions resulting mainly from the inhibition of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 and 3A3/4 isoenzymes by some of the SSRI antidepressants. Before prescribing an antidepressant agent, the specific guidelines, side-effect profile,... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Two reports from the European Dermato-Epidemiology Network psoriasis project have analysed randomized controlled trials for psoriasis published during the periods of 1977-2000 and 2001-2006. Objective We sought to update the analysis of randomized controlled trials for the 2007-2013 period from 10 high-impact dermatology and medical journals. Methods This survey was conducted by electronic search on the PubMed database for eligible papers. We assessed and compared results to the two aforementioned published reports. Results In total, 84 studies were evaluated. Over half of the total trials studied novel therapeutics: 40 (47.6%) trials examined biologics and five (6.0%) examined novel oral agents. Proportion of trials studying more than one treatment modality increased from 7.1% in 2001-2006 to 25.0% in 2007-2013, with a decreased proportion of placebo-controlled studies from 69.3% to 47.1%. Conclusion The proportion of trials on novel therapies, including novel oral and biologic agents, has increased. The quality of trials has improved in the aspects of increased active treatment comparisons, including between biologics and conventional agents, and increased study size. Further insight into the influence of pharmaceutical companies can be studied by extending analysis to extension studies and subanalyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information about various papers related to medical sciences. The first paper is related to the ultraviolet radiations and their effects on the skin by doctor N. Bech-Thomsen. The second paper is related to photoaggravated dermatoses with emphasis on lupur erythematosus and porphyrias by doctor P. Lehmann. Another paper is related to systematic photoprotection by doctor M. Jeanmougin. Other discussed topics are computers in dermatology and practical demonstration of lasers in dermatology and venereology, computers in dermatology and practical demonstration of lasers in dermatology and venereology, and dermatopathology for the practicing dermatologist.

Decrease or loss of sexual function in many chronic diseases has recently attracted significant attention owing to its impact on quality of life. Generic and disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaires measure changes in work, school, social life and emotional status regarding the disease and its treatment. Specific questionnaires have been designed to evaluate changes in sexuality and sexual function. Sexual dysfunction, especially female sexual dysfunction, in different diseases became a popular and important health concern in recent years. There are a lot of studies about sexual dysfunction in the areas of other specialities of medicine, but there are only a few studies in dermatological diseases. In this paper, sexual dysfunction and the studies performed about this subject in dermatology will be reviewed. Conflict of Interest None declared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Colours of striae distensae are often different from that of the surrounding skin. A close look using dermoscopy discloses distinct patterns of melanized networks at these sites. The aim of the study was to design a method of high-∖resolution analytical analysis of the skin colours using the combination of photographic dermoscopy and small field reflectance colorimetry. Methods Clinical photographs were taken from striae distensae and their surrounding skin using a Dermaphot® (Heine Optotechnik, Hersching, Germany). A final magnification of 125× was obtained on paper photographs. The reflectance colorimeter Visi-Chroma VC-100 (Biophotonics, Lessines, Belgium) was used to measure colours of the pigmentary networks in the L*a*b* system. Differential colour parameters (ΔE*ab, ΔL*, Δa*, Δb*) were calculated for each case between the lesional and the surrounding normal skin, and between the melanized reticulated pattern and the enclosed lighter areas. Results Objective colorimetric assessments distinguished four distinct types, namely striae albae, striae rubrae, striae caeruleae and striae nigrae. The latter peculiar hyperpigmented type of striae distensae was specifically identified by epiluminescence examination in dark-skinned subjects. The fine-melanized honeycomb network present on the adjacent intact skin was reshaped inside striae in a streaky pattern perpendicular to the striae axis. Strong linear correlations were found between all combinations of ΔL* and Δb* evaluating colours of the reticulated and the honeycomb alveolar patterns both inside and outside the striae distensae. By contrast, no correlations were found between Δa* and the other colorimetric parameters. Conclusion The direct and/or indirect influences of melanocyte mechanobiology appear to have a prominent effect on the various colours of striae distensae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents abstracts of research papers on dermatology presented to the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. "Sunflower oleodistillate a new natural PPAR-alpha activator with anti-inflammatory properties," by L. Dubusquoy, N. Piccardi, P. Msika, J. Auwerx and P. Chambon; "Tacrolimus ointment reduces immunoflogosis in atopic dermatitis," by M. Caproni, D. Torchia, E. Antiga, W. Volpi, E. Del Bianco and P. Fabbri; "Increased expression and a potential anti-inflammatory role of TRAIL in atopic dermatitis," by E. Vassina, M. Leverkus, L. R. Braathen, H.-U. Simon and D. Simon.

Presents abstracts of research papers on dermatology published in a satellite symposia of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. "Biological mechanisms of wound healing," by M. Simmon; "Madecassoside: biological implications in wound healing," by A. Loiseau; "Facial assessments: identifying the suitable pathway to facial rejuvenation," by S. Weinkle; "Retinoids for anti-aging the retinoid-hyaluronate connection," by J.-H. Saurat.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common inflammation of the skin, occurring most often on the face, scalp and chest. It is closely related to infantile seborrheic dermatitis, or diaper rash. Seborrheic dermatitis is particularly common in patients with Parkinson's disease or with HIV/AIDS. The recent resurgence of interest in Malassezia yeasts has revived the old hypothesis that seborrheic dermatitis is caused by an altered relationship between these skin commensals and the host. Moreover, the success of antifungal medications in treating seborrheic dermatitis provides new evidence for this view. Upon completing this paper, the reader should be aware of the clinical presentation of seborrheic dermatitis and which populations are at particular risk of developing this disorder. In addition, s/he will be aware of the role of Malassezia yeasts in seborrheic dermatitis and the way in which knowledge of the importance of these yeasts has altered the treatment of this disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents abstracts of papers presented at workshops of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, as of November 2003. 'Diagnostic procedures in autoimmune bullous diseases,' by B.S. Bhogal; 'Diagnostic procedures in dermatitis herpetiformis and coeliac disease,' by S. Karpati; 'Dermatomyositis,' by C. Herrero.

Presents abstracts of papers from various courses of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 'Production and nature of UVR and its interactions with matter,' by H.C. Wulf; 'Polymorphic light eruption, hydroa vacciniforme,' by R. Roelandts; 'Legislative aspects on preservatives,' by I.R. White; 'Genodermatoses,' by J.E. Mellerio.

Presents abstracts of papers presented at symposia of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, as of November 2003. 'About fragrances,' by M.F. Cano-Brulos; 'Methodology to test and to patch-test fragrance allergy,' by A. Goossens; 'Ethnic skin and hair,' by M. Ramos-e-Silva and F. Addor.

Presents abstracts of papers presented at satellite symposia of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, as of November 2003. 'Corrective cosmetics improve the quality of life in patients with disfiguring diseases,' by V. Holloway and S. Feldman; 'Understanding disease mechanisms to develop new treatment options,' by J. Simon.

Presents an index of authors who presented papers during the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology's 2003 conference.

AbstractDermatoscopy or epiluminescence microscopy (ELM), is a noninvasive method that enables clinicians to evaluate fully – by means of a magnified oil immersion diascopy – numerous morphological features, not visible with the naked eye, which enhance the diagnosis of nearly all pigmented skin lesions. In recent years, a burst of research activity in this topic has been carried out, dealing with different aspects, and new frontiers, of this technique. First, a continuous refinement of dermatoscopic terminology is undertaken, paying particular attention to the diagnostic performance of dermatoscopy at peculiar anatomical sites and to the building of different dermatoscopic algorithms aimed at a simplified diagnosis of melanoma, even for less experienced observers. Another point of interest concerns the possible role of dermatoscopy in the pre-operative assessment of melanoma thickness. Finally, promising data about the role of digital equipment in the follow up of melanocytic skin lesions as well as in the automated diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions have been recently reported. This paper should enable readers to become familiar with the procedure and terminology of ELM in the diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions encouraging a greater understanding of different methods (pattern analysis, algorithms) in the diagnosis of melanoma using ELM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Until the 1980s, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) were considered rare and almost impossible to treat, but it is now recognized that they are frequently encountered and can respond to treatment. Many OCD involve the skin and are therefore observed by dermatologists: we call them dermo-OCD (DOCD). However, despite this, there are few reports in the dermatological literature and the majority are by American authors. Objective: The aim of this paper is to offer a critical rediscussion of the diagnostic picture of this pathology on the basis of a review of the literature and the clinical observations of the authors. The main difficulties that dermatologists may encounter are described and some therapeutic guidelines are given. Conclusions: A large number of OCD are frequently observed by dermatologists, but not all of them are recognized as DOCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central description In this paper we present a survey of the main reactive oxygen species (ROS) their biological sources and the array of antioxidant enzymnes and antiradical molecules which constitutes the cellular defense against ROS toxicity. We outline also the fundamentals of ROS biochemistry, in relation to the role of ROS in several human pathologies. Finally, we discuss with particular emphasis the involvement of ROS in dermatological diseases, highlighting the possible therapeutic application of antioxidants in skin care. Learning objective The reader will learn what ROS are, the identity of the anti-ROS defensive system in human cells and the manyfold roles of ROS in human physiopathology, and thus the potential application of antioxidants in clinical therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interview with professor Robin Marks is presented. He mentions that the characteristics common to his teachers was their encouragement, enthusiasm, sensitivity and intelligence. He states that the papers he thinks were most helpful for the community associate to his work in skin cancer. He projects that there will be an increasing use of artificial intelligence programs to assist therapeutics and diagnosis.

Background Atlases on CD-ROM first substituted the use of paediatric dermatology atlases printed on paper. This permitted a faster search and a practical comparison of differential diagnoses. The third step in the evolution of clinical atlases was the onset of the online atlas. Many doctors now use the Internet image search engines to obtain clinical images directly. Objectives The aim of this study was to test the reliability of the image search engines compared to the online atlases. Methods We tested seven Internet image search engines with three paediatric dermatology diseases. Results In general, the service offered by the search engines is good, and continues to be free of charge. The coincidence between what we searched for and what we found was generally excellent, and contained no advertisements. Most Internet search engines provided similar results but some were more user friendly than others. It is not necessary to repeat the same research with Picsearch, Lycos and MSN, as the response would be the same; there is a possibility that they might share software. Conclusions Image search engines are a useful, free and precise method to obtain paediatric dermatology images for teaching purposes. There is still the matter of copyright to be resolved. What are the legal uses of these ‘free’ images? How do we define ‘teaching purposes’? New watermark methods and encrypted electronic signatures might solve these problems and answer these questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents abstracts of papers presented at lunch-time sessions of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology's 2003 conference. 'PDT compared with cryotherapy in actinic keratosis,' by K.H. Kernland Lang; 'Role of epidermal barrier in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis,' by M. Fartasch; 'Pigmentary disorders—what's new?,' by E. Mooney.

This article provides information on papers related to dermatology and venereology published in various journals as of July 1, 1999. This article provides useful clinical data on cetirizine activity. Administration of this potent antihistamine drug need not to be suspended before patch testing, because the clinical reading of the patch test is not hampered by cetirizine. Only a very sensitive technique. such as erythema quantitation by image analysis. showed a reduced erythema under cetirizine. Scleredema adultorum of Buschke is a rare disorder of unknown aetiology. It is characterized by diffuse, non-pitting swelling and induration of the skin. Skin biopsies reveal marked thickening of the dermis due to collagenous replacement of the subcutis and deposition of hyaluronic acid between the collagen fibers. The disease classically only affects the skin.

This article presents table of contents for the subjects published in the issue of the "Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology" as on January 1999. This article presents information on papers such as concentration of epidermal growth factor in blood serum of males during topical treatment of psoriasis, efficacy and safety of mizolastine in a placebo-controlled comparison with loratadine in chronic idiopathic urticaria and issues related to altered sperm function.

Presents abstracts of papers presented during plenary lectures of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, as of November 2003. 'Free radicals and antioxidants in dermatology,' by J.H. Saurat; 'T-Cell homing in the skin,' by J.D. Bos; 'Immunomodulatory topical drugs,' by L.R. Braathen.

Presents abstracts of papers on dermatology research, as of November 2003. 'What's new in research?,' by K. Therstrup-Pedersen; 'What's new? — Clinical dermatology,' by J.P. Callen; 'Therapeutics—disorders of pigmentation,' by J.L. Bolognia.