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Byline: Taraneh. Yazdanparast, Kamran. Yazdani, Philippe. Humbert, Alireza. Khatami, Saman. Nasrollahi, Leila. Firouzabadi, Alireza. Firooz Background: Nowadays noninvasive techniques are performed to evaluate the biophysical properties of skin in vivo. [...]

Background: The goal of this study was evaluation of the skin biophysical properties in early patch/plaque stage of mycosis fungoides (MF) and its comparison with uninvolved skin in order to gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis of diseases. Materials and Methods: The stratum corneum hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), surface friction, pH, sebum, melanin, erythema, temperature, elasticity parameters (R0, R2, R5), thickness, and echo density of epidermis and dermis were measured on lesions of 21 patients and compared with controls (average measures of uninvolved perilesional and symmetrical skins) by paired sample t test. Results: Stratum corneum hydration (P < 0.001) and echo density of dermis (P = 0.044) were significantly lower, whereas pH (P‐value = 0.007), erythema (P < 0.001), and melanin content (P = 0.007) were significantly higher in lesions. There was not any significant difference in TEWL, friction index, sebum, temperature, R0, R2, R5, thickness of epidermis and dermis, and echo density of epidermis between lesions and normal skin. Conclusion: Parapsoriasis/MF lesions are specified by a set of certain changes in biophysical properties which are mainly correlated with histological changes. These sets of alterations may help in noninvasive, early diagnosis of parapsoriasis/MF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Persistent antigenic stimulation has been claimed to play a role in the development of this malignancy. We aimed to show the role of sulfur mustard in the pathogenesis of MF. A 45-year-old man with MF is introduced herein. He was a victim of chemical exposure in 1987 during the Iran-Iraq war. He developed skin lesions 3 years after exposure to sulfur mustard gas at the age of 21. Seven years after his exposure to sulfur mustard gas, a biopsy from the posterior distal part of his calf, which was injured and had bulla, revealed MF. Later, he developed more lesions on his extremities, trunk, and abdomen. On his previous admission, his left eyebrow was involved. A punch biopsy specimen was obtained from his eyebrow lesion, which rendered diffuse infiltration of atypical lymphocyte cells with some convoluted nuclei and scant cytoplasm admixed with lymphocytes, histiocytes, and mast cells compatible with the nodular stage of MF. At his last admission, a biopsy was obtained from the plaque lesions on his left thigh, and a TCR-γ gene rearrangement of the paraffin block of the plaque lesions revealed positive monoclonality. All the findings supported the MF diagnosis. We concluded that sulfur mustard could be a risk factor for MF development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 27-year-old woman presented to the dermatology department with a 1-year history of multiple asymptomatic violaceous lesions on her upper and lower extremities, trunk and abdomen. The lesions were firm on palpation. She had no other associated symptoms and the rest of the examination was unremarkable. An incisional biopsy showed multiple confluent granulomas composed of histiocytes devoid of necrosis surrounded by a rim of lymphocytes extending to the subcutaneous fat consistent with the diagnosis of subcutaneous sarcoidosis. The serum ACE assay was elevated at 134 IU/L. Other blood tests including complete blood count, renal and liver function tests, serum calcium and phosphate were within normal ranges and chest X-ray was unremarkable. Complete remission was achieved with an intralesional triamcinolone injection (10 mg/ mL) for a few sessions. Subcutaneous sarcoidosis is a rare variation and its diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 27-year-old woman presented to the dermatology department with a 1-year history of multiple asymptomatic violaceous lesions on her upper and lower extremities, trunk and abdomen. The lesions were firm on palpation. She had no other associated symptoms and the rest of the examination was unremarkable. An incisional biopsy showed multiple confluent granulomas composed of histiocytes devoid of necrosis surrounded by a rim of lymphocytes extending to the subcutaneous fat consistent with the diagnosis of subcutaneous sarcoidosis. The serum ACE assay was elevated at 134 IU/L. Other blood tests including complete blood count, renal and liver function tests, serum calcium and phosphate were within normal ranges and chest X-ray was unremarkable. Complete remission was achieved with an intralesional triamcinolone injection (10 mg/mL) for a few sessions. Subcutaneous sarcoidosis is a rare variation and its diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Pityriasis rosea (PR) is a common, self-limited, inflammatory papulosquamous skin disease with a possible viral etiology., Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate skin biophysical properties in patients with PR compared with uninvolved skin to better understand the pathogenesis of PR., Methods: Stratum corneum hydration, transepidermal water loss, surface friction, pH, sebum, melanin, erythema, temperature, elasticity parameters (R0, R2, R5), thickness, and echodensity of the epidermis and dermis were measured on lesions of classic PR in 21 patients and compared with control sites (average of uninvolved perilesional and symmetrical skin) with a paired t test., Results: Stratum corneum hydration ( p  < .001), R0 ( p  = .003), R2 ( p  = .001), R5 ( p  = .003), and echodensity of the dermis ( p  = .006) were significantly lower, whereas transepidermal water loss ( p  = .001), pH ( p  < .001), and erythema ( p  < .001) were significantly higher in PR lesions. There was no significant difference in friction index, sebum, melanin content, temperature, thickness of the epidermis and dermis, and echodensity of the epidermis between PR and normal skin., Conclusion: PR skin is characterized by certain alterations in biophysical properties, which are mostly correlated with histologic changes. These changes may be helpful in early, noninvasive diagnosis of PR., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Women's Dermatologic Society.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Background: Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin. Currently, noninvasive techniques are used to evaluate biophysical properties of the skin in vivo., Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate skin biophysical properties in patients with LP and make a comparison between involved and uninvolved skin to provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of LP., Methods: The stratum corneum hydration, transepidermal water loss, pH, erythema, melanin, sebum, friction, temperature, elasticity parameters (R0, R2, R5), and thickness and echo-density of the epidermis, dermis, and subepidermal low echogenic band were measured on lesions of classic LP in 21 patients and compared with the average of perilesional and symmetrical uninvolved skin (as control) with a paired t test., Results: Stratum corneum hydration ( p = .002), sebum ( p = .04), R0 ( p = .005), and echo-density of the dermis ( p = .005) were significantly lower, but pH ( p = .007), melanin content ( p < .001), erythema ( p < .001), temperature ( p = .01), thickness of dermis ( p = .02), and subepidermal low echogenic band ( p < .001) were significantly higher in LP lesions., Conclusion: An evaluation of its biophysical, biomechanical, and ultrasonographic characteristics showed that the skin is an objective, noninvasive, and quantitative measuring tool that can be used to provide valuable information about skin changes in classic LP.

Background: Skin biometrology is a useful method for evaluation of inflammatory skin disorders such as dermatitis, psoriasis, and lichen planus. The current study tries to compare the biophysical features of skin in dermatitis, psoriasis, and lichen planus. Methods: By a convenient sampling method, 22 mild to moderate chronic dermatitis, 26 psoriasis, and 21 lichen planus patients were recruited in the study. Stratum corneum (S.C.) hydration, Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), pH, erythema, melanin, sebum, friction, elasticity parameters (R0, R2, and R5), skin temperature, skin thickness, and echo-density of epidermis and dermis were measured on the lesional (selected active lesion), uninvolved perilesional, and uninvolved symmetrical skin. The average of perilesional and symmetrical uninvolved parameters was used as control, while the percentage change of each parameter [(lesion - control / control) ×100] was calculated, and compared among three diseases by ANOVA test using SPSS software version 18. The significance level was set at α=0.05. Results: Comparison of percentage changes showed that the changes in TEWL, friction index, sebum content, R2 (gross elasticity), R5 (net elasticity), skin temperature, dermal thickness, and epidermal density are not significantly different among three skin diseases. But there were significant differences in three diseases considering the decrease in S.C. hydration (p<0.001), R0 (opposed to firmness) (p<0.001), and dermal density (p<0.001) compared to control skin. Moreover, the increase in skin pH (p<0.001), melanin content (p=0.048), erythema (p=0.023), and epidermal thickness (p <0.001) significantly differed among these diseases. Conclusion: Dermatitis, psoriasis and lichen planus lesions had specific biophysical changes. It may be helpful in their differential diagnosis.

Background: Contact dermatitis is a common skin condition observed by dermatologists, presenting a burden on healthcare systems. Recently, there has been a trend in producing skin-identical topical preparations for the repair of skin. However, there is a limited number of experimental studies to assess the safety and efficacy of this products. Objective: This study assessed the clinical efficacy and safety of a skin-identical ceramide complex cream (Dermalex Repair Contact Eczema; Omega Pharma, Nazareth, Belgium) in the treatment of contact dermatitis. Design: This was a Phase II, before-after trial. Setting: This study was conducted at the Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy (CRTSDL) at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. Participants: Fifteen patients with contact dermatitis (8 men and 7 women) between the ages of 25 and 62 years (median age: 36.4 years) were enrolled in this study. Measurements: Changes were assessed using six skin biophysical parameters (transepidermal water loss [TEWL], stratum corneum [SC] hydration, melanin index, erythema index, skin pH, and skin friction), Physician Global Assessment (PGA) score, and Three-Item Severity (TIS) score at baseline, Week 2, and Week 4 of the study. Results: Skin hydration and TIS showed a statistically significant improvement after treatment with study cream ( p =0.023 and p =0.007, respectively). Although the reduction in TEWL was not significant, a slight decrease was observed at Week 4. Conclusions: The skin-identical ceramide complex cream improved contact dermatitis with a decrease in TIS and an increase in skin hydration, implying a repair of the skin barrier., Competing Interests: FUNDING:This study was supported by a research grant from Manousha Darou Co. in Tehran, Iran. DISCLOSURES:The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this article.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.