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Background: Urticaria is characterized by inappropriate mast cell degranulation leading to the development of wheals and/or angioedema. Twin and family studies indicate that there is a substantial heritable component to urticaria risk., Objective: Our aim was to identify genomic loci at which common genetic variation influences urticaria susceptibility., Methods: Genome-wide association studies of urticaria (including all subtypes) from 3 European cohorts (UK Biobank, FinnGen, and the Trøndelag Health Study [HUNT]) were combined through statistical meta-analysis (14,306 urticaria cases and 650,664 controls). Cases were identified via electronic health care records from primary and/or secondary care. To identify putative causal variants and genes, statistical fine-mapping, colocalization, and interrogation of publicly available single-cell transcriptome sequencing resources were performed., Results: Genome-wide significant associations (P < 5 × 10 -8 ) were identified at 6 independent loci. These included 2 previously reported association signals at 1q44 and the human leucocyte antigen region on chromosome 6. Genes with expected or established roles in mast cell biology were associated with the 4 other genome-wide association signals (GCSAML, FCER1A, TPSAB1, and CBLB). Colocalization of association signals consistent with the presence of shared causal variants was observed between urticaria susceptibility and increased expression of GCSAML (posterior probability of colocalization [PP coloc ] = 0.89) and FCER1A (PP coloc  = 0.91) in skin., Conclusion: Common genetic variation influencing the risk of developing urticaria was identified at 6 genomic loci. The relationship between genes with roles in mast cell biology and several association signals implicates genetic variability of specific components of mast cell function in the development of urticaria., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Physical urticaria is a type of urticaria in which recurrent wheals and/or angioedema occur following exposure of the skin to a physical stimulus. It is classified according to its triggers, which may be mechanical (friction, pressure, and vibration), thermal (cold and heat), or solar electromagnetic radiation. Symptoms of different physical urticarias can develop following specific activities that expose patients to an eliciting stimulus and may be variably accompanied by mucosal involvement and systemic symptoms, including nausea, headache, or even anaphylaxis. Differentiation of physical urticaria from other chronic urticarias requires careful clinical assessment and confirmatory provocation testing, which in turn can inform appropriate management. This clinical review provides an evidence-based summary of the epidemiology, clinical features, pathogenesis, diagnostic work-up, and management of physical urticaria., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest S.M.M. is a sub-investigator and C.T. is a principal and (national) chief investigator on the Pfizer-funded ALLEGRO clinical trial in alopecia areata. C.T. provides consulting services to Pfizer; sits on the scientific advisory board of Zura Bio Limited; and has received speaker fees from Leo Pharma. M.M. is or recently was a speaker and/or advisor for and/or has received research funding from Allakos, Amgen, Aralez, ArgenX, AstraZeneca, Celldex, Centogene, CSL Behring, FAES, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, GI Innovation, Gilead, Innate Pharma, Kyowa Kirin, Leo Pharma, Lilly, Menarini, Moxie, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi/Regeneron, Third HarmonicBio, and UCB. C.E.G. has sat on advisory boards for Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi, has provided consultancy services for Celltrion Healthcare and Argentix, and is on the steering committees of Blueprint Medicines and AB Science., (Copyright © 2023 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest McSweeny is a sub-investigator and Tziotzios is a principal and (national) chief investigator on the Pfizer-funded ALLEGRO clinical trial in alopecia areata. Dr Tziotzios provides consulting services to Pfizer and has received speaker fees from Leo Pharma. Drs Kloczko, Chadha, Sarkany, Fassihi, and McGrath have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Deriving from the Greek word λειχήν for "tree moss" and the Latin word planus for "planar," lichen planus is a relatively uncommon and heterogeneous cutaneous disorder that typically develops in middle-aged adults. Despite the significant clinical burden associated with the disorder, little well-conducted molecular research has been undertaken, possibly because of heterogeneity impeding consistent and confident phenotyping. The multiple variants of lichenoid disease bear overlapping clinical and pathologic features despite manifesting as distinct clinical disorders. The first article in this 2-part continuing medical education series provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical and pathologic characteristics of cutaneous lichenoid dermatoses and links these manifestations to recent advances in our understanding of the underlying pathobiology of such diseases., (Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Having reviewed the diverse clinical subtypes of lichenoid disease and the postulated molecular basis thereof in the first article in this 2-part continuing medical education series, we discuss herein the existing and emerging treatment strategies in the most common clinical forms of lichenoid inflammation and provide an overview of their pharmacodynamics and evidence base. The scope of this review is not to exhaustively discuss treatment modalities for all lichenoid variants discussed in the previous article of this series. Instead, the focus will be on frequently encountered subtypes of lichen planus and on linking mechanisms of disease with mechanisms of drug action. Future directions and potential avenues for translational research will also be discussed., (Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cutaneous scarring is often the epicenter of patient-related concerns, and the question "Will there be a scar?" is one that is all too familiar to the everyday clinician. In approaching this topic, we have reviewed the pathology, the embryology, and the molecular biology of cutaneous scarring., (Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The evidence base underpinning most traditional scar reduction approaches is limited, but some of the novel strategies are promising and accumulating. We review a number of commonly adopted strategies for scar reduction. The outlined novel agents are paradigmatic of the value of translational medical research and are likely to change the scenery in the much neglected but recently revived field of scar reduction therapeutics., (Copyright © 2012 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)