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The impact of intermittent circadian fasting (ICF) on skin disorders is far to be plenty deciphered. However, the circadian rhythm seems to exert a modulation on dermatoses severity, drug‐response, and drug‐related side effects. We aimed to evaluate ICF effect in the daily management of dermatological diseases. In this multicenter, prospective observational study we enrolled patients willing to undergo the 2018 ICF (from May 16 to June 14). Dermatoses severity were evaluated at the beginning of ICF (T0) and at the end of ICF (T1) by two independent board‐certified dermatologists. Seventy‐two patients suffering from different dermatoses volunteered to take part into the study. They displayed a mean age of 40.38 ± 12.46 years (median 41.0 years), 25 subjects were males (34.7% of the entire sample). The median weight change was 0 kg. The overall ICF effect size was −0.58 ([95% CI −0.83 to −0.33], P <.0001, medium effect size). Since in the present investigation no weight loss occurred, we could speculate that the impact of fasting in terms of improvements in the clinical symptoms could be rather due to the perturbation of the human biological clock. Despite our data remain preliminary, a chronobiological approach should be incorporated in the dermatological armamentarium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During COVID‐19 pandemic, wearing masks for prevention became mandatory but evidence suggest that is also detrimental for skin. Although facial dermatoses due to masks increase in both healthcare workers and general population, a pathogenetic hypothesis remains still elusive. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of dermatological consultations due to Koebner triggered dermatoses In this prospective, multicenter, real life study carried out in Italy from March 11th to December 11th 2020 during COVID‐19 pandemics, dermatological consultations (in‐person and telemedicine) to study the prevalence of Koebner (KB) phenomenon due to masks were evaluated. Boyd and Nelder classification was adopted for Koebner phenomenon and Bizzozero's for KB intensity. A total of 229/873 (26.2%) dermatological consultations were KB triggered dermatoses and lesions were located in mask‐covered ear area (76 [33.2%]), malar area (73 [31.8%]), perioral area (53 [23.1%]), and nose (27 [11.8%]). The first KB category grouped 142 patients (psoriasis, vitiligo, maskne, and mask rosacea), the second one 24 (warts, molluscum contagiosum, and impetigo), the third one 46 (atopic dermatitis), and the fourth one 17 (eczema). Among previously KB negative psoriatic patients that became KB positive, 9/13 (69.2%) had discontinued or modified the prescribed antipsoriatic treatment. Mask‐related Koebner phenomenon is an important clinical sign to orient clinician's therapeutic protocols during COVID‐19 pandemic, especially in patients with psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetracyclines (TetraC) are widely used in dermatology for both inflammatory and infectious dermatoses; recently both in vivo and in vitro studies started to suggest also a potential antiviral effect. During COVID‐19 outbreak, several dermatological patients contracted SARS‐CoV‐2 experiencing only mild symptoms, but no protocol were approved. A multicenter prospective observational study that enrolled COVID‐19 patients visited with teledermatology and undergoing TetraC was performed. About 38 adult outpatients (M/F: 20/18, age 42.6 years [21‐67]) were enrolled. During the TetraC treatment, symptoms resolved in all patients within 10 days. Remarkably, ageusia and anosmia disappeared in the first week of TetraC treatment. TetraC seem a promising drug to treat COVID‐19 outpatients with mild symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Omalizumab is approved for use in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU); however, it is not approved for chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU). The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of omalizumab in treating CSU and CIndU in Italy. This is a multicentre prospective observational real-life study involving patients with severe urticaria capable of undergoing omalizumab therapy. We enrolled 127 patients (59.1% females), ranging in age from 15 to 83 years, 69.3% had CSU alone, 26.8% had CSU and CIndU, and 3.9% had only CIndU (30.8% delayed pressure, 35.9% dermographic, 15.3% cholinergic, 12.8% cold, 5.1% aquagenic). After the first cycle of omalizumab (300 mg every 4 weeks for 24 weeks), 16 CSU patients and 10 patients (20.5%) with CIndU with or without CSU did not require a second cycle of omalizumab (300 mg every 4 weeks for 20 weeks). The patient with aquagenic urticaria achieved remission after the first cycle. None showed a lack of response to the second cycle of omalizumab. Omalizumab is a promising drug for both spontaneous and inducible chronic urticaria. Current evidence indicates that omalizumab may be approved also for CIndU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic-relapsing and debilitating disease, which affects the components of the folliculopilosebaceous unit and severely impacts on the perceived health-related quality of life. Among the possible treatments, dietary interventions, such as fasting, have been described to positively impact on HS. However, nothing is known about the effects of circadian, intermittent fasting, such as the Ramadan fasting. A sample of 55 HS patients (24 males (43.6%) and 31 females (56.4%), mean age 39.65 ± 8.39 years, average disease duration 14.31 ± 7.03 years) was recruited in the present study. The "Severity of International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System" (IHS4) decreased significantly from 11.00 ± 5.88 (before Ramadan) to 10.15 ± 6.45 (after Ramadan), with a mean difference of −0.85 ± 0.83 (p < 0.0001). At the univariate analyses, the improvement was associated with HS phenotype (with a prominent improvement among those with ectopic type), treatment (with the improvement being higher in patients receiving topical and systemic antibiotics compared to those treated with biologics), the "Autoinflammatory Disease Damage Index" (ADDI), and Hurley scores. At the multivariate regression analysis, only the Hurley score (regression coefficient = 0.70, p = 0.0003) was found to be an independent predictor of change in the IHS4 score after fasting. The improvement in the IHS4 score was not, however, associated with weight loss. In conclusion, the Ramadan fasting proved to be safe and effective in HS patients. Considering the small sample size and the exploratory nature of the present investigation, further studies in the field are warranted, especially longitudinal, prospective and randomized ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermittent circadian fasting, namely Ramadan, is a common worldwide practice. Such fasting has a positive impact on psoriasis, but no data exist on its role in psoriatic arthritis (PsA)—a disease that is clearly linked to body mass index. We enrolled 37 patients (23 females and 14 males) with a mean age 43.32 ± 7.81 and they fasted for 17 h for one month in 2016. The baseline PsA characteristics were collected and 12 (32.4%) patients had peripheral arthritis, 13 (35.1%) had axial involvement, 24 (64.9%) had enthesitis, and 13 (35.1%) had dactylitis. Three patients (8.1%) were treated with methotrexate, 28 (75.7%) with TNF-α blockers, and 6 (16.2%) with IL-17 blockers. After a month of intermittent fasting, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels decreased from 14.08 ± 4.65 to 12.16 ± 4.46 (p < 0.0001), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) decreased from 2.83 ± 1.03 to 2.08 ± 0.67 (p = 0.0078), Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) decreased from 7.46 ± 2.43 to 5.86 ± 2.37 (p < 0.0001), and Disease Activity index for PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) decreased from 28.11 ± 4.51 to 25.76 ± 4.48 (p < 0.0001). Similarly, enthesitis improved after fasting, with Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI) decreasing from 2.25 ± 1.11 to 1.71 ± 0.86 (p < 0.0001) and dactylitis severity score (DSS) decreasing from 9.92 ± 2.93 to 8.54 ± 2.79 (p = 0.0001). Fasting was found to be a predictor of a decrease in PsA disease activity scores (DAPSA, BASDAI, LEI, DSS) even after adjustment for weight loss. IL-17 therapy was found to be an independent predictor of decreases in LEI after fasting. These preliminary data may support the use of chronomedicine in the context of rheumatic diseases, namely PsA. Further studies are needed to support our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fasting during the month of Ramadan consists of alternate abstinence and re-feeding periods (circadian or intermittent fasting). Nothing is currently known on the impact of this kind of fasting on psoriasis. A sample of 108 moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients (aged 42.84 ± 13.61 years, 62 males, 46 females) volunteered to take part in the study. A significant decrease in the "Psoriasis Area and Severity Index" (PASI) score after the Ramadan fasting (mean difference = −0.89 ± 1.21, p < 0.0001) was found. At the multivariate regression, the use of cyclosporine (p = 0.0003), interleukin-17 or IL-17 blockers (p < 0.0001), and tumor necrosis factor or TNF blockers (p = 0.0107) was independently associated with a low PASI score, while the use of apremilast (p = 0.0009), and phototherapy (p = 0.0015) was associated with a high PASI score before the Ramadan fasting. Similarly, the consumption of cyclosporine (p < 0.0001), IL-17 blockers (p < 0.0001), mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR inhibitors (p = 0.0081), and TNF blockers (p = 0.0017) predicted a low PASI score after the Ramadan fasting. By contrast, narrow band ultraviolet light B or NB-UVB (p = 0.0015) was associated with a high PASI score after Ramadan fasting. Disease duration (p = 0.0078), use of apremilast (p = 0.0005), and of mTOR inhibitors (p = 0.0034) were independent predictors of the reduction in the PASI score after the Ramadan fasting. These findings reflect the influence of dieting strategy, the biological clock, and circadian rhythm on the treatment of plaque psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin serves as the first protective line and barrier of the body. Like many other organs, skin can be affected by several disorders in response to external factors such as pathogens, ultraviolet light, and pollution, as well as endogenous alterations related to aging and/or oxidative stress disturbance. Researchers have reported new insights into how skin cells are altered in response to caloric restriction diets in mammals. One of the most well-known caloric restriction diets is the Ramadan intermittent fasting, which is a radical change in the diet plan of practitioners for the period of one lunar month. Ramadan fasting represents the fourth of the five pillars of the Islamic creed. Even though infirm individuals are waived to take part in this religious duty, patients with various health problems, including those with different skin disorders, might choose to share this event with peers and family members. No standardized protocols or guidelines exist, however, to advise their physicians on the proper management of their patients' condition during fasting. With an increasing Muslim population living in Western countries, this topic has started to draw substantial attention, not only of Middle-Eastern physicians, but also of clinicians in the West. For this purpose, we carried out a comprehensive overview on the topic. Our main findings are that: (1) there is a strong need for evidence-based suggestions and guidance. Literature on the impact of the Ramadan fasting, as well as of other kinds of fasting, on skin diseases is scarce and of poor quality, as well as the information available from the Internet; (2) patients willing to fast should be advised about the importance of taking proper treatments or consider alternative options including administration of trans-dermal/topical drugs, as they are permitted during daylight hours. Further, non-compliance has important, clinical and economic implications for an effective patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a skin inflammatory disease characterized by an increased body of comorbidities, including parodontopathy. Despite the visibility of skin lesions, prognostic biomarkers, related to disease monitoring and therapeutic effectiveness, are still missing. Although several markers have been studied, none of them has been identified as an independent prognostic factor. This concise review aims to summarize the current knowledge and results in saliva research applied to psoriasis. Combination of different markers could improve the prognostic prediction in patients with psoriasis. Future studies are needed to implement research on salivary biomarkers and their prognostic/therapeutic effects in the management of patients with psoriasis.