Acquired perforating dermatoses show increased levels of cutaneous advanced glycation end‐products.

Summary: Background: Acquired perforating dermatoses (APDs) are characterized by transepidermal elimination of skin materials. Altered glycation of dermal components may be involved in pathogenesis. Aim: To assess whether patients affected by APDs have increased levels of cutaneous advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs). Methods: A cross‐sectional controlled study involving a total of 109 patients was conducted, enrolling 29 patients consecutively diagnosed with primary APDs [reactive perforating collagenosis (RPC), elastosis perforans serpiginosa (EPS), perforating folliculitis (PF) and Kyrle disease (KD)], 40 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls (HCs) and 40 patients with mild atopic dermatitis (AD). The levels of cutaneous AGEs were measured using a validated fluorescence technique. Results: The median skin autofluorescence value in patients with APDs was significantly higher [2.7 arbitrary units (AU), interquartile range (IQR) 1.9–3.9 AU] compared with HCs (1.8 AU, IQR 1.6–2.3 AU; P < 0.001) and patients with AD (2.1 AU, IQR 1.9–2.3 AU; P = 0.01). Median values were 3.5 AU (IQR 2.7–4.6 AU) for RPC, 1.83.5 AU (1.4–2.4 AU) for EPS, 3.1 AU (2.4–4.4 AU) for PF and 2.6 AU (2.3–3.1 AU) for KD. Conclusions: Our results may suggest a possible physiopathological role of AGEs in the transepidermal elimination mechanisms involved in certain APDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]