Balancing Dermatological and Gynecological Considerations: Evaluating the Necessity of Pelvic Exams in OCP Prescriptions for Acne Management

Routine pelvic examinations in women prescribed oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for acne management are scrutinized to assess their impact on dermatological outcomes versus gynecological health. A synthesis of clinical trials, patient surveys, and medical guidelines reveals that these routine exams do not significantly enhance the effectiveness of acne treatment with OCPs but are linked to increased patient discomfort and false-positive results. Evidence suggests that routine pelvic examinations do not significantly impact the effectiveness of acne management with OCPs but are associated with increased patient discomfort and higher rates of false-positive results. The analysis indicates that a more personalized approach, focusing on selective pelvic examinations based on individual risk factors and clinical symptoms, may offer a more practical and patient-centered alternative. The review advocates for a reexamination of existing guidelines to better align with a model of individualized care, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize best practices at the intersection of dermatological and gynecological care. Adopting a personalized approach to pelvic examinations could substantially improve patient care by minimizing unnecessary interventions and discomfort while maintaining the efficacy of acne treatment with oral contraceptive pills.

Refractory lipoatrophy treated with autologous whole blood injection:A case report

BACKGROUND Intramuscular corticosteroid injection may cause adverse effects such as dermal and/or subcutaneous atrophy,alopecia,hypopigmentation,and hyperpigmentation.Although cutaneous atrophy can spontaneously resolve,several treatment options have been suggested for this condition.CASE SUMMARY In this paper,we report a case of corticosteroid injection induced lipoatrophy treated with autologous whole blood(AWB)injection,as the condition had been unresponsive to fractional laser therapy.A 29-year-old female patient visited the dermatology clinic complaining of skin depression on her right buttock area,which had appeared six months earlier.There had been only subtle improvement at the margins after fractional CO_(2) laser treatment;therefore,after obtaining informed consent from the patient,AWB treatment was initiated.One month after the first AWB injection,the size and depth of the lesion had noticeably improved,and a slight improvement was also observed in discoloration.CONCLUSION Close observation is the initial treatment of choice for steroid induced skin atrophy;however,for patients in need of immediate cosmetic improvement,AWB injection may be a safe and cost-effective alternative.

Assessing healthcare workers’knowledge and confidence in the diagnosis,management and prevention of Monkeypox

BACKGROUND Monkeypox(Mpox),is a disease of global public health concern,as it does not affect only countries in western and central Africa.AIM To assess Burundi healthcare workers(HCWs)s’level of knowledge and confidence in the diagnosis and management of Mpox.METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study via an online survey designed mainly from the World Health Organization course distributed among Burundi HCWs from June-July 2023.The questionnaire comprises 8 socioprofessional-related questions,22 questions about Mpox disease knowledge,and 3 questions to assess confidence in Mpox diagnosis and management.The data were analyzed via SPSS software version 25.0.A P value<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.RESULTS The study sample comprised 471 HCWs who were mainly medical doctors(63.9%)and nurses(30.1%).None of the 22 questions concerning Mpox knowledge had at least 50%correct responses.A very low number of HCWs(17.4%)knew that Mpox has a vaccine.The confidence level to diagnose(21.20%),treat(18.00%)or prevent(23.30%)Mpox was low among HCWs.The confidence level in the diagnosis of Mpox was associated with the HCWs’age(P value=0.009),sex(P value<0.001),work experience(P value=0.002),and residence(P value<0.001).The confidence level to treat Mpox was significantly associated with the HCWs’age(P value=0.050),sex(P value<0.001),education(P value=0.033)and occupation(P value=0.005).The confidence level to prevent Mpox was associated with the HCWs’education(P value<0.001),work experience(P value=0.002),residence(P value<0.001)and type of work institution(P value=0.003).CONCLUSION This study revealed that HCWs have the lowest level of knowledge regarding Mpox and a lack of confidence in the ability to diagnose,treat or prevent it.There is an urgent need to organize continuing medical education programs on Mpox epidemiology and preparedness for Burundi HCWs.We encourage future researchers to assess potential hesitancy toward Mpox vaccination and its associated factors.

Bullous pemphigoid associated with acquired hemophilia A: A case report

BACKGROUND Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare and potentially severe bleeding disordercaused by circulating autoantibodies against factor Ⅷ (FⅧ). In approximately50% of the patients, the condition is associated with autoimmune diseases,cancers, medication use, pregnancy, and the post-partum period. Bullous pemphigoid(BP) is a chronic autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease associatedwith tissue-bound and circulating autoantibodies against BP antigens 180 (BP180)and 230 (BP230). AHA-associated BP has a high mortality rate;hence, the understandingof this disease must improve.CASE SUMMARY A 69-year-old man presented with erythema, blisters, blood blisters, and crustsaccompanied by severe pruritus for more than 20 days, and ecchymosis andswelling on his left upper arm for 3 days. Pathological examination revealed asubepidermal blister that contained eosinophils. Laboratory tests showed that theBP180 autoantibody levels had increased, isolated activated partial thromboplastintime was notably prolonged (115.6 s), and coagulation FⅧ activity wasextremely low (< 1.0%). Furthermore, the FⅧ inhibitor titer had greatlyincreased (59.2 Bethesda units). Therefore, the patient was diagnosed as having BP associated with AHA, prescribed 0.05% topical halometasone cream, and transferred to a higher-level hospitalfor effective treatment;however, he died after 2 days.CONCLUSION AHA associated BP is rare, dangerous, and has a high mortality rate. Therefore, its timely diagnosis and effectivetreatment are necessary.

Efficacy,safety and treatment satisfaction of transition to a regimen of insulin degludec/aspart:A pilot study

BACKGROUND There is a lack of clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of transitioning from a thrice-daily pre-mixed insulin or basal-prandial regimen to insulin degludec/aspart(IDegAsp)therapy,with insufficient data from the Chinese population.AIM To demonstrate the efficacy,safety,and treatment satisfaction associated with the transition to IDegAsp in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).METHODS In this 12-week open-label,non-randomized,single-center,pilot study,patients with T2DM receiving thrice-daily insulin or intensive insulin treatment were transitioned to twice-daily injections of insulin IDegAsp.Insulin doses,hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)levels,fasting blood glucose(FBG),hypoglycemic events,a Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire,and other parameters were assessed at baseline and 12-weeks.RESULTS This study included 21 participants.A marked enhancement was observed in the FBG level(P=0.02),daily total insulin dose(P=0.03),and overall diabetes treatment satisfaction(P<0.01)in the participants who switched to IDegAsp.There was a decrease in HbA1c levels(7.6±1.1 vs 7.4±0.9,P=0.31)and the frequency of hypoglycemic events of those who switched to IDegAsp decreased,however,there was no statistically significant difference.CONCLUSION The present findings suggest that treatment with IDegAsp enhances clinical outcomes,particularly FBG levels,daily cumulative insulin dose,and overall satisfaction with diabetes treatment.

Dermatology in the military field: What physicians should know?

In the civilian dermatological setting, the top 5 skin diseases usually seen are eczema/dermatitis, acne, benign skin tumors, viral infections and pigmentary disorders. In comparison, the top 5 skin conditions encountered in the military sector are usually fungal infections, eczema/dermatitis, insect bite reactions, bacterial infections and acne. This is not surprising as military personnel, due to the special environment and vocations they are in, are prone to getting eczema as heat, sweating and wearing of the military uniform aggravate the condition. Fungal infections are common in those who wear the army boots. Insect bite reactions are not an uncommon sight among those who have to go to the jungle regularly for outfield training. Grass allergy or intolerance, contact dermatitis or acneiform eruption due to the application of military camouflage cream on the face, contact dermatitis to insect repellents, and military uniform allergy and intolerance are amongst the commonest dermatological problems encountered in the military field, and physicians should recognize them, investigate and manage these problems accordingly. Lastly, a diagnosis not to be missed in the military field is cutaneous melioidosis, especially when a military personnel presents with a non-healing ulcer.

Three Typical Dermatological Cases Treated by Dr.Li Yueping

Dr. Li Yueping has been engaged in dermatological clinic for more than 40 years, accumulating rich experience in treating dermatological diseases. The following is three typical cases she gave successful treatment.

APPLICATION OF DECOCTION FOR DERMATITIS IN DERMATOLOGY

Decoction for Dermatitis is a provedrecipe of noted specialist Zhu Renkang, aresearch fellow in dermatology of traditionalChinese medicine (TCM). Many dermato-logical diseases caused by excessive heat inthe blood can be treated by the decoctionand very satisfactory therapeutic effect hasbeen obtained. Therefore, I would like to in-troduce it to our colleagues.

Fecal microbiota transplant and dermatologic disorders:A retrospective cohort study assessing the gut microbiome’s role in skin disease

BACKGROUND There is indication that fecal microbiota transplant(FMT)has the potential to alter the course of chronic skin disease,but few studies have investigated this phenomenon beyond case reports.Research with larger sample sizes is needed to provide a more thorough assessment of possible associations and to establish a broader foundation upon which to base hypotheses.AIM To identify associations between FMT and skin conditions,particularly infectious and inflammatory etiologies,and the role of dermatology post-FMT.METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving a chart review of all patients whom received FMT between January 2013 and December 2019 at a single academic medical center.Dermatologic follow-up was assessed for the two years after FMT or through March 2020 for more recent procedures.Dermatologic diagnoses and visits within the study time frame were recorded and assessed for trends.This study was exploratory in nature.Descriptive statistics were calculated,and the t-test,Pearson’s chi-squared test,and Fisher’s exact test were used to calculate P values.RESULTS Median age was 38(range,17-90).In total,109 patients who underwent 111 fecal microbiota transplant events were included.Twenty-six events(23.4%)involved a dermatology office visit post-procedure,and of these events,20 out of the 26(76.9%)had an infectious or inflammatory skin condition.The mean time to first visit was 10.0(±7.0)mo.The most common diagnoses were dermatophyte,wart(s),and dermatitis,though no specific diagnoses predominated in a way indicating FMT had a significant impact.More patients with a post-FMT skin disease diagnosis had a history of Crohn’s disease compared to those without(P=0.022),but results could be affected by a small sample size.CONCLUSION Our study is limited by its retrospective nature,but the findings allow a glimpse at dermatologic conditions post-FMT.Few significant associations were found,but potential associations between FMT and skin disease should be further investigated,preferably in prospective studies,to identify how FMT might be of use for treating infectious and inflammatory skin diseases.

Comparative Study on Management of Vitiligo with Psoralen plus Steroid (Oxabet Formula) Alone VS Psoralen Formula plus Narrow Band of Ultraviolet B 311 nm in Khartoum Teaching Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology (KTHDV)

A comparative study and management has been conducted in (KTHDV). For some patients who attend the out patients clinic concern on treatment of the vitiligo with a new formula (Oxabet) alone VS Oxabet (oxpsolaren plus betamethasone) formula plus NB. UVB311 is during a period from (Jan 2011-Jan 2013). The study sample includes different age groups of both sexes. The study revealed that the formula alone gives good results. The localized vitiligo has a good response to the formula than generalized one. The early lesions have good responses than the old ones. The continuations of applying the treatment and the follow up of the patients enhance the efficacy of the treatment.

Paraneoplastic dermatological manifestation of gastrointestinal malignancies

Numerous dermatological disorders have been associated with underlining malignancies of the gastrointestinal (GI)tract.Such cutaneous manifestations might have an important diagnostic value if they are the sole expressions of otherwise asymptomatic carcinomas.The recognition of some typical paraneoplastic dermatologic disorders can lead to the prompt diagnosis of the underlying malignancy,timely administration of therapy,and ultimately,better prognosis.In this review we discuss the most common paraneoplastic dermatological syndromes from the perspective of the practicing gastroenterologist. We also outline a comprehensive practical approach for the evaluation for occult malignancy in patients presenting with cutaneous findings potentially associated with GI cancers.

The Ethics of Therapy Selection in Dermatology

Off-label use of medication is common in many areas of medicine and particularly in dermatology. Off-label use of medication, whether by prescription or use of samples, creates special ethical issues that include informed consent, patient autonomy and the fundamental adage “first, do no harm”. The choice of medication is also influenced by the patient and appropriate use ultimately depends on a thorough discussion of the risks and benefits as well as a mutually agreed treatment plan.

Nursing Care of Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: Case Study of Dermatology Unit of Referral Hospital, Kenya

Introduction: Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are adverse reaction to drugs whose manifestation affect the skin and mucous membranes whose outcomes may be life threatening and fatal. Supportive management has been proven to be the mainstay with well executed nursing care resulting in quality clinical outcomes. The aim was to evaluate the nursing care interventions in management of patients with SJS/TEN in the dermatology unit. Methods: Qualitative design was used, data were collected through observation of nursing care activities, informant interviews and focus group discussion with the nurses. Qualitative data were recorded in audio tapes and transcribed. Qualitative content analysis was used for the analysis of the transcribed texts. Study was approved by KNH/ERC and informed written consent from participants. Funding was obtained from KNH through the Research and Programs department. Findings: 20 nurses participated in the study. The commonest nursing care interventions were described as routine tasks initiated at clinical diagnosis and routinely performed. They include aggressive skin care, wound care, mucosal and eye care, infection surveillance and prevention practices and general patient monitoring for complications. Skin and wound care were most challenging part of nursing care due to severe erosion or exfoliation. Nurses do not use any specific guidelines of care but consider their role a key in quality outcomes for patients with SJS/TEN in this hospital.

Pyoderma gangrenosum:An important dermatologic condition occasionally associated with rheumatic diseases

Pyoderma gangrenosum(PG) presents with refractory,sterile,deep ulcers most often on the lower legs.Clinically,PG exhibits four types,i.e.,ulcerative,bullous,pustular,and vegetative types.PG may be triggered by surgical operation or even by minor iatrogenic procedures such as needle prick or catheter insertion,which is wellknown as pathergy.PG is sometimes seen in association with several systemic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis(RA),inflammatory bowel disease,hematologic malignancy,and Takayasu's arteritis.In particular,various cutaneous manifestations are induced in association with RA by virtue of the activation of inflammatory cells(neutrophils,lymphocytes,macrophages),vasculopathy,vasculitis,drugs,and so on.Clinical appearances of ulcerative PG mimic rheumatoid vasculitis or leg ulcers due to impaired circulation in patients with RA.In addition,patients with PG sometimes develop joint manifestations as well.Therefore,it is necessary for not only dermatologists but also rheumatologists to understand PG.

Stress and quality of life in dermatological patients: Are out-patients' needs different?

The debut, progression and maintenance of skin disease are related to stress(acne, alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, psoriasis, urticaria, vitiligo, herpes, hyperhidrosis, pemphigus, rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis). Environmental, socio-professional, life events are representing external factors. Personality, previous experiences, traits of anxiety are individual factors influencing the state of stress. Perceived stress could be more harmful especially in "high reactors" to stress. Coping abilities to stress could be increased in social programs. There was a recent interest in measuring the quality of life in the last years. There are dermatology and disease specific questionnaires that could help. Out-patients have less time to wait for very sophisticated procedures. They expect faster results. For simple, acute diseases it is important to have a good communication and good understanding of the instructions to get results as soon as possible. For chronic diseases a strong long-term alliance is needed, so the patients should revisit for his benefit and not for giving up. Small questions regarding potential stressful events, impact on the quality of life, stigmatization, the level of symptoms(pruritus), psychiatric comorbidities(anxiety, depression), short questionnaires for quality of life give us a better picture, personalize the doctorpatient relationship and could influence the choice of treatment. Many skin disorders could be seen from a psychosomatic point of view and the final goal, especially for the chronic diseases, is to improve through our treatments the impact on the quality of patient's life.

Presenting patterns of dermatology conditions to an Australian emergency department

BACKGROUND: Approximately 5%–8% of emergency department(ED) presentations are due to a dermatological condition.This study aimed to identify and characterise patients with skin conditions presenting to a busy ED.METHODS: A 5-year retrospective study on patients with dermatological conditions presenting to the Princess Alexandra Hospital ED in Brisbane, Australia was performed.Electronic medical records were used to compare demographics and admission status of the dermatology group and the total ED group presentations.A prospective survey was conducted on low priority triage(triage 4 and 5) patients identifying reasons presenting to the ED.RESULTS: Of a total 281,718 ED presentations, 11,748 dermatology presentations were identified between January 2012 to December 2016.Of the dermatology presentations, 41.5% were female and had an average age of 47.The most common dermatology presentations were cellulitis, abscess, rash unspecified, and ulcer.Of those admitted, 36% were female, average age was 53, mean length of stay of 294 minutes and 83.1% had an infectious aetiology.Of triage 4 and 5 presentations, 66% patients we approached had been seen by a health practitioner prior to coming to the ED.CONCLUSION: Within the population presenting with a skin related condition to the Princess Alexandra Hospital ED, characteristics associated with admission include male sex, older age, and an infectious etiology.This data may help ED clinicians decide on the discharge disposition of these patients.There may be a role for streamlined admissions for skin related infections, or improved hospital in the home services to support this group.

Trichoscopy: Essentials for the dermatologist

Noninvasive in vivo imaging techniques have become an important diagnostic aid for dermatology. Dermoscopy, also known as dermatoscopy, has been shown to increase the clinician's diagnostic accuracy when evaluating cutaneous neoplasms. Dermoscope, both hand-held and videodermoscope, are nowadays a basic instrument for almost all the dermatologists around the world. Trichoscopy is the term coined for dermoscopic imaging of the scalp and hair. Routinely using dermoscopy and recognizing the structures and patterns of the different types of alopecia will likely improve the observer's sensitivity for diagnosis and followup of hair and scalp disorders. Structures which may be visualized by trichoscopy include hair shafts of different types, the number of hairs in one pilosebaceous unit, hair follicle openings(dots), the peri and interfollicular areas and the vasculature. This review summarizes the current knowledge about trichoscopic findings which may aid in the diagnosis of alopecia. Besides diagnosing alopecia, it has the potential for obviating unnecessary biopsies and when a biopsy is still needed it is helpful in choosing an ideal biopsy site. Moreover, trichoscopy can be a valuable tool for evaluating the treatment response photographically at each follow-up. Finally, we have discussed the utility of dermoscopy in inflammatory scalp disorders and infections.

Surgical Flap and Graft Reconstruction Workshop for Dermatology Residents

Background: Traditional models for teaching surgical principles focus primarily on the apprenticeship theory;however there has been a trend in surgical education to certifying competency in a simulation environment prior to working with patients. Many surgical models emphasize learning the technical and manual dexterity skills necessary to be a surgeon, yet few focus on obtaining the theoretical and abstract skills needed for planning complex cutaneous surgical repairs with flaps and grafts. We developed and evaluated a novel surgical flaps and grafts workshop for residents through the Department of Dermatology. Methods: Participants received a 60 minute PowerPoint lecture focusing on the basic principles of cutaneous repair with flaps and grafts, with examples and explanation of each of the four main types of flaps and grafts. The participants then received nine photocopies of Mohs micrographic surgery defects with instructions to design three repairs, focusing on functional and aesthetic outcome. Hypothetical and actual repair designs were then discussed in an open forum format. Anonymous surveys administered to 11 dermatology residents assessed their knowledge level, confidence level, and likelihood of using flaps and grafts pre- and post-workshop using Likert scales. Overall experience was also assessed. A paired sample Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used for analysis, since the data was non-parametrically distributed. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in confidence performing flaps post workshop (p = 0.0469). There was also an increase in knowledge of flaps and grafts, confidence in planning flaps and grafts, and confidence in performing grafts post workshop, but these findings did not reach statistical significance. The workshop had no effect on expected future use of flaps and grafts. Conclusions: The surgical workshop is a novel simulation teaching tool for learning basic principles and design of flaps and grafts in cutaneous surgery.

Teledermatology update:Mobile teledermatology

Mobile teledermatology is a relatively recent modification of teledermatology, which involves using mobile platforms like cellular phones to transmit images and data for the purpose of teleconsultations. With the rapidly improving quality of smart phone cameras combined with easier access to mobile internet, mobile teledermatology is emerging as a feasible and costeffective method for teledermatology practice. Mobile teledermatology has shown good results in concordance studies comparing it to face-to-face consultations. Mobile teledermatology can be used for most types of clinical dermatology cases. Mobile teledermatology has been found to be useful in diagnosis, screening and triage of skin lesions including skin cancers. It is also useful as a tool to follow up patients with chronic dermatological problems like psoriasis and chronic wounds. The obvious advantage of mobile teledermatology is it's cost-effectiveness and the fact that access to expert dermatology care is made easier for patients especially in remote areas. Further research is however required to standardize protocols for mobile teledermatology. Collaborative research among people working in this field would be very useful in this standardization and would help in optimizing the opportunities provided by this interesting tool. This article gives a brief overview of mobile teledermatology including definitions, tools involved, indications, limitations and future applications.

Acknowledgments to reviewers of World Journal of Dermatology

Congratulations to the publisher,members of the editorial board of the journal,all the authors and readers for launching the World Journal of Dermatology(WJD)as a new member of the World series journal family!Scientific advances and important breakthroughs have been facilitated by well developed ideas,hypothesis and innovative techniques and any misleading findings and theories are exclusively attributable to certain methodological defects.Thus,the role of new and innovative investigations related to skin care,skin health,various cutaneous diseases and their preventive or treatment strategies and the need for inaugurating this new journal is self-evident.The WJD is a peer-reviewed openaccess periodical centered in biomedical sciences but with multidisciplinary coverage.If the readers or investigators want to share any new investigations,clinical experience or improvement of such experiences,and any cutaneous research-related academic issues with your peers,you will find the WJD a good platform or media to publish your papers!