Hair-to-Hair Trichoscopy: An Objective Method to Assess Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin in a Clinical Trial for Androgenetic Alopecia.

Introduction: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common alopecia affecting both genders leading to a potential decrease in quality of life and self-esteem. A current concern in trichology is how to accurately measure clinical response in both daily medical practice and academic research. Hair-to-hair (H2H)-matching technology™ has recently emerged as a technique to evaluate variations in follicular units, hair shaft number, and thickness. This study aimed to describe the methodology employed in a clinical trial using this technology to test the efficacy of botulinum toxin (BT) for male AGA. Methods: This pilot study is a triple-blind, randomized, split scalp, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients enrolled were submitted to injections half of the scalp with 50 IU of BT and the other half with 1 mL of normal saline as a control. The trial involved three visits (weeks 0, 12, and 24) and 8 global clinical photographs followed by H2H-matching trichoscopy were captured before the injections at each visit. Paired t test analysis was employed for matched pairs of the following parameters: total hair count, the total number of terminal hair strands, average shaft thickness, and the number of hairs lost or gained during each visit. Then, the software compared the differences between the two sides (BT vs. placebo) per scalp zone and a long time. Conclusion: The combination of manually corrected image processing, follicular map, and H2H-matching technology™ appears to be the most precise way to evaluate changes in hair count and thickness over time. The design is reproducible and can help other researchers and dermatologists in their clinical practice to obtain reliable results in similar scientific research.

Fatores de risco para complicações pósoperatórias da hidradenite supurativa: artigo de revisão / Risk factors for postoperative complications of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: a review article

Introdução: a hidradenite supurativa é uma doença inflamatória crônica e recidivante. Altas taxas de recorrência podem persistir mesmo após ampla excisão cirúrgica local. Objetivo: avaliar os principais fatores de risco para complicações pós-operatórias da hidradenite supurativa. Metodologia: foram utilizadas referências em artigos científicos nas bases de dados Google, PubMed, LILACS e SciELO nas línguas portuguesa e inglesa, no período de 2000 a 2021. Resultados: os principais fatores que influenciam os resultados pós-operatórios estão relacionados a técnica cirúrgica empregada, gravidade da doença, comorbidades dos pacientes e terapia clínica adjuvante

Introduction: Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a chronic inflamatory and relapsing disease. High levels of recurrence can persist even after wide local excision. Objective: Identify the main risk factors for postoperative complications of Hidradentis Suppurativa. Methods: We included journal articles with data from Google, Pubmed, Lilacs, and Scielo, in Portuguese and English, from 2000 to 2021. Results: The main risk factors that influence postoperative outcomes are related to surgical technique, disease severity, comorbidities, and adjuvant clinical therapy

Sunscreen lotions in the dermatological prescription: review of concepts and controversies

Abstract The skin is regularly exposed to several environmental aggressions, including solar radiation, whose biological effects can induce sunburn, dyschromia, skin aging and cancer. Among the photoprotection measures, sunscreens comprise a relevant part of the strategy aimed to prevent solar radiation damage and, for effective action, the patient must adhere to the product use and the latter, in turn, must follow technical parameters to promote adequate protection. This review article brings together the most current and relevant concepts about photoprotection for dermatological use, including the challenges for their formulation, the risks of certain photoprotective active substances for individual and environmental safety and the importance of stringency in determining the product efficacy, considering the regulatory aspects, highlighting relevant differences between Brazil and other countries. Thus, when assessing a sunscreen, not only the visual aspects and sensory perception will be immediately evaluated, but also the quality and suitability of the vehicle, the chemical composition of the formulation, the environmental risks, the photostability of the screening system, and the measurement of its protection spectrum. Technical knowledge of sunscreens can help dermatologists in this important role of educating patients about the best photoprotective strategies in each situation.

Cholestatic pruritus: a knowledge update.

This review is focused on updating knowledge about cholestatic pruritus. It summarizes clinical-epidemiological characteristics, pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, and evidence-based therapeutic recommendations regarding this form of pruritus. Pruritus is a frequent symptom that accompanies several liver diseases, particularly cholestatic ones. The symptom may be mild and tolerable, but it can also dramatically reduce the quality of life. Although the exact pathophysiology of this form of pruritus remains unclear, current evidence supports a mixed origin. It is extremely important for dermatologists to have knowledge about cholestatic pruritus since they are usually the first physicians to be sought by the patient when they experience the symptom. In the absence of specific dermatological alterations, cholestasis must always be considered as a possible cause of pruritus. In addition to allowing an adequate diagnosis, a better pathophysiological understanding of hepatic pruritus provides the identification of new therapeutic targets and, consequently, optimization of the approach in patients with this condition.

Bicalutamide and the new perspectives for female pattern hair loss treatment: What dermatologists should know.

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common form of alopecia in women. FPHL may compromise body image and strongly affect self-esteem, negatively impacting quality of life. Currently, the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug for its treatment is topical minoxidil, with a variable response rate. Recently, a few studies in FPHL have pointed out bicalutamide as an emergent selective androgen receptor antagonist with a favorable safety and tolerability profile. This review aimed to summarize and discuss the key information on this new therapy for FPHL. Bicalutamide has no diuretic effect. It does not cross the blood-brain barrier, and it has little effect on serum luteinizing hormone. Additionally, bicalutamide was found to be effective on women presenting with other features of hyperandrogenism such as seborrhea, acne, and hirsutism with mild and well-tolerated adverse effects. Despite the high prevalence and psychosocial impairment, FPHL treatment remains challenging. Therefore, although future prospective, comparative, randomized clinical trials are essential to establish the ideal dose and efficacy of the drug, oral bicalutamide appears to be a promising option to expand the arsenal of FPHL treatment.

Sunscreen lotions in the dermatological prescription: review of concepts and controversies.

The skin is regularly exposed to several environmental aggressions, including solar radiation, whose biological effects can induce sunburn, dyschromia, skin aging and cancer. Among the photoprotection measures, sunscreens comprise a relevant part of the strategy aimed to prevent solar radiation damage and, for effective action, the patient must adhere to the product use and the latter, in turn, must follow technical parameters to promote adequate protection. This review article brings together the most current and relevant concepts about photoprotection for dermatological use, including the challenges for their formulation, the risks of certain photoprotective active substances for individual and environmental safety and the importance of stringency in determining the product efficacy, considering the regulatory aspects, highlighting relevant differences between Brazil and other countries. Thus, when assessing a sunscreen, not only the visual aspects and sensory perception will be immediately evaluated, but also the quality and suitability of the vehicle, the chemical composition of the formulation, the environmental risks, the photostability of the screening system, and the measurement of its protection spectrum. Technical knowledge of sunscreens can help dermatologists in this important role of educating patients about the best photoprotective strategies in each situation.

Acurácia da teledermatoscopia móvel na avaliação de lesões cutâneas pigmentadas / The accuracy of mobile teledermatoscopy in the assessment of pigmented skin lesions

Neste estudo transversal, comparamos o diagnóstico feito por meio da teledermatoscopia ao diagnóstico histopatológico. Fotos convencionais e dermatoscópicas de 31 lesões pigmentadas foram enviadas a um dermatologista experiente por meio do aplicativo WhatsApp® Messenger. Todas as lesões foram excisadas e examinadas por um dermatopatologista. A acurácia global da teledermatoscopia móvel foi de 90,32%. Em relação à capacidade de a teledermatoscopia definir malignidade da lesão pigmentada, a especificidade foi de 81,8% e a sensibilidade de 100%. Nossos resultados fornecem evidências adicionais sobre a confiabilidade da teledermatoscopia móvel, com alta sensibilidade e precisão.

In this cross-sectional study, we compared the diagnosis made through teledermatoscopy with histopathological diagnosis. Conventional and dermoscopic photos of 31 pigmented lesions were taken and sent to an experienced dermatologist using the WhatsApp® Messenger application. A dermatopathologist excised and examined all lesions. The global accuracy of mobile teledermatoscopy was 90.32%. Regarding the ability of teledermatoscopy to define malignancy of the pigmented lesion, the specificity was 81.8% and the sensitivity was 100%. Our results provide additional evidence of the reliability of mobile teledermatoscopy with high sensitivity and accuracy.

Cholestatic pruritus: a knowledge update

Abstract This review is focused on updating knowledge about cholestatic pruritus. It summarizes clinical-epidemiological characteristics, pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, and evidence-based therapeutic recommendations regarding this form of pruritus. Pruritus is a frequent symptom that accompanies several liver diseases, particularly cholestatic ones. The symptom may be mild and tolerable, but it can also dramatically reduce the quality of life. Although the exact pathophysiology of this form of pruritus remains unclear, current evidence supports a mixed origin. It is extremely important for dermatologists to have knowledge about cholestatic pruritus since they are usually the first physicians to be sought by the patient when they experience the symptom. In the absence of specific dermatological alterations, cholestasis must always be considered as a possible cause of pruritus. In addition to allowing an adequate diagnosis, a better pathophysiological understanding of hepatic pruritus provides the identification of new therapeutic targets and, consequently, optimization of the approach in patients with this condition.