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Vitamin D plays a vital role in skin diseases, and vitamin D supplementation seems to warrant protection against occurrence and exacerbation of several dermatological conditions. This review covers the immunopathological and therapeutic role of vitamin D, with a comprehensive illustration in some diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The therapeutic use of cyclosporine is gradually extending to various dermatoses including both in adults and children. There are meager studies from India supporting its safe use in pediatric dermatoses. Aims and Objectives: The aim is to study the safety and efficacy profile of children treated with cyclosporine for recalcitrant dermatoses. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of the case files of children below 18 years of age where cyclosporine A (CsA) was used within the past 5 years was done. Results: A total of thirty cases were studied. The CsA dose used in our patients ranged from 3 to 4 mg/kg/day for a time period varying from 4 to 24 weeks. A good to excellent response was seen in 23 (76.66%) cases. Few children developed side effects mostly reversible with dose modification. Conclusion: Cyclosporine within the therapeutic range can be used safely in recalcitrant pediatric dermatoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tofacitinib, an oral Janus kinase inhibitor (Jakinib), is an emerging treatment modality whose well-established efficacy in systemic inflammatory diseases is now being actively explored for cutaneous disorders (arising due to the patient's dysimmune responses) that are not responding to and/or sustaining intolerable adverse effects with the classical immunosuppressives and other targeted therapies such as the biologics. The most common dermatoses for which oral as well as topical Jakinibs such as tofacitinib have been evaluated and are being used albeit as an off-label indication include psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, alopecia areata, vitiligo, and atopic dermatitis. This article provides a succinct review on the current status of oral tofacitinib in dermatology through literature search of PubMed database and stresses on the need for further evidence generation to define the drug's place in the therapeutic arsenal of dysimmune cutaneous disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokines are produced transiently by cutaneous cells in response to immune stimuli. They are non-immunoglobulin proteins and glycoproteins. Cytokines, which are signaling molecules, act by sending downstream signals to various cells through a number of signal transduction pathways and by binding to cytokine receptors on the surface of cells. Cytokines regulate immunity and inflammation and thus play an important role in the pathogenesis of various cutaneous disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]