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Abstract Introduction Melasma is a common acquired disorder of hyperpigmentation and has a significant effect on quality of life. The aim of this prospective cross-sectional study was to assess the effect of melasma on depression, social anxiety and self-esteem in the Greek population. Methods The study included a total of 254 participants: 127 patients with melasma and an equal sample of healthy controls. Both participant groups completed the following psychometric measures: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess anxiety and depression and Rosenberg’s Self-esteem Scale (RSES) for self-esteem. Furthermore, in patients with melasma, quality of life was assessed using Melasma Quality of Life (MELASQoL). Results Melasma patients (7.47 ± 4.53) presented statistically significantly higher anxiety compared to healthy controls (6.06 ± 3.59, p = 0.006), while no differences emerged with regard to depression or self-esteem. It is important to note that the difference regarding anxiety remained significant (b = 1.25, p = 0.003) even after adjusting for age, depression and self-esteem. A higher disease severity (MASI) correlated statistically significantly with longer disease duration (r = 0.24, p

Abstract: Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory, relapsing skin disease that has a psychosocial impact on the patients' life. Objective: This study aimed to investigate psychopathology in patients with psoriasis based on a valid psychometric instrument, as well as on the relationship between psychopathology and alexithymia. Methods: 108 patients with psoriasis were included in the study. Psychopathology was evaluated with the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and alexithymia with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Disease severity was clinically assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. Results: As regards the psychopathological dimensions, female patients presented with statistically significant higher somatization, depression, anxiety, phobic anxiety, and psychoticism than males. Patients with alexithymia presented with statistically significant higher somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, and phobic anxiety than non-alexithymic patients. Alexithymia positively correlated with somatization (r = 0.26, p < 0.01), interpersonal sensitivity (r = 0.24, p < 0.05), depression (r = 0.27, p < 0.01), anxiety (r = 0.26, p < 0.01), and phobic anxiety (r = 0.26, p < 0.01). In addition, alexithymia also contributed to the prediction of these conditions. Study Limitations: A larger study sample could yield safer generalized results. Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to investigate various psychopathological dimensions in patients with psoriasis. Conclusions: Our study results indicate that alexithymia and female sex were associated with several psychopathological dimensions in patients with psoriasis. It may be suggested that alexithymia constitutes an important factor in the development of mental disorders among patients with psoriasis.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common, chronic, recurrent, immune-mediated disorder of the skin and joints. It can have a significant negative impact on the physical, emotional and psychosocial wellbeing of affected patients. OBJECTIVES: To measure improvement in health-related QoL (HRQoL) in Greek patients with psoriasis vulgaris after a month of treatment with calcipotriol-betamethasone dipropionate gel; and evaluate adherence to treatment parameters. METHODS: The study included 394 psoriasis vulgaris patients from 16 private dermatological practices in Greece, all treated with calcipotriol-betamethasone dipropionate gel. They were evaluated at the first visit and after 4 weeks. Moreover, they completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), while other data such as disease severity, subjective symptoms and adherence, were collected. RESULTS: At week 4, the DLQI median was reduced by 3.5 points from the baseline (p

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common, long-term skin disease associated with high levels of psychological distress and a considerable adverse impact on life. The effects of psoriasis, beyond skin affliction, are seldom recognized and often undertreated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate the quality of life, anxiety and depression, self-esteem and loneliness in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: Eighty-four patients with psoriasis were enrolled in the study. The quality of life, depression and anxiety, loneliness and self-esteem of the patient were assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the UCLA loneliness Scale (UCLA-Version 3) and Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, respectively. RESULTS: The Dermatology Quality of Life Index score among psoriasis patients was 12.61 ± 4.88. They had statistically significantly higher scores according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale -anxiety subscale (p=0.032)-compared with healthy volunteers. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found between the two groups concerning the UCLA-scale (p=0.033) and RSES-scale (p

Abstract: Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a chronic, autoimmune blistering skin disease that affects patients' daily life and psychosocial well-being. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of life, anxiety, depression and loneliness in BP patients. Methods: Fifty-seven BP patients and fifty-seven healthy controls were recruited for the study. The quality of life of each patient was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scale. Moreover, they were evaluated for anxiety and depression according to the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS-scale), while loneliness was measured through the Loneliness Scale-Version 3 (UCLA) scale. Results: The mean DLQI score was 9.45±3.34. Statistically significant differences on the HADS total scale and in HADS-depression subscale (p=0.015 and p=0.002, respectively) were documented. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups on the HADS-anxiety subscale. Furthermore, significantly higher scores were recorded on the UCLA Scale compared with healthy volunteers (p=0.003). Conclusion: BP had a significant impact on quality of life and the psychological status of patients, probably due to the appearance of unattractive lesions on the skin, functional problems and disease chronicity.

Cutaneous leiomyomas are uncommon, benign smooth muscle tumors originating from the arrector pili muscle of the hair follicle that are frequently unrecognized and underdiagnosed by clinicians. They sometimes coexist with common uterine fibroids in an inherited disorder named multiple cutaneous and uterine leiomyomatosis, also referred to as Reed's syndrome. We report a case of Reed's syndrome in a young woman who had been misdiagnosed for many years.

Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is a skin disease of multifactorial etiology which appears in patients with genetic or hormonal predisposition and autoimmune disease. Genetic predisposition is suggested by familial reports of the disease which involve twins, siblings, and mother-daughter/son series. This is a report of the occurrence of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus in monozygotic twin women, suggesting that inheritance is of relevance in the etiology of this disease.

Introduction. Familial cases of Kaposi’s sarcoma have rarely been reported. Kaposi’s sarcoma is not uncommon in Greece; its incidence is estimated at 0.20 per 100.000 habitants, showing an increased predominance in the Peloponnese, in Southern Greece. Case Report. We describe five cases of familial clustering of KS originating from Greece. Discussion. The pathogenesis of familial Kaposi’s sarcoma is still far from being completely understood. Genetic, environmental, and infectious factors have been incriminated.