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Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest J.A.M. is the Editor in Chief of BJD; S.A. is the Director of Research and Publishing of the British Association of Dermatologists.

Introduction: Early detection may lead to reduced morbidity and mortality from melanoma. This study aims to establish guidelines for selecting patients suitable for digital monitoring of skin lesions., Methods: A literature review was conducted, followed by consensus among experts appointed by the Israeli Dermatology Association., Results: Two effective methods for early melanoma diagnosis were identified: Total-body photography (TBP) and digital dermoscopy. TBP involves capturing clinical images of the entire skin area for long-term monitoring (6-12 months). Digital dermoscopy focuses on close-up images of distinct lesions for short-term monitoring (3-4 months). Various risk factors for melanoma were identified, including genetic and familial factors, as well as demographic and phenotypic characteristics. Based on these risk factors and feasibility of clinical follow-up, a comprehensive list of indications for TBP was developed, categorized into three groups based on the expected level of benefit. Digital dermoscopy surveillance is recommended for patients with flat or slightly raised skin lesions showing dermoscopic features that do not definitively indicate melanoma., Discussion: TBP significantly improves early melanoma detection, enhancing sensitivity and specificity while reducing unnecessary biopsies. However, due to its high cost and limited coverage by the Israeli public health care system, prioritizing patients who would benefit most from TBP is crucial. The compiled list of indications aligns with international recommendations and provides further details within the article.

Psychodermatology is a subspecialty of dermatology that is of increasing interest to dermatologists and patients. The case for the provision of at least regional psychodermatology services across Europe is robust. Psychodermatology services have been shown to have better, quicker and more cost-efficient clinical outcomes for patients with psychodermatological conditions. Despite this, psychodermatology services are not uniformly available across Europe. In fact many countries have yet to establish dedicated psychodermatology services. In other countries psychodermatology services are in development. Even in countries where psychodermatolgy units have been established, the services are not available across the whole country. This is especially true for the provision of paediatric psychodermatology services. Also whilst most states across Europe are keen to develop psychodermatology services, the rate at which this development is being implemented is very slow. Our paper maps the current provision of psychodermatology services across Europe and indicates that there is still very much more work to be done in order to develop the comprehensive psychodermatology services across Europe, which are so crucial for our patients., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease that can have a high impact on quality of life, especially due to itch and skin pain. This paper utilizes expertise from members of the International Society of Atopic Dermatitis (ISAD)/Oriented Patient-Education Network in Dermatology (OPENED) task force to review the epidemiology, pathophysiology and exacerbating factors of itch and pain in atopic dermatitis. General principles of treatment are provided, as well as a more detailed evaluation of topical and systemic therapies. Educational and psychological approaches to itch and pain in atopic dermatitis are proposed, along with expert recommendations for the management of itch and pain in atopic dermatitis., (© 2020 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) has started the 'Healthy Skin @ Work' campaign aimed to raise awareness among the public and EU authorities on the frequency and impact of occupational skin diseases (OSDs). The EADV Task Forces (TFs) on Quality of Life and Patient Oriented Outcomes (QoL/PO) and on OSD present their mutual position statement on QoL assessment in OSDs. The EADV TFs recommend the use of the DLQI as a dermatology-specific instrument and SF-36 as a generic instrument in health-related (HR) QoL studies on OSDs. The OSD-specific questionnaire, LIOD, is not recommended for general use in its present form because of its three months recall period. The EADV TFs discourage the use of non-validated and of non-validated modifications of previously validated HRQoL instruments. The EADV TFs wish to encourage research into: the HRQoL impact of OSDs other than occupational contact dermatitis and hand eczema; comparisons between the effects of different treatments and other interventions on HRQoL in OSDs; and into the HRQoL impairment of patients with OSDs from different countries, and with different provoking factors, to predict if the results of successful therapeutic and educational interventions may be generalized across countries and between occupations., (© 2020 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Background: The incidence of skin cancers has been increasing steadily over the last decades. Although there have been significant breakthroughs in the management of skin cancers with the introduction of novel diagnostic tools and innovative therapies, skin cancer mortality, morbidity and costs heavily burden the society., Objective: Members of the European Association of Dermato-Oncology, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, International Dermoscopy Society, European Dermatology Forum, European Board of Dermatovenereology of the European Union of Medical Specialists and EORTC Cutaneous Lymphoma Task Force have joined this effort to emphasize the fundamental role that the specialist in Dermatology-Venereology has in the diagnosis and management of different types of skin cancer. We review the role of dermatologists in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancers and cutaneous lymphomas, and discuss approaches to optimize their involvement in effectively addressing the current needs and priorities of dermato-oncology., Discussion: Dermatologists play a crucial role in virtually all aspects of skin cancer management including the implementation of primary and secondary prevention, the formation of standardized pathways of care for patients, the establishment of specialized skin cancer treatment centres, the coordination of an efficient multidisciplinary team and the setting up of specific follow-up plans for patients., Conclusion: Skin cancers represent an important health issue for modern societies. The role of dermatologists is central to improving patient care and outcomes. In view of the emerging diagnostic methods and treatments for early and advanced skin cancer, and considering the increasingly diverse skills, knowledge and expertise needed for managing this heterogeneous group of diseases, dermato-oncology should be considered as a specific subspecialty of Dermatology-Venereology., (© 2020 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Objective. To determine whether using standardized patients dressed in moulage improves pharmacy students' ability to assess skin disorders compared to using picture-based paper cases. To determine pharmacy student preferences when learning assessment of skin disorders through these two educational methods. Methods. Faculty members investigated student assessments of drug-induced skin disorders and contact dermatitis by using picture-based paper cases compared with using standardized patients dressed in moulage in a patient assessment course. Faculty members measured student knowledge via multiple-choice questions before laboratory, immediately after laboratory, and during a final examination 3 weeks later. Student preferences were measured immediately after laboratory via survey instrument in this randomized, non-blinded, crossover design educational study. Results. No significant differences in knowledge scores related to skin disorders were found after laboratory or 3 weeks later when comparing the two educational methods. However, survey results suggested student preferences for using standardized patients dressed in moulage for drug-induced skin disorders. No significant differences were found for contact dermatitis cases. Conclusion. Using standardized patients dressed in moulage did not improve pharmacy students' ability to assess skin disorders compared to using picture-based paper cases. Pharmacy students preferred standardized patients dressed in moulage only when learning assessment of drug-induced skin disorders.

Teledermatology is the use of telecommunication technologies to exchange medical information for diagnosis, consultation, treatment and teaching in dermatology. While its use has been evaluated in a wide range of dermatological diagnoses, only few studies exist on its validity, diagnostic precision, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness in occupational dermatology. However, these studies show a considerable potential for diagnosis, prevention, treatment support and follow-up of patients with occupational skin diseases. Asynchronous (store and forward; SAF) or synchronous dermatology teleconsults could assist occupational medicine specialists not only in occupational preventive care, but also in the context of skin cancer screening in outdoor workers. Thus, teledermatology might contribute to earlier prevention and notification of occupational skin diseases. Modern smartphone apps with artificial intelligence technologies may also facilitate self-monitoring in employees working in high-risk jobs., (© 2018 Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG). Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The classification of self-inflicted skin lesions proposed by the European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry (ESDaP) group generated questions with regard to specific treatments that could be recommended for such cases. The therapeutic guidelines in the current paper integrate new psychotherapies and psychotropic drugs without forgetting the most important relational characteristics required for dealing with people with these disorders. The management of self-inflicted skin lesions necessitates empathy and a doctor-patient relationship based on trust and confidence. Cognitive behavioural therapy and/or psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy (alone, or combined with the careful use of psychotropic drugs) seem to achieve the best results in the most difficult cases. Relatively new therapeutic techniques, such as habit reversal and mentalization-based psychotherapy, may be beneficial in the treatment of skin picking syndromes.

Background: The precise effect and the quality of different cases used in dermatology problem-based learning (PBL) curricula are yet unclear., Aim: To prospectively compare the impact of real patients, digital, paper PBL (PPBL) and traditional lecture-based learning (LBL) on academic results and student perceptions., Methods: A total of 120 students were randomly allocated into either real-patients PBL (RPBL) group studied via real-patient cases, digital PBL (DPBL) group studied via digital-form cases, PPBL group studied via paper-form cases, or conventional group who received didactic lectures. Academic results were assessed through review of written examination, objective structured clinical examination and student performance scores. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to evaluate student perceptions., Results: Compared to those receiving lectures only, all PBL participants had better results for written examination, clinical examination and overall performance. Students in RPBL group exhibited better overall performance than those in the other two PBL groups. Real-patient cases were more effective in helping develop students' self-directed learning skills, improving their confidence in future patient encounters and encouraging them to learn more about the discussed condition, compared to digital and paper cases., Conclusion: Both real patient and digital triggers are helpful in improving students' clinical problem-handling skills. However, real patients provide greater benefits to students.

Introduction: Several classifications of psychodermatology disorders have been proposed, with most of them based on two to four main disorder category groups. However, there is, to date, no classification that has resulted from a consensus established by psychodermatology experts. The DSM-5-TR (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.), Text Revision) and the ICD-11 (International classification of diseases (11th revision)) also do not provide a systematized approach of psychodermatology disorders. Taking into consideration that classifications are a key pillar for a comprehensive approach to the pathologies of each branch of medicine, the proposal of a classification in psychodermatology appeared as a central need for the recognition of psychodermatological disorders, in an attempt to improve their recognition and, in that sense, to find a common language for the development of this subspecialty that crosses dermatology and psychiatry., Methods: Previously published classifications in psychodermatology were critically reviewed and discussed by expert opinion from an international multidisciplinary panel of 16 experts in psychodermatology and a new classification system is proposed, considering classical concepts in general dermatology and psychopathology., Results: Two main categories of disorders are presented (a main group related to primary mental health disorders and another main group related to primary skin disorders), which are subsequently subdivided into subgroups considering pathophysiological and phenomenological similarities, including key aspects of dermatological examination, namely the presence of visible skin lesions (primary and secondary skin lesions) and psychopathological correlates., Conclusion: This new classification aims to unify previous classifications, systematize the disorders that belong to psychodermatology and highlight their tenuous boundaries, to improve their management. It has been built and approved by the Psychodermatology Task Force of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), the European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry (ESDaP) and the Association for Psychoneurocutaneous Medicine of North America (APMNA)., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Background: The diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (AD) is made using evaluated clinical criteria. Management of AD must consider the symptomatic variability of the disease., Methods: EADV eczema task force developed its guideline for atopic dermatitis diagnosis and treatment based on literature review and repeated consenting group discussions., Results and Discussion: Basic therapy relies on hydrating topical treatment and avoidance of specific and unspecific provocation factors. Anti-inflammatory treatment based on topical glucocorticosteroids and topical calcineurin antagonists is used for exacerbation management and more recently for proactive therapy in selected cases. Topical corticosteroids remain the mainstay of therapy, but the topical calcineurin inhibitors, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are preferred in certain locations. Systemic anti-inflammatory treatment is an option for severe refractory cases. Microbial colonization and superinfection may induce disease exacerbation and can justify additional antimicrobial/antiseptic treatment. Systemic antihistamines (H1) can relieve pruritus, but do not have sufficient effect on eczema. Adjuvant therapy includes UV irradiation preferably of UVA1 wavelength or UVB 311 nm. Dietary recommendations should be specific and given only in diagnosed individual food allergy. Allergen-specific immunotherapy to aeroallergens may be useful in selected cases. Stress-induced exacerbations may make psychosomatic counselling recommendable. 'Eczema school' educational programmes have been proven to be helpful.

Who benefits and who pays for the electronic health records? Patients may obtain better health care, while payers benefit from lower costs. Providers pay greater costs to implement health information technology, however, and may experience lower revenues after implementation. Although large multispecialty practices or medical centers may benefit from electronic health record systems, dermatologists-particularly those in dermatology specialty groups or in solo practice-may be adequately served by document-management systems that are less complex and less expensive. This article offers a perspective on medical record documentation alternatives.

One hundred and thirty-one electronic referrals and 129 paper referrals were reviewed and their content analysed. Four items of demographic data were better recorded in the electronic referrals. Three items of clinical data were significantly better recorded in the paper referrals. The mean global clinical score for clinical relevance was greater for paper referrals than electronic referrals. This study illustrates the strength of electronic referrals for communicating demographic data and their weakness when revealing what is wrong with the patient.

Acne vulgaris is a very common, chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous apparatus. The comedo extractor is the instrument primarily used for comedo extraction. There are many types of more costly instruments available, but extraction can be achieved with the help of a modified versatile paper clip and disposable syringes. The disposable syringe is a good option for acne surgery, but a safety pin has been found to be more effective than the clip comedo extractor for extracting the comedo. The safety pin can be regarded as a "two-in-one" instrument for piercing the lesion and for extracting the keratinous material from the pilosebaceous canals.

Objective: To investigate the publications in dermatology cited in the Medline from 6 countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) from 1966 to 2004., Methods: Medline was searched with the aid of Internet provider Pubmed using the same strategy at a given time for all countries., Results: At the time of search, the Medline listed biomedical research papers from the GCC countries totaled 12837. Of these, 140 were in Dermatology. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia followed by Kuwait was by far the most prolific contributor, whereas almost none were noted from Bahrain. The publications were highest during the year 2002 (19) followed by 2003 (13), most of them being in the English language in the International Journal of Dermatology (60 citations) and Pediatric Dermatology (13 citations)., Conclusion: Though the GCC countries have seen a relatively small period in the history of development of medical research, data show that they are trying to keep pace with the rest of the developed world. What remains to be exploited is their good economy that should be directed to provide better infrastructure and improve the quality of training programs. Professional societies within the region must play an active role in ensuring optimum and judicious use of funds.

The high prevalence among children shows continued transmission from adult and lack of disease control by the health system. Detection of anti-NDO-LID-1 has been known to be more effective to predict the development of leprosy in household contacts than just detecting PGL-1 or LID- 1 alone. However, serodiagnosis is not available in poorer-settings area and the procedure (venepuncture) is still inconvenient to some people. These problems can be solved by using finger-prick blood sample on filter paper. This study aims to prove the effectiveness of using capillary blood samples on filter paper to detect the positivity of Ig G antibody against NDO-LID-1 antigen in asymptomatic household contacts. Seventeen samples of capillary blood on filter paper and sera were tested for IgG anti-NDO-LID-1 using ELISA. There was no significant difference between IgG level from filter paper and serum (p=0.754) and there was also a strong positive correlation (R=0.906) between the two procedures. These findings show that the use of filter paper and NDO-LID-1 is worthy of further investigations, especially for those with lower bacillary load or contacts of leprosy patients.

Delays of leprosy detection and treatment can lead to disability and potential transmission. Serologic examination has the advantage in detecting Subclinical Leprosy. The procedure of serologic test, which is one of its main limitation, could be simplified by the use filter paper. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the use of capillary blood dropped on filter paper as a substitute for venous blood in household contact of leprosy patients. Seventeen samples of capillary blood dried on filter paper and venous blood samples from the same individual were examined by ELISA method to determine the levels of IgM anti-Phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-1). The mean of anti- PGL-1 IgM levels of filter paper samples 163.31±126.16; whereas the mean of levels from venous samples was 473.16±411.26. There was significant difference and correlation between these two groups. Samples on filter paper in household contact can be used to determine the level of anti-PGL-1 IgM in serum by converting on the regression basis. Further study is required to evaluate the potency of filter paper methods to conduct large-scale serological screening.

Background: Acne vulgaris is an inflammatory condition of the pilosebaceous glands caused by various factors including excessive excretion of sebaceous glands. Excess sebum can be reduced using oil blotting paper (OBP), a thin paper with microspores that absorb the oil on the face. This study was conducted to determine the association between OBP application and sebum excretion according to the Oily Skin SelfAssessment Scale (OSSAS) questionnaire and acne severity according to the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) questionnaire. Methods: This experimental study was conducted in 2017 among 60 students aged 17–22 years at the Faculty of Medicine, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, recruited by purposive sampling. Data on sebum excretion and the degree of AV severity before and after intervention were analyzed using the chisquare test with a significant level of p < 0.05. Results: Before intervention, 11 (18.3%) students had dry skin, 23 (38.3%) had slightly dry skin, 17 (28.4%) had slightly oily skin, and 9 (15%) had oily skin. The prevalence of AV was 100%, with 48 (80%) students having mild severity and the remaining having moderate severity. There was no effect of using OBP on sebum excretion (p = 0.211); however, an improvement was noted on GAGS raw data score (p < 0.001). Conclusion: AV is an inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous glands, and one of the etiologies is excessive sebum excretion, which can be reduced using OBP. This study demonstrated that OBP application did not reduce sebum excretion statistically but could improve the severity of AV.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease that affects as many as 12.5% of children aged 0-17 years and 3% of the adult population. In the United States, 31.6 million children and adults are estimated to be living with AD. Objective: Therapeutic patient education (TPE) has proven its value in the management of chronic diseases for which adherence to therapy is suboptimal. This article explores experts' opinions and treatment practices to determine if TPE is a recommended and effective method for treating AD. Methods: Forty-two (51%) of 82 Councilors and Associates of the International Eczema Council (IEC), an international group with expertise in AD, responded to an electronic survey on TPE and AD. Results: Most respondents (97.5%) agreed that TPE should play an important role in the management of AD. Many respondents (82.9%) believed that all patients with AD, regardless of disease severity, could benefit from TPE. Limitations: The International Eczema Council survey lacks specific information on AD severity. Conclusions: Publications have shown the positive effect of TPE on the course of the disease, the prevention of complications, and the autonomy and quality of patient life. Survey respondents agreed that TPE can improve the quality of patient care and patient satisfaction with care.

Many events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have accelerated the implementation of teledermatology pathways within dermatology departments and across healthcare organizations. Quality of Life (QoL) assessment in dermatology is also a rapidly developing field with a gradual shift from theory to practice. The purpose of this paper organized jointly by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Task Force (TF) on QoL and patient-oriented outcomes and the EADV TF on teledermatology is to present current knowledge about QoL assessment during the use of teledermatology approaches, including data on health-related (HR) QoL instruments used in teledermatology, comparison of influence of different treatment methods on HRQoL after face-to-face and teledermatology consultations and to make practical recommendations concerning the assessment of QoL in teledermatology. The EADV TFs made the following position statements: HRQoL assessment may be an important part in most of teledermatology activities; HRQoL assessment may be easily and effectively performed during teledermatology consultations. It is especially important to monitor HRQoL of patients with chronic skin diseases during lockdowns or in areas where it is difficult to reach a hospital for face-to-face consultation; regular assessment of HRQoL of patients with skin diseases during teledermatology consultations may help to monitor therapy efficacy and visualize individual patient's needs; we recommend the use of the DLQI in teledermatology, including the use of the DLQI app which is available in seven languages; it is important to develop apps for dermatology-specific HRQoL instruments for use in children (for example the CDLQI and InToDermQoL) and for disease-specific instruments., (© 2023 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Vaccinations are an important pillar of public health. They have high benefits for individuals and society as a whole by specifically preventing or mitigating infectious diseases. In many cases, they offer benefits that go beyond protection against the disease in question, e.g., protective cardiovascular effects. Vaccination recommendations in Germany are drawn up by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO), while the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is responsible for the approval of vaccines in the EU. Vaccinations may be carried out by physicians regardless of their specialty. In dermatology, vaccinations against varicella (chickenpox), herpes zoster, and human papillomavirus are established. The development of vaccines against other dermatologically relevant diseases and cancer vaccines is the subject of intensive research. Particularly in the case of immunosuppression, the physician must also take into consideration which vaccinations are possible and useful or contraindicated. Type I or type IV allergies to components of vaccinations are very rare, but reactions at the injection site often occur as a dermatological side effect. Urticarial reactions are also possible, as does the worsening of underlying dermatological conditions such as psoriasis vulgaris., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

With the stringent regulations from various academic bodies making it desirable for a post graduate resident to have submitted an original article prior to appearance for their exams or those working in teaching institutions to have published articles to claim credit for applying for promotions and private practitioners to increase their visibility on the academic front, everyone is on a publishing spree. In this article, we attempt to elucidate the processes involved in publication; approaching it in a systematic and practical manner, incorporating some tips and tricks. This collection of pearls is aimed to serve as a beginner′s guide to scientific writing and publications. The pearls cover assorted topics like- benefits of publications, collecting resources, various tools available and technical processes related to how a manuscript is processed.

In recent decades, artificial intelligence (AI) has played an increasingly important role in medicine, including dermatology. Worldwide, numerous studies have reported on AI applications in dermatology, rapidly increasing interest in this field. However, no bibliometric studies have been conducted to evaluate the past, present, or future of this topic. This study aimed to illustrate past and present research and outline future directions for global research on AI applications in dermatology using bibliometric analysis. We conducted an online search of the Web of Science Core Collection database to identify scientific papers on AI applications in dermatology. The bibliometric metadata of each selected paper were extracted, analyzed, and visualized using VOS viewer and Cite Space. A total of 406 papers, comprising 8 randomized controlled trials and 20 prospective studies, were deemed eligible for inclusion. The United States had the highest number of papers (n = 166). The University of California System (n = 24) and Allan C. Halpern (n = 11) were the institution and author with the highest number of papers, respectively. Based on keyword co-occurrence analysis, the studies were categorized into 9 distinct clusters, with clusters 2, 3, and 7 containing keywords with the latest average publication year. Wound progression prediction using machine learning, the integration of AI into teledermatology, and applications of the algorithms in skin diseases, are the current research priorities and will remain future research aims in this field., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)