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Photodynamic therapy involves administration of a photosensitizing drug and its subsequent activation by irradiation with a light source at wavelengths matching the absorption spectrum of the photosensitizer. In many countries around the world, topical photodynamic therapy has been approved for treatment of cutaneous oncologic conditions such as actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, and superficial basal cell carcinoma. Multicenter, randomized, controlled studies have confirmed its efficacy and superior cosmetic outcomes compared to conventional therapies. Nevertheless, this therapeutic method presents some adverse effects, such as erythema, edema, pigmentation, pustules, and pain. There is no doubt that pain is the most severe of the adverse effects, being sometimes responsible for definitive treatment interruption. The pain mechanism has not yet been fully understood, which makes complete pain control a challenge to be conquered. In spite of that, this literature review presents some useful pain management strategies as well as the most important pain-related factors in photodynamic therapy.A terapia fotodinâmica consiste na administração de uma droga fotossensibilizante e sua subseqüente irradiação com uma fonte de luz de espectro correspondente ao do seu fotossensibilizador. Em diversos países do mundo, a terapia fotodinâmica tópica é aprovada para o tratamento de condições oncológicas cutâneas como queratoses actínicas, doença de Bowen e carcinoma basocelular superficial. Estudos multicêntricos controlados e randomizados confirmam sua eficácia e seus resultados cosméticos superiores em relação às terapias convencionais. No entanto, existem alguns efeitos adversos inerentes a esse método terapêutico, como eritema, edema, pigmentação, pústulas e dor. Essa última é, sem dúvida, a mais importante deles, chegando a ser responsável pela interrupção definitiva do tratamento em alguns casos. O mecanismo dessa dor permanece ainda não completamente entendido. Tal fato faz do controle total da dor durante a terapia fotodinâmica um desafio ainda a ser conquistado. Apesar disso, esta revisão apresenta algumas estratégias que podem ajudar os pacientes a tolerar melhor a terapia fotodinâmica, além de relacionar os principais fatores ligados à dor descritos na literatura.

É relatado caso de elastólise da derme média em paciente do sexo feminino, de 37 anos, que apresentava áreas de enrugamento fino da pele, principalmente nas flexuras e pápulas perifoliculares com aspecto em peau d´orange na região paravertebral, conferindolhe aspecto precocemente envelhecido. A histologia mostrava fragmentação e rarefação das fibras elásticas restritas à porção média da derme.A case of mid-dermal elastolysis is reported in a 37-year-old female patient, who presented skin areas with fine wrinkles, mainly in fold areas and also perifollicular papules similar to peau d'orange in the paravertebral area, lending her a prematurely elderly appearance. Histological examination revealed fragmentation and rarefaction of elastic fibers, restricted to the mid-dermis portion.

Abstract: Background: Actinic keratosis (AK) represents a risk of progression to squamous cell carcinoma. Ingenol mebutate gel is a novel therapeutic option for field-directed treatment. Objectives: To evaluate the safety, tolerability and patients' perspectives, related to the therapeutic success of managing AKs on the face and scalp with ingenol mebutate gel in Brazilian individuals. Methods: This was an observational, retrospective and descriptive study of 68 areas of actinic keratosis on the face and scalp treated with Ingenol mebutate gel involving a total of 37 patients. The drug was applied for three consecutive days on an area of of 25 cm2 and documentation was performed on baseline and days 4, 8, 15, 60 and 180. On day 4, the composite local skin reaction score was calculated. At the end, a questionnaire was applied to evaluate patients' perspectives about the treatment. Results: Adherence was 100%, no serious adverse events were recorded and the mean composite local skin reaction score (standard deviation) was 8.61±4.22. The treatment was considered optimum by 75.68% of the patients. Study limitations: Calculation of composite local skin reaction score performed only on the fourth day. Conclusions: Treatment with ingenol mebutate gel was considered safe and tolerable in Brazilian subjects. Patients had a maximum adherence rate and a great improvement in self-esteem. The results of this research reproduce the findings of the literature.

Abstract: Background: Dermatological diseases are among the primary causes of the demand for basic health care. Studies on the frequency of dermatoses are important for the proper management of health planning. Objectives: To evaluate the nosological and behavioral profiles of dermatological consultations in Brazil. Methods: The Brazilian Society of Dermatology invited all of its members to complete an online form on patients who sought consultations from March 21-26, 2018. The form contained questions about patient demographics, consultation type according to the patient's funding, the municipality of the consultation, diagnosis, treatments and procedures. Diagnostic and therapeutic decisions were compared between subgroups. Results: Data from 9629 visits were recorded. The most frequent causes for consultation were acne (8.0%), photoaging (7.7%), nonmelanoma skin cancer (5.4%), and actinic keratosis (4.7%). The identified diseases had distinct patterns with regard to gender, skin color, geographic region, type of funding for the consultation, and age group. Concerning the medical conducts, photoprotection was indicated in 44% of consultations, surgical diagnostic procedures were performed in 7.3%, surgical therapeutic procedures were conducted in 19.2%, and cosmetic procedures were performed in 7.1%. Study limitations: Nonrandomized survey, with a sample period of one week. Conclusion: This research allowed us to identify the epidemiological profiles of the demands of outpatients for dermatologists in various contexts. The results also highlight the importance of aesthetic demands in privately funded consultations and the significance of diseases such as acne, nonmelanoma skin cancer, leprosy, and psoriasis to public health.

Abstract: The medical-dermatological demographics favors health planning and guides expansion of the specialty. We conducted an ecological study of dermatologists members of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD). We evaluated: gender, age, address; which were compared with population and human development index indicators of municipalities. We evaluated 8384 members, distributed in 527 (9.5%) municipalities throughout Brazil. The female sex represented 78.4% of the members and the median age was 43 (36-54) years. The median density of dermatologists was 0.35 (0.21-0.37) per 10,000 inhabitants. The correlation (Spearman's rho) between density of dermatologists and human development index was 0.39 (p

Os eventos e reações envolvendo quimioterapia são frequentes na prática oncológica. Agentes quimioterápicos são uma modalidade de tratamento amplamente utilizada. Efeitos colaterais podem variar de frequência e também ser confundidos com outras manifestações tegumentares do tratamento oncológico. Este artigo objetiva expor as informações sobre reações cutâneas à quimioterapia, em especial, aqueles para os quais o dermatologista é requisitado a emitir parecer e a comentar sobre a segurança e a viabilidade da readministração de uma droga específica. Os autores descrevem os aspectos associados a esses eventos, fazendo uma análise detalhada de cada um deles.Events and reactions involving chemotherapy are common in clinical oncology. Chemotherapeutic agents are widely used in therapy. Side effects range from the common to the rare and may be confused with other mucocutaneous manifestations resulting from the oncological treatment. The objective of this paper was to present data on skin reactions to chemotherapy, particularly those cases in which the dermatologist is requested to issue a report and asked to comment on the safety and viability of readministration of a specific drug. The authors describe aspects associated with these events, presenting a detailed analysis of each one of them.

O tratamento local e sistêmico das neoplasias pode causar alterações na pele, membranas mucosas, cabelos e unhas. O diagnóstico preciso e o tratamento adequado destes efeitos colaterais requerem conhecimento dos padrões das reações adversas mais comuns para as medicações que o paciente está utilizando. O dermatologista deve estar familiarizado com as manifestações tegumentares das neoplasias, bem como com os efeitos adversos mucocutâneos dos tratamentos antineoplásicos.The local and systemic treatment of tumors can cause changes in the skin, mucous membranes, hair and nails. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of side effects require knowledge about the patterns of the most common adverse reactions to drugs the patient may be using. The dermatologist must be familiar with the manifestations of certain soft tissue neoplasms, as well as with the adverse mucocutaneous forms of cancer treatment.