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Aim: Widely used in many indications in dermatology practice, narrow-band ultraviolet B is a kind of ultraviolet with a wavelength usually condensing at 312nm. Our aim in this study is to introduce our 15-year experience with narrow-band UVB on 205 patients. Materials and Methods: Gender, diagnosis, distribution of lesions, beginning dose, maximum dose, number of sessions, and cumulative dose of patients treated with narrow band UVB were retrospectively studied. Results: The mean age of patients was 37,2 years. 44,4% of the patients was males, 55,6% was females. 34,1% of the patients were diagnosed with psoriasis and 14,6% of the patients with mycosis fungoides. 73,7% of distribution of lesions was diffused, 28% was central, and 26% was peripheral. The mean number of sessions was 27,1 and the mean cumulative dose was 21070 mJ/cm2 in the first treatment. The mean starting dose was 125,4 mJ/cm2 and the mean maximum dose was 21070 mJ/cm². Conclusion: Differences between the means of the number of sessions, maximum doses, cumulative doses, and diseases were statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Design: Pemphigus is a severe and life-threatening chronic autoimmune mucocutaneous blistering disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate and analyze the course, prognostic factors and epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features of pemphigus in patients followed between 2004 and 2013. Materials and Methods: We performed a 10-year retrospective study of patients diagnosed with pemphigus in Erzurum. The parameters that were evaluated include age, sex, diagnostic methods, duration of hospitalizations, distribution of lesions, duration of treatment and therapeutic doses. Results: The results showed that the estimated annual incidence rate was 1.31 cases per 100.000 person-years. The male to female ratio was 1: 0.81. The mean age at onset of the disease was 48 years (range: 7-95 years). Thirty-six patients had only skin lesions and sixty-six cases had both skin and oral mucosal lesions. The majority of the patients (58.8%) with pemphigus were treated with middle or high-dose corticosteroids (40-160 mg/day). Conclusions: Pemphigus vulgaris is the most common clinical subtype in Erzurum and the mean age of the disease onset in the present study was found to be a decade earlier than in other parts of the world. The patients with both oral mucosa and skin involvement required higher corticosteroid doses and longer hospitalization time when compared to the patients with oral mucosa involvement alone. (Turkderm 2015; 49: 125-8) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Design: Bullous pemphigoid is a rare autoimmune blistering disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and clinical, laboratory, and radiological features of patients with bullous pemphigoid in Erzurum and to evaluate the association of bullous pemphigoid with comorbid diseases. Methods and Methods: Medical records of 38 patients, who were diagnosed with bullous pemphigoid after biopsy and hospitalized in our clinic between 2003 and 2013, were retrospectively studied. Results: Fifteen (39.5%) of the 38 patients were male, and 23 (60.5%) were female. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 62.4±21 years. Analyses of the results of direct immunofluorescence showed that the most common finding was the presence of IgG and C3 (42.1%). The average time since the first presentation until diagnosis was 72.7±104.3 days. The mean initial dose of corticosteroid was 54.7±26.01 mg/ day. The mean length of hospitalization for bullous pemphigoid was 22.6±23.5 days. We did not detect any malignancy or comorbid diseases associated with bullous pemphigoid. However, eosinophilia was detected. Conclusions: Routine laboratory and radiological investigations are not necessary to detect malignancy in patients with bullous pemphigoid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aplasia cutis congenita is a rare embryologic disorder characterized by localized or generalized absence of skin. The disease is frequently sporadic, however, it may also be familial. It usually affects the scalp, but, even rarely, it may be seen on other body areas. Skin may be affected with or without some congenital anomalies, especially bone anomalies. An 8-month-old girl presented with skin defect at the vertex since birth. A hair collar sign was observed around the lesion. In our case, bone and other systemic abnormalities were not associated with skin defect. Here, we report the case of a patient clinically diagnosed with bullous aplasia cutis congenita with hair collar sign which is a rare entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schnitzler syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized with chronic urticarial rashes, monoclonal gammopathy, intermittent fever, arthralgia, arthritis, bone pain, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, leukocytosis and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Schnitzler syndrome must be investigated in urticaria which is long acting and unresponsive to classic treatments. Lymphoproliferative disorders may accompany to Schnitzler syndrome. Although there are many kinds of treatments, response to anakinra is well. Our case was 74 years old man presented with urticarial papule and plaques on his upper part of body and proximal part of extremities. Fever, arthralgia and neutropenia were together with his lesions. Patient was used systemic steroid and antihistaminic with diagnosis of Urtica. Schnitzler syndrome was diagnosed. We decided to represent this case because Schnitzler syndrome accompanied to multiple myeloma is very rare in literature and diagnosis is often delayed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nevus comedonicus is a rare variant of epidermal nevus. It is a disease of pilosebaceous unit. Fistulas, sinuses, severe scars and squamous cell carcinoma may develop over lesions. When systemic signs accompany to nevus comedonicus it is called nevus comedonicus syndrome. Antibiotics, topical peeling treatment, surgical procedures and laser are used in treatment. Our case was 17 years old girl with multiple comedones and a few scars on her right lower extremity. Her lesions were present since birth. Biopsy was taken. Diagnosis was nevus comedonicus. We decided to report this case to emphasize importance of nevus comedonicus because lesions don't disappear spontaneously and may cause aesthetic issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the case of a 21-year-old male patient followed for psoriasis for approximately seven months presented with edema in the upper lip and was diagnosed with psoriasis for which he was given topical treatment and asked to attend follow-up examinations.

Phakomatosis pigmentovascularis is a rare genodermatosis characterized by combination of vascular malformations and pigmented nevi. There are numerous subtypes of phakomatosis pigmentovascularis and various classifications have been proposed in the literature. Nevus depigmentosus and dermatomal nevus flammeus were detected in a 7-month-old baby girl with birthmark on the face and body. Only one case was found to be present with similar clinical features in the literature. We have reported this case because we assume that it may be defined as a new type of phakomatosis pigmentovascularis. (Turkderm 2015; 49: 167-8) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a case study of 20-nail dystrophy (TND) associated with alopecia areata in a 45-year-old male patient. The patient presented with nail brittleness, longitudinal ridges, and dull and rough appearance on the surface of all nails and toes along with alopecia areata around the beard area. Results of potassium hydroxide examination and fungal cultures are negative. The patient was given topical steroids in occlusion for ten days. Brief background on the disease is provided.

Background/aim: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory skin disease that is seen in 1%–3% of the population. It is characterized by symmetrical papulosquamous lesions on the scalp, knees, elbows, sacral region, and extensor surfaces of the extremities. Psoriasis affects both sexes equally. It is thought that reactive oxygen species have an important role in inflammatory skin diseases, especially in psoriasis. There are few studies investigating serum oxidant-antioxidant levels in psoriasis. In this study, we aimed to investigate serum oxidant and antioxidant levels in psoriasis and their effects on its pathogenesis., Materials and Methods: Included in this study were 50 patients with psoriasis who had not been treated with any systemic medication and 45 healthy volunteers (control group). The total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxy 2’-deoxyguanosine (8H2D) were studied via venous blood sampling. The parameters were measured spectrophotometrically. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine., Results: The mean ages of the patients and control group were 32.48 (±14.45) and 35.64 (±17.40) years, respectively. Of the patients, 23 were male and 27 were female. Of the healthy volunteers, 20 were male and 25 were female. The mean disease duration was 8.77 (±6.90) years. The mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score was 11.41 (±9.62). The mean TOS levels of the patient and control groups were 63.12 (±33.23) and 4.50 (±9.74), respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.00). The mean TAS levels of the patient and control groups were 3.15 (±0.70) and 3.16 (±0.44), respectively, without any statistically significant difference. The mean MDA levels in the patient and control groups were 14.84 (±6.66) and 12.77 (±4.87), respectively, without any statistically significant difference. The mean 8H2D levels of the patient and control groups were 16,781.2 (±5918.95) and 15,276.13 (±6084.95), respectively. This difference was also not statistically significant. There was no correlation between PASI scores and the above-mentioned parameters., Conclusion: In the present study, the TOS levels showed a significant statistical difference between the psoriasis and control groups. This finding supports the effect of the oxidant system in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. This was the first study to investigate MDA, TOS, TAS, and 8H2D levels together in patients with psoriasis. More studies are needed to clearly understand the relationship between psoriasis and the oxidant-antioxidant system., (This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)

Palmoplantar dysesthesia is a dermatologic toxic reaction caused by chemotherapeutics. Also known as hand-foot syndrome, it is not life-threatening, but does decrease quality of life. Dysesthesia, erythema, edema, and desquamation on palmoplantar region are observed clinically. Palmoplantar dysesthesia syndrome may be caused by chemotherapeutics including cytarabine, doxorubicin, capecitabine, epirubicin, docetaxel, vinorelbine, and 5-fluorouracil. The case of a 62-year-old woman who presented with diffuse erythema on palmoplantar area after use of capecitabine for metastatic breast carcinoma is described in the present report. Palmoplantar dysesthesia syndrome caused by capecitabine may affect patient compliance.

Isotretinoin has been used to treat severe inflammatory acne that is resistant to antibiotics or topical agents; however, it also may cause alterations in lipids and liver enzymes. In this retrospective study, we evaluated changes in lipids and liver enzymes in 322 acne patients who had been treated with oral isotretinoin at our institution over a 3-year period. Each patient's medical records were evaluated to determine baseline triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels compared to levels recorded at 3 and 6 months following initiation of treatment with oral isotretinoin. Overall, statistically significant increases in TG and LDL levels were noted following treatment with isotretinoin (P<.001, respectively), while HDL levels were shown to decrease (P=.016). Although ALT levels also increased, the changes were not statistically significant increases in AST levels also were noted (P=.72). In our study, isotretinoin appeared to have a greater effect on lipids than liver enzymes. Dermatologists should not avoid isotretinoin use for appropriate indications, but close follow-up is important.