Picosecond q-switched 1064/532 nm laser in tattoo removal. our single center experience

Background: Tattoo removal is becoming increasingly popular, and Q-switched lasers represent the gold standard in the treatment of this condition. In this study, we report our experience with a new Q-switched picosecond laser device, evaluating its effectiveness and safety. Methods: A total of 34 patients asking for tattoo removal were consecutively enrolled in this open study. The clinicians decided on operating settings based on the Fitzpatrick phototype, the type of tattoo, and the tattoo location. A maximum of seven sessions, with a minimum interval of eight weeks between each session, were performed. At the six month follow-up visit following the last treatment session, patient satisfaction was assessed using a visual analogue scale and two dermatologists evaluated the aesthetic outcome based on pictures taken before and after treatment. Results: A total of 34 patients were included and analyzed: 17 females (50%) and 17 males (50%). The mean patient age was 43.6 ± 11 years. Participants’ Fitzpatrick skin type ranged from II to IV. The mean number of treatment sessions performed was 3.3 ± 2.0 per patient. Over 40% of patients showed complete removal of the tattoo, with most of the patients indicating satisfaction with the treatment. Conclusions: The Q-switched 1064/532 nm laser may be considered the gold standard treatment for tattoo removal. Picosecond pulses seem to guarantee fewer sessions and excellent results when compared to other laser systems in tattoo removal

Lp-PLA 2 , a new biomarker of vascular disorders in metabolic diseases

Metabolic diseases are chronic disorders correlated to a greater risk of cardiovascular event and death. Recently, many data have sustained the biological link between microvascular dysfunction, oxidative stress, vascular inflammation, and metabolic diseases. The determination of new and specific blood biomarkers of vascular inflammation associated with obesity-related metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes such as lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA 2 ) could be useful to identify subject with high risk of cardiovascular events. Lp-PLA 2 participates by a crucial role in microvascular dysfunction and oxidative stress showing positive association with metabolic disorders. In this review, we will argue the evolving role of Lp-PLA 2 in predicting cardiovascular events in metabolic disease patients

Cutaneous manifestations in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis

Patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) may exhibit various cutaneous abnormalities, including changes in skin colour, pruritus, xerosis, hair, nail and oral changes, metastatic calcinosis, and bullous dermatosis. These changes have a considerable negative effect on the patient's quality of life. Early recognition of cutaneous signs and prompt initiation of treatment can dramatically alter their course and decrease morbidit

Flash-lamp pulsed-dye laser treatment of keloids. results of an observational study

Objective: Flash lamp pulsed dye laser (FPDL) was used in a selected group of patients with hypertrophic scars and keloids. Objective of the study was to assess the efficacy on a large number of cases. Background data: FPDL is a nonablative technology, typically used in vascular malformation therapy because of its specificity for hemoglobin. Methods: A total of 59 patients (33 males and 26 females, mean age 37.5 years) affected by hypertrophic postsurgical scars and keloids, underwent from four to six treatment sessions with a flash lamp pumped pulsed dye laser. Clinical follow-up was performed 6 months after the last treatment. Results were judged by blind observers. Results: A total of 29 patients out of 59 (49.1%) achieved excellent clearance, 15 patients (25.4%) achieved good to moderate clearance, and 12 patients (20.4%) obtained slight improvement. Only three subjects (5%) had little or no removal of their lesion. Treatment was well tolerated with minor and transient side effects. Conclusions: FPDL is known as a safe and effective treatment for different dermatological lesions in which skin microvessels play a key role in pathogenesis or development. This laser was effective when applied to hypertrophic scars and keloids. Further studies in a larger set of patients, however, are required to assess a standardized and reproducible method for treating these lesions

Emerging role of anti-IL23 in the treatment of psoriasis. when humanized is very promising

Risankizumab is a novel anti-interleukin 23 humanized antibody developed to treat severe psoriasis. In this paper, we analyze the key information about this new drug and the results of phase 3 clinical trials already present in literature in order measure its safety and effectiveness in every day practice. Risankizumab seems to be one of the best performing drugs in the treatment of psoriasis, with a good safety profile and a dosage regimen less frequent than all other biologic agents, although head-to-head randomized clinical trials with other anti-interleukin treatments will be necessary in order to confirm these preliminary results

Excimer UV radiation in dermatology

Ultraviolet B (UVB 290-320 nm) radiation has been used in the treatment of different skin diseases. Light sources with narrowband UVB output spectrum have been developed with the aim of increasing the rates of beneficial to side effect profile of the treatment. Narrowband UVB phototherapy using fluorescent lamps (TL01, 311∓2nm) has been widely adopted over the past 10 years. Monochromatic Excimer Light (MEL) represents a new source of narrow-band UVB emitting at 308 nm and guarantees a safe and effective approach to different chronic and recurrent skin diseases thanks to its potent and selective immunosuppressant actio

Trattamento topico della xerosi cutanea severa: risultati di uno studio osservazionale. [Topical treatment of severe xerosis: Results of an observational study]

Dry skin refers to an itchy eczema condition commonly seen, due to the extreme dryness of the skin. This situation occours when the skin protective layer which contains water, decreases. This situation can be related to physiological and pathological conditions. Objectively, skin appears dry, finely scaly, rough to the touch, sometime fissured and sometime associated with itching and/or burning. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the clinical efficacy, in the main forms of skin xerosis, of a cosmetic product for topical use, consisting of a mixture of active ingredients (L-carnitine, biotin and vitamin B12) capable of performing moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and soothing action. 30 patients were selected, and randomly divided into 2 groups: a first group of 20 patients who applied the active ingredient and a second group of 10 patients to whom the package contained a placebo. Everyone applied the product 2 times/day on affected areas. We adopted objective and subjective evaluation criteria, such as: erythema, desquamation and lichenification in a scale from 1 to 4. Furthermore, subjective symptoms were evaluated through a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 1 to 10 regarding itch. This product was capable to reduce skin xerosis in all the indications. We can therefore conclude that the use of a topical product containing L-carnitine, biotin and vitamin B12 represents a valid therapeutic approach to xerosis, induced by skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis

Topical treatment of severe xerosis: results of an observational study

Dry skin refers to an itchy eczema condition commonly seen, due to the extreme dryness of the skin. This situation occours when the skin protective layer which contains water, decreases. This situation can be related to physiological and pathological conditions. Objectively, skin appears dry, finely scaly, rough to the touch, sometime fissured and sometime associated with itching and/or burning. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the clinical efficacy, in the main forms of skin xerosis, of a cosmetic product for topical use, consisting of a mixture of active ingredients (L-carnitine, biotin and vitamin B12) capable of performing moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and soothing action. 30 patients were selected, and randomly divided into 2 groups: a first group of 20 patients who applied the active ingredient and a second group of 10 patients to whom the package contained a placebo. Everyone applied the product 2 times/day on affected areas. We adopted objective and subjective evaluation criteria, such as: erythema, desquamation and lichenification in a scale from 1 to 4. Furthermore, subjective symptoms were evaluated through a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 1 to 10 regarding itch. This product was capable to reduce skin xerosis in all the indications. We can therefore conclude that the use of a topical product containing L-carnitine, biotin and vitamin B12 represents a valid therapeutic approach to xerosis, induced by skin diseases such as atopic dermatiti