BACKGROUND:Skin diseases represent a major public health concern, affecting all demographics and imposing significant personal, economic and social burdens. OBJECTIVES:To assess the epidemiology and impact of skin diseases using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data, highlighting regional variations, knowledge gaps and areas for improvement. METHODS:GBD data on prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and years lived with disability (YLDs) for skin conditions from 2000 to 2021 were analysed. RESULTS:According to GBD 2021, the global prevalence of skin and subcutaneous diseases, excluding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and skin cancers, was 25.7%, ranking sixth among the most prevalent disease categories worldwide. These conditions accounted for a global YLDs rate of 495.1 per 100,000 person-years, placing them eighth in terms of disease burden. Overall, the most prevalent conditions were STIs excluding HIV (16.8%), fungal infections (7.8%), and acne (3.0%). Squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and decubitus ulcers showed increasing prevalence, while atopic dermatitis, scabies and viral infections declined slightly. Acne, scabies and atopic dermatitis predominated in youth, whereas fungal infections, contact dermatitis and skin cancers predominated in older adults. Females showed higher prevalence of STIs, acne and atopic dermatitis. Infectious skin diseases were more common in Sub-Saharan Africa and tropical regions, while chronic inflammatory and neoplastic diseases predominated in high-income regions. CONCLUSIONS:Several limitations were identified. The GBD initiative only includes some dermatological diseases reflecting the difficulties in obtaining data because of the multitude of skin diseases with underreporting and misdiagnosis. There are significant gaps in data from low- and middle-income countries, a lack of reliable trends and inadequate quality-adjusted life year estimates considering cultural and social variations. The GBD initiative provides valuable insights but underestimates the true burden of skin diseases. Improved reporting and inclusion of neglected conditions are urgently needed through global collaboration among stakeholders.

This report details the case of a 4-year-old girl diagnosed with acral pseudolymphomatous angiokeratoma of childhood (APACHE). Treatment with topical sirolimus 0.4% once daily led to almost complete resolution of the lesions. No adverse effects were observed after 1 year of follow-up.

ABSTRACT Emollients and cleansers are essential components in managing atopic dermatitis (AD). While international evidence‐based guidelines recommend using gentle cleansers and emollients daily as a foundational therapy for AD, implementation in practice remains suboptimal. Clinicians may require guidance in selecting the most appropriate options for their patients. This paper, tailored for non‐dermatologist healthcare providers, examines how to choose and integrate emollients into treating mild‐to‐moderate AD, providing practical recommendations for optimizing patient care.

NEMO-deleted exon 5 autoinflammatory syndrome (NEMO-NDAS) is the result of a gain-of-function IKBKG pathogenic variant leading to dysregulated NF-κB signaling and systemic inflammation. We present a case of NEMO-NDAS in a 2-year-old female presenting with recurrent fevers, subcutaneous nodules, lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly. This article highlights the symptoms that aid in diagnosis and how to differentiate it from other autoinflammatory diseases and reviews therapies for NEMO-NDAS.

Infantile transient smooth muscle contraction of the skin (ITSMCS) is a rare condition that usually affects the lower extremities of newborns and is characterized by intermittent skin rippling. Two cases of sisters diagnosed with ITSMCS are presented.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Xerosis cutis refers to dry skin that may be caused or exacerbated by external triggers (e.g., cold weather), endogenous factors (e.g., aging), or present as a symptom of other diseases (e.g., atopic dermatitis). Emollients are topical products formulated to rehydrate and restore the barrier function of the skin and are consistently recommended for the management of xerosis cutis and related diseases. Following the previous articles in this supplement, the present article aims to review the wider spectrum of clinical benefits associated with emollient therapy for xerosis cutis and diseases associated with dry skin. In clinical studies, the biophysical effects of emollients are often demonstrated using instrumental measures of skin hydration and barrier function, as well as clinical scoring systems that grade xerosis severity. In addition to these objective measures, the effectiveness of emollients has also been assessed by evaluating changes in subjective symptoms and patient-reported quality of life. Other reported benefits of emollient therapy for atopic dermatitis include delaying and preventing flares and reducing topical corticosteroid use. Although the current body of literature demonstrates the wide range of clinical benefits of emollient therapy for xerosis cutis, they also highlight a high degree of heterogeneity across clinical studies, a need for consensus outcome measures that facilitate direct comparisons between formulations, and a need to establish treatment targets for emollient therapy in clinical practice. Nevertheless, available evidence indicates that emollients demonstrate a favorable risk-benefit profile overall and should continue to be the mainstay of basic therapy for people with xerosis cutis and diseases associated with dry skin.

A 9-year-old boy with Gorlin syndrome (GS) developed asymptomatic palmar papules. Histopathologic examination of these lesions revealed angulated basaloid nests surrounded by sclerotic stroma in the upper dermis, with overlying epidermal atrophy and hypogranulosis. These findings align with previously described basaloid proliferations in palmoplantar lesions of GS, distinct from the typical basal cell carcinomas found in other skin areas. Unlike basal cell carcinomas, these lesions remained stable during follow-up. This case highlights the unique histopathologic features of palmoplantar lesions in GS and raises questions about their pathogenesis and potential origin.

Xerosis cutis (dry skin) is a common and burdensome symptom of atopic dermatitis (AD). Topical emollients restore skin hydration and barrier function through the physicochemical properties of their nonactive constituents (e.g., glycerol, urea, lactic acid, liquid paraffin, petrolatum) and represent the mainstay of basic therapy for xerosis cutis associated with AD. Newer "emollients plus" containing active ingredients may expand the treatment options available to patients with AD; however, we believe that basic emollients remain an important strategy for the long-term management of xerosis cutis. To that end, this article aims to review the clinical value of basic emollients for treating xerosis cutis in AD. We performed a series of literature searches to identify clinical studies of basic emollients containing one or more of the following ingredients: almond and coconut oils, amino acids, chondroitin, dexpanthenol, glucose, glycerol, glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, lanolin, olive oil, paraffin, petrolatum, phospholipids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, pyroglutamic acid, squalene, triglycerides, urea, vegetable oils, and vitamin E. From these searches, the authors identified articles of interest that described the efficacy of basic emollients for the treatment of xerosis cutis associated with AD. Studies included in our review varied widely in terms of sample size, study design, interventions, and endpoints but collectively showed that most basic emollient formulations are safe and effective at improving objective and subjective measures of xerosis cutis. These studies also demonstrated the importance of ongoing emollient therapy to avoid xerosis relapse and the additive benefits of emollients that combine ingredients with complementary biophysical properties (e.g., glycerol with its humectant effect plus petrolatum with its occludent effect). Overall, the current body of literature reinforces the role of basic emollients as effective and accessible treatment options for the long-term management of xerosis cutis in patients with AD.

The skin is the organ most frequently involved in childhood mastocytosis. In this article, we present a comprehensive update on recent relevant data in the field of childhood mastocytosis, and critically review the drawbacks of its current classification and skin manifestations. We hypothesize that two main types of childhood mastocytosis can be recognized, with relevant implications for the outcome, management and understanding of the disease.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors have nothing to report.