BACKGROUND: Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a disfiguring disease and is resistant to treatment. Several treatment methods are available, but the efficacy is limited. This prospective, rater-blinded, split-body comparative study investigated the efficacy and safety of long-pulsed 755-nm alexandrite laser in the treatment of KP.
METHODS: Twenty-two patients with KP of bilateral arms were enrolled in this study. All participants were randomized and treated with a long-pulsed 755-nm alexandrite laser on the left or right arm in four sessions held 3 weeks apart. The unified moisturizing lotion was applied on both left and right arms once a day. Physicians\' assessment scores and patients\' self-assessment scores were recorded, and skin imaging changes in dermoscopy, high-frequency ultrasound, and skin biopsy were obtained at baseline and 4 weeks after the fourth treatment.
RESULTS: Of the 21 patients who completed the study, 15 were women and 6 were men. At 4 weeks after the fourth treatment, the laser side showed significantly lower total (2.0 versus 4.5), roughness (1.0 versus 2.0), and redness (1.0 versus 2.0) scores according to physicians\' assessment (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, the laser side showed significantly lower total (2.0 versus 4.0), roughness (1.0 versus 2.0), and redness scores (1.0 versus 2.0) according to the patients\' self-assessment (all P < 0.05). The proportions of patients who achieved dermoscopically and ultrasonographically showed excellent improvements in follicular plugs (57.1% versus 14.3%), perifollicular erythema (52.4% versus 9.5%), perifollicular hyperpigmentation (47.6% versus 14.3%), and the number of epidermal bulges (57.1% versus 19.1%) in the laser side was significantly higher than those who achieved such improvements in the control side (all P < 0.05). Histopathology showed that the follicular plugs and inflammatory cell infiltration were improved at the final visit. Three patients exhibited reversible postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.
CONCLUSIONS: Long-pulsed 755-nm alexandrite laser treatment is effective and safe in treating both skin roughness and redness in KP.
BACKGROUND: ChiCTR2100054489.

BACKGROUND: Keratosis pilaris is a common keratinization disorder of the extensor surfaces of the proximal extremities. Various treatment modalities reduce symptoms, but their efficacy is limited.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the efficiency of Q-Switched Nd: YAG laser and fractional Er: YAG laser.
METHODS: The lesions in both arms were randomly divided into areas A and B. Fractional Er: YAG 2940 nm laser performed to area A 1.5 J/cm2 , spot size 7 mm, frequency 3 Hz and three passes and Q-Switched Nd: YAG 1064 nm laser performed to Area B, 4-6 J/cm2 spot size 4 mm, 8 Hz frequency, and as a single pass. Both lasers were performed in 4 sessions at 3-week intervals. The global improvement scale evaluated treatment responses in dyspigmentation and skin texture.
RESULTS: Twenty patients completed the study, and the mean age of a total of 20 patients was 22.9. There was no significant difference in dyspigmentation and skin texture with global improvement scale between Area A and Area B, respectively (p = 0.078, p = 0.638). In addition, there was no significant difference between patient satisfaction levels after treatment in Area A and Area B (p = 0.868).
CONCLUSIONS: The efficiency of the fractional Er: YAG 2940 nm laser was found equal to the Q-switched Nd: YAG 1064 nm laser. Fractional Er: YAG 2940 nm laser may be a new treatment option in the treatment of keratosis pilaris.

Keratosis pilaris (KP) associates with epidermal barrier defects in atopic dermatitis (AD) but its role in disease severity and concomitant atopic diseases seems to vary between populations. We performed a cross-sectional observational study with 502 randomly selected AD patients of a Finnish tertiary health care center. At a single clinical examination, disease severity (Rajka Langeland severity score and EASI), clinical signs and patient history were evaluated and total IgE levels and frequent filaggrin (FLG) loss-of-function mutations were investigated. There was no link with disease severity (p = 0.649, 95% CI 0.569-0.654), asthma (p = 0.230, 95% CI 0.206-0.281) or atopic sensitization (p = 0.351, 95% CI 0.309-0.392). Keratosis pilaris was significantly associated with palmar hyperlinearity (p < 0.000, 95% CI 0.000-0.006, OR 4.664, 95% CI 2.072-10.496) and the filaggrin loss-of-function mutation 2282del4 (p < 0.000, 95% CI 0.000-0.009, OR 4.917, 95%CI 1.961-12.330). The prevalence of KP in the cohort was generally low and KP seems to be infrequent in Finnish AD patients. This may be explained by the fact that the tested FLG loss-of-function mutations are rarer in the Finnish population compared for example, with central Europe or Asia. Mutations in other locations of the FLG gene or other genes of the epidermal barrier may play a more important role.

BACKGROUND: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder involving the TSC1 or TSC2 gene. Skin signs are prominent, but dermatological data are scarce. This study aims to describe the cutaneous signs of TSC with the genotype.
METHODS: We studied the dermatological characteristics of 38 patients with TSC at the University Hospital of Montpellier. We collected details of genotypic features.
RESULTS: All the patients presented at least one cutaneous sign. The dermatological examination alone was sufficient to establish a definite diagnosis of TSC based on the diagnostic criteria for 34/38 patients. No association was found between cutaneous signs and the presence of a TSC1 or TSC2 mutation. We noted skin signs that were poorly described in the disease, namely epidermal nevus in 3 patients, vascular malformation in 2 patients, and keratosis pilaris in 9 patients.
CONCLUSIONS: While several studies demonstrate a more severe neurological phenotype in TSC2 mutated patients, skin expression does not appear to differ according to the mutated gene. Further case reports and molecular genetic studies are needed to determine the link between epidermal nevus, vascular malformations, keratosis pilaris and TSC.

Keratosis pilaris atrophicans faciei (KPAF) is a hereditary follicular disorder, an atrophicans subtype of keratosis pilaris (KP) with a highly elusive diagnosis. Clinically, it presents with follicular, horny papules surrounded by an erythematous halo of the cheeks, forehead, chin and eyebrows, and it is followed by a gradual hair loss on the lateral margins of the eyebrows. The onset is as early as a few months after birth, but it is mainly diagnosed in children and adolescents and it can persist through adulthood. At present, the natural progression of the disease is poorly understood, which makes a correct diagnosis highly unlikely. The aim of the present study was to describe the clinical characteristics of KPAF in patients encountered in daily practice, in order to find common characteristics that may aid in the earlier recognition of the disease. An observational, descriptive, retrospective study was performed on 14 patients diagnosed with KPAF between January 2000 and December 2020. The mean age at diagnosis was 17.04 years and the onset of clinical symptoms appeared at a mean age of 4.85 years. The first clinical symptom was KP involving either the upper or lower limbs, or both. Then, erythema of the face appeared at a mean age of 7.21 years, keratotic papules on the face at a mean age of 8.35 years and, finally, loss of hair on the lateral margins of the eyebrows at a mean age of 14 years. The patients also had concomitant xerosis cutis, multiple mole syndrome, acne, contact dermatitis and Laugier-Hunziker syndrome. Evidence of disease progression, associations, as well as efficacious treatment measures are lacking. An earlier diagnosis potentially allows for a more efficacious, targeted treatment option. Either topical emollients, systemic retinoids or laser therapy may prove effective for each patient individually.

BACKGROUND: Palmar hyperlinearity is a feature of ichthyosis vulgaris, the monogenic skin disorder caused by FLG loss-of-function mutations.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate how well the presence or absence of hyperlinear palms (HLP) detect FLG genotype in children.
METHODS: STARD criteria are used to report this diagnostic accuracy study. Phenotype and genotype data (four most prevalent FLG null mutations) were obtained from a total of 3656 children in three studies: the UK CLOTHES trial (children 1-5 years with moderate-severe atopic eczema); UK BEEP trial (2 year olds at high risk of developing atopic eczema); UK-Irish eczema case collection (0-16 year olds with atopic eczema). All participants included in analyses of HLP as the index test and FLG genotype as the reference were of white European ancestry.
RESULTS: Thirty-two percent of participants (1159/3656) had FLG null mutation(s) and 37% (1347/3656) had HLP. In 13% (464/3656), HLP was recorded as \'unsure\' or not recorded. The sensitivity and specificity of HLP for detecting FLG mutations in each of the studies was: 67% (95% CI 55-78%) and 75% (67-82%) in CLOTHES; 46% (36-55%) and 89% (86-91%) in BEEP; 72% (68-75%) and 60% (57-62%) in the UK-Irish case collection. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were: 2.73 (1.95-3.81) and 0.44 (0.31-0.62) in CLOTHES; 4.02 (2.99-5.40) and 0.61 (0.52-0.73) in BEEP; 1.79 (1.66-1.93) and 0.47 (0.42-0.53) in the UK-Irish collection.
CONCLUSIONS: Trained observers were able to define palmar hyperlinearity in the majority (3191/3656, 87%) of cases. The presence of HLP is not a reliable sign to detect FLG mutations, but the absence of HLP excludes FLG null genotype with a reasonable degree of certainty.

Background: Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common benign follicular disorder for which various topical and laser treatments have been used, with limited efficacy. Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy for the reduction of skin roughness, erythema, and hyperpigmentation in Thai subjects with KP. Material and Methods: Twenty-four Thai patients with untreated KP on the upper outer arms were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind study. Only one arm of each subject was included and divided into upper and lower parts (25 cm2 per each part). One part was randomized to be treated with IPL using 645 to 950-nm cutoff filter and fluences of 15 to 18 J/cm2, while the other part was treated with sham irradiation. Subjects received four consecutive treatments at four-week intervals. Antera3D was used to measure skin roughness, erythema, and hyperpigmentation at baseline and four weeks after the last treatment. Moreover, clinical outcomes were also evaluated by subject Global Improvement Scores (GIS) and subject satisfaction grading scores. Results: Twenty-three subjects completed the study. There was statistically significant reduction of skin roughness, measured by Antera3D, compared to control group (p<0.001). However, the reduction of skin erythema was not significantly different between two groups (p=0.660). Skin hyperpigmentation significantly increased in the control group compared with intervention group (p=0.01). There were statistically significant improvements in skin roughness, erythema, hyperpigmentation, and overall appearance, graded by subject Global Improvement Scores (p<0.001). Subject satisfaction scores were significantly better in treatment parts (p<0.001). No adverse events, including burning, bulla, erosion, postinflammatory hyper/hypopigmentation, and scar formation developed in any subjects throughout study period. Conclusion: IPL has demonstrated the ability to significantly and safely reduce skin roughness in subjects with KP compared to control after four sessions.

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the efficacy of fractional CO2 laser, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm), and their combined use in treatment of keratosis pilaris. The study included twenty female patients. For each patient, three areas were randomly assigned to treatment by either fractional CO2 laser (area A) or Q-switched laser (1064 nm) (area C), or both types of laser (area B). All patients were assessed by digital photography at baseline and 1 month after the last session. Assessment was done by two non-blinded and two blinded investigators (blinded investigators do not know which area is treated with which machine and non-blinded knows). Patients reported the degree of satisfaction or any adverse effects also after 1 month from the last session. The three treatment modalities led to overall improvement in the KP lesions. According to patients\' score and investigator two, area B showed statistically significant improvement compared to areas A and C (p=0.001 and p=0.039, respectively). The first blinded investigators\' assessment revealed that there was statistically significant improvement in area C compared to A and B (p = 0.023). The assessment of both investigator one and the second blinded investigator revealed that there was improvement in the three areas with no statistically significant difference between them. Both fractional CO2 and Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) proved to be safe and effective in the treatment of keratosis pilaris regarding not only pigmentation but also follicular prominence; their combination may have an additive effect.

Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common follicular disorder for which various topical agents and energy-based devices have been used with some efficacy. To evaluate the efficacy of a novel 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser for the reduction of skin roughness, erythema, and hyperpigmentation in KP subjects.
Twenty-three subjects with untreated KP on the upper outer arms participated in a randomized, single-blind fashion. One arm of each subject was divided into upper and lower parts. One part was randomized to be treated with an innovative 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser, while the other part received sham irradiation. Subjects received four consecutive treatments at 4-week intervals. Antera3D was used to measure skin roughness, erythema, and hyperpigmentation at baseline and 4 weeks after the last treatment. Moreover, clinical outcomes were also evaluated by subjects\' Global Improvement Score (GIS) and subjects\' satisfaction grading scores.
Twenty-three subjects completed the study. There was statistically significant reduction of skin roughness measured by Antera3D compared with control group (P < 0.001). There were statistically significant improvements of skin roughness, erythema, hyperpigmentation, and overall appearances graded by subjects\' Global Improvement Score (P < 0.001 all). Subjects\' satisfaction scores were graded significantly better in treatment parts (P < 0.001). No adverse events including burning, bulla, erosion, post-inflammatory hyper/hypopigmentation, and scar formation developed in any subjects throughout the study period.
This innovative 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser has proved to significantly and safely reduce skin roughness in Thai KP subjects compared with control after four sessions. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

We describe 25 cases of erythromelanosis follicularis faciei et colli from India. The male:female ratio was 5.25:1 and the average age of onset was 12.3 years. The cheeks, preauricular area, and submandibular region were the sites most commonly affected. Keratosis pilaris was seen in 22 (88%) of the patients.