Introduction. Morphea (or localized scleroderma) is an inflammatory, immune-mediated disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by excessive collagen deposition that leads to hardening of the dermis, subcutaneous tissues, or both. Morphea is associated with cosmetic and functional impairment, which might affect the patients’ quality of life (QoL). Objective. The aim of the study was to evaluate QoL in patients suffering from morphea. Material and Methods. Sixty-five patients with morphea were recruited into this cross-sectional, prospective parallel study. QoL among adult patients was assessed with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Euro-QoL-5D questionnaire; patients aged <17 years used the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI). The severity of morphea was assessed using the Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool. The results of QoL and its association with disease severity were compared between patients with various morphea subtypes. Results. The mean DLQI scoring was 3.8±4.1 points and the CDLQI was 2.3±3.0. The mean value of Visual Analogue Scale thermometer (EQ VAS) was 66.9±17.5 points. The disease activity of morphea based on mLoSSI correlated significantly with QoL impairment according to the DLQI (R=0.41, p=0.001). No significant correlation was observed between morphea-induced damage and QoL (p=0.99). Conclusions. Evaluation of QoL in patients with morphea is still challenging due to lack of good assessment tools dedicated specifically for morphea patients. In general, QoL in morphea patients is significantly correlated with the disease activity, but not with disease-induced skin damage.

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Acne vulgaris is an extremely common skin condition, affecting a large population of adolescents, but at the same time, remaining a quite common issue in the group of adult patients. Its complex pathogenesis includes increased sebum secretion, impaired follicular keratinization, colonization of sebaceous glands with Cutibacterium acne bacteria, and the development of inflammation in pilosebaceous units. Although there are many methods of treatment available targeting the mechanisms mentioned above, a large percentage of patients remain undertreated or non-compliant with treatment. Ineffective treatment results in the formation of acne scars, which has a major impact on the well-being and quality of life of the patients. The aim of this publication was a review of available evidence on widely used and novel methods of topical and systemic treatment of acne, additionally including current literature-based analysis of factors affecting patients’ compliance. The strengths and limitations of novel substances for treating acne were discussed. We conclude that an effective acne treatment remains a challenge. A better understanding of current treatment options and factors affecting patients’ compliance could be a helpful tool in choosing a proper treatment option.

The essays gathered in the volume Emotional Landscapes: Love, Gender, and Migration, edited by Marcelo J. Borges, Sonia Cancian, and Linda Reeder, give a valuable insight into the multifaceted migration experience imbued with emotions. Attending to subtle and variable affective languages, the authors “painted” compelling “emotional landscapes,” historically contingent and shaped transnationally by love and an array of other emotions accompanying people on the move, such as loss, nostalgia, hope, and joy. Love, gender, and migration are interwoven in all the narratives. Love as a driving force of migration, its meaning, the main bond overcoming distance, and an affective underpinning of public discourse pursuing political interests. Changeable in time and space, the meanings of love entail various ways of emotional expression and reshape gender norms.