BACKGROUNDMelasma is a chronic, acquired hyperpigmentation disease on sun-exposed areas of the skin, which affects patients' quality of life.OBJECTIVETo assess the impact on the quality of life of women living in Florianópolis, Brazil, through questionnaire (MelasQol), and investigate the clinical aspects and risk factors for melasma, correlating them with the MelasQol scores.METHODSThis study was performed on 51 melasma patients cared for at the University Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. The variables included were: age, gender, age of onset of melasma, Fitzpatrick phototype (I-VI), duration and family history of melasma, onset of melasma during pregnancy, use of hormonal contraceptive, thyroid disorder and distribution of melasma. The MelasQoL questionnaire, validated for Brazilian Portuguese (MelasQoL-BP), was applied.RESULTSThe mean age was 38.43±6.75 years. All patients were women. The most common Fitzpatrick skin phototypes were III (49.02%) and IV (33.33%). Melasma had a mean age of onset of 29.18±7.05 years and a mean duration of 9.25±6.18 years. The majority of patients did not have familial history of melasma (50.98%). Melasma onset was associated with pregnancy (45.10%). The MelasQoL-BP analysis revealed significant emotional impact on patients, such as feeling bothered (94.11%), frustrated and embarrassed (64.71%), and depressed (52.94%) about their skin appearance, as well as unattractive (78.43%). No social impact was observed (P>0.05).CONCLUSIONMelasma has a strong emotional impact on quality of life, resulting especially from feelings about skin appearance.

BACKGROUND Dermoscopy allows the early detection of melanomas. The preoperative determination of Breslow index by dermoscopy could be useful in planning the surgical approach and in selecting patients for sentinel lymph node biopsy. OBJECTIVES This study aims at describing the dermoscopic features of thin melanomas and comparing melanomas in situ with invasive melanomas less than or equal to 1 mm thick. METHODSThis was an observational retrospective study in which the dermoscopy photographs of 41 thin melanomas were evaluated. Three observers evaluated together 14 dermoscopic criteria. RESULTS Among thin melanomas, the most frequent criteria were presence of asymmetry in two axes in 95% of cases (39 cases), 3 or more colors in 80.4% of cases (33 cases), atypical dots or globules in 58.5% of cases (24 cases) and atypical network or streaks in 53.6% of cases (22 cases). The group of invasive melanomas presented with a higher frequency and statistical significance (p <0.05) 3 or more colors (OR: 16.1), milky red areas (OR: 4.8) and blue-white veil (OR: 20.4), and a greater tendency to have streaks or atypical network (OR: 3.66). CONCLUSIONS Thin melanomas tend to have asymmetry in the two axes, 3 or more colors, atypical dots or globules and atypical network or streaks. Melanomas in situ tend to have up to 2 colors, no blue-white veil and no milky red area. Invasive melanomas tend to have 3 or more colors, a milky red area, blue-white veil, and atypical network or streaks. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Pyoderma gangrenosum can present as a cutaneous manifestation of paraneoplastic syndromes. A case of bullous pyoderma gangrenosum associated with bicytopenia is described. During the complementary investigation, myelogram, bone marrow biopsy and karyotype were performed, and showed a pattern consistent with myelodysplastic syndrome. The patient was treated with dapsone with improvement. Pyoderma gangrenosum can be a manifestation of systemic diseases. The possibility of myelodysplastic syndrome should always be considered in patients with pyoderma gangrenosum associated with cytopenia.

Os anti-histamínicos são drogas muito usadas na prática do dermatologista, sendo a primeira escolha no tratamento da urticária crônica. Os efeitos colaterais mais comuns são os relacionados ao sistema nervoso central. A ginecomastia é decorrente de várias causas, entre elas a indução por drogas. Apresenta-se caso de ginecomastia induzida por anti-histamínico H1,em paciente em tratamento de urticária crônica. A investigação laboratorial e radiológica descartou outras causas para a ginecomastia, que involuiu com a retirada da medicação. Objetiva-se discutir os efeitos colaterais dos anti-histamínicos e apresentar caso de ginecomastia induzida por drogas.