Background. Vitiligo is a chronic condition characterized by skin depigmentation. Although not life-threatening, it significantly impacts quality of life. The pathophysiology of vitiligo remains poorly understood, and treatment options are limited. Mounting evidence supports the importance of autoreactive T cells and, particularly interleukin-17A- (IL-17A-) secreting Th17 cells, in vitiligo. IL-17A targeting has been proven successful in various inflammatory dermatological conditions, including psoriasis and lupus erythematosus. Objective. We evaluated the relationship between serum levels of IL-17A and the clinicopathological characteristics of Vietnamese vitiligo patients. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 52 nonsegmental vitiligo patients and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Serum levels of IL-17A were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We evaluated the correlation between IL-17A levels and clinical characteristics including leukotrichia, disease duration, vitiligo activity, and body surface area involvement. Results. Patients with progressive vitiligo had significantly higher IL-17A levels than patients with stable vitiligo ( P  = 0.014) or healthy individuals ( P  = 0.002). In addition, serum IL-17A levels were higher in vitiligo patients with leukotrichia than in patients without it ( P  = 0.04). Furthermore, serum IL-17A levels were negatively correlated with age (r = −0.39, P  = 0.004) and age of onset (r = −0.33, P  = 0.016) in vitiligo patients. Conclusions. Higher serum levels of IL-17A in patients with progressive vitiligo and leukotrichia suggest a potential role of IL-17A in melanocyte destruction in the epidermis and the follicular matrix.

Background: Acne vulgaris is the most common inflammatory disease of the skin. IL-1b has been found in acne lesions and is a promising target for therapy, but the evidence is limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of IL-1b in papule biopsies of inflammatory acne and its association with disease severity. Methods: This study involved 20 patients with acne vulgaris (13 females, median age: 22 years). Samples were taken using punch biopsy. Immunohistochemical IL-1b expression was semiquantitatively assessed as absent, mild, moderate or strong. Disease severity was evaluated according to the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). Results: There were 7 patients with mild disease and 11 patients with moderate disease. Median GAGS score was 20. Mild and moderate accounted for 65% and 30% for dermal IL-1b expression, 60% and 40% for epidermal expression, and 70% and 15% for perifollicular expression. Moderatestrong perifollicular expression had significant higher GAGS score than absent-mild expression (median: 22 versus 16). Conclusions: This study shows the elevated immunoreactivity of IL-1b in papule biopsies of inflammatory acne vulgaris. The levels of IL-1b expression also correlates with disease severity. IL- 1b could be a good candidate for targeting treatment of acne vulgaris.

Background: Pemphigus is a group of rare, life-threatening bullous autoimmune diseases that affect the skin and mucous membranes and are associated with high morbidity and morbidity. HLA class II genes, particularly HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1, play roles in pemphigus. Objectives: To investigate the susceptibility of HLA class II DRB1 and DQB1 alleles in Vietnamese patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) or pemphigus foliaceus (PF). Methods: The study enrolled 31 participants (22 with PV, 9 with PF) with diagnoses confirmed by clinical manifestations, histopathology, and direct immunofluorescence from November 2019 to June 2020. The HLA polymorphisms were determined by Sanger sequencing. The HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 profiles of the 101 healthy individuals in the control group have been published previously. Results: The frequencies of HLA-DRB1*14, DRB1*13:07, DRB1*04:04, DRB1*03:02, DQB1*02:02, and DQB1*05:03 were significantly higher, whereas those of DRB1*09:01, DRB1*12:02, DQB1*03:03, DQB1*05:01, and DQB1*06:01 were significantly lower, in the PV group than in the controls. The frequencies of DRB1*14:54, DRB1*13:07, and HLA-DQB1*03:02 were significantly higher in the PF group than in the controls. Conclusions: Alleles HLA-DRB1*14:54, DRB1*14:04, DRB1*14:03, DRB1*14:01, DRB1*14:12, DRB1*13:07, DRB1*04:04, DRB1*03:02, DQB1*02:02, and DQB1*05:03 were associated with an increased risk of PV, whereas alleles DRB1*09:01, DRB1*12:02, DQB1*03:03, DQB1*05:01, and DQB1*06:01 might protect against PV. In PF, DRB1*14:54, DRB1*13:07, and HLADQB1* 03:02 are promising susceptibility alleles.

Introduction: Different therapies have been applied to keloids and hypertrophic scars. Intense pulsed light (IPL) has recently been used but the evidence is limited. This study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of IPL as monotherapy for keloids and hypertrophic scars. Methods: This was a before-and-after interventional study on 16 patients with 50 scars who underwent IPL. Seven scars receive one IPL session, seven received two sessions, and 36 received three sessions. Outcomes were evaluated by the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), scar ultrasound, colorimeter for pigmentation and erythema, and side effects. Results: After the treatment, most outcomes significantly improved except that the pigmentation of the scars did not change. Scar thickness significantly reduced by nearly 10% after the first IPL session, 15% after the second session, and>20% after the third session. All side effects were mild with crust (33.3-46%), blisters (8.3-40%), and hyperpigmentation around the scar (0-14%); the pain was moderate as assessed by the patients. Conclusions: IPL is a safe and effective treatment for keloids and hypertrophic scars. More studies are required to confirm our results.

Introduction:Moisturizers play an essential role in maintaining the integrity of the skin barrier by increasing stratum corneum hydration (SCH) and reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). According to dermatology and allergy guidelines, moisturizers should be applied on the skin within 3 min after bathing or showering. However, there is very little evidence supporting this recommendation. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of immediate and delayed moisturizing after bathing/washing on the improvement of SCH and TEWL. Methods:This was a crossover study of 60 healthy Vietnamese volunteers aged 18-25 years. In each subject, SCH and TEWL levels were measured at three areas: non-moisturized, immediate moisturizing after washing, and delayed moisturizing at 30 min after washing. Results:In non-moisturized skin, SCH and TEWL levels were significantly different from the baseline at 60 min after washing, while significantly decreased TEWL levels were observed immediately after moisturizing. In addition, moisturized skin had significantly higher SCH and lower TEWL levels compared with non-moisturized areas at every time point (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the percentage changes of SCH and TEWL levels from baseline did not differ between immediately and delayed moisturized areas.Conclusions: Tested moisturizer helped increase SCH and decrease TEWL; however, there was no difference in moisturizing effectiveness between immediate and delayed moisturizing in healthy skin. The recommendation of immediate application of moisturizers after bathing/washing should be reconsidered, and more studies are needed to establish a stronger recommendation.