Background: The nail unit (NU) is a complex structure that performs a number of functions, including protection, defense, manipulation, and palpation. Non-invasive research methods can facilitate the recognition of NU structure and function. Evaporimetry and HF-USG due to their availability of equipment and low research costs seem to be particularly noteworthy, but so far have been assessed to a limited extent. The aim of the presented study was to check the usefulness of TOWL and HF-USG in examination of NU.Materials and Methods: A total of 58 volunteers aged 25–65 years (mean age: 41 ± 10.16 years) were qualified for the study. The subjects did not present symptoms of clinically evident onychopathy and did not suffer from any dermatoses associated with lesions occurring within the NU. Additionally, the patients did not suffer from systemic diseases that could affect NU (including heart, lung, and endocrine diseases). In all volunteers, the measurement of TOWL and 20 MHz ultrasonography [high-frequency ultrasonography (HF-USG)] with the special emphasis on determination of nail plate thickness were performed.Results: Analysis of 464 HF-USG images revealed that the nail plate presented as two hyperechoic, parallel streaks (railway sign) with a linear hypoechoic middle layer between them. Matrix was visualized as a hypoechoic structure with blurred boundaries, mostly within the fourth and fifth fingers and more often in women. We found statistically significant correlations between the type of a finger and the thickness of the nail plate both in the entire study group and taking into account gender. In the dominant hand, the results were r = −0.341; p < 0.001; r = −0.417, p < 0.001; and r = 0.337; p = 0.001 (for the whole group, for women, and for men, respectively). In the non-dominant hand, the results were r = −0.465; p < 0.001; r = −0.493, p < 0.01; and r = −0.503; p < 0.01 (for the whole group, for women, and for men, respectively). There were statistically significant differences in the thickness of the nail plates of the corresponding types of fingers between female and male NUs. Statistically significant correlations were found between the type of a finger and the TOWL value in the whole group and taking into account gender (p < 0.05), except for the non-dominant hand in men. There were no statistically significant differences in the TOWL values of the corresponding types of fingers between male and female NUs (p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between the TOWL value and the nail plate thickness in any of the tested NUs, apart from the one statistically significant correlation in nd5 (r = 0.390, p = 0.021).Conclusions: To sum up, non-invasive methods, such as HF-USG and TOWL, enable assessment of the NU and are useful in examination of its structure and function. HF-USG shows characteristic elements of NUs that can be distinguished because of differences in their echogenicity. The thickness of the nail plate and TOWL depend on the type of finger, and show a relationship with gender.

En coup de sabre (ECDS) is a rare linear form of localized scleroderma that occurs more frequently in children than in adults. The involvement of the scalp leads to cicatricial alopecia. The aim of this paper is to present a problematic case of ECDS in young female patient. Many terapeutical methods were introduced, based on guidelines described in diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations of the Polish Dermatological Society (e.g. methotrexate, oral and intravenous glucocorticoids, subcutaneous triamcinolone injections and topical high potent steroids as well as kalcineurin inhibitor (tacrolimus). The lasting improvement was not achieved. The remission was finally induced after the implementation of mycophenolate mofetil.

Occupational diseases are characterised by a diverse aetiology. The causative agents may be chemical, physical or biological. In the past 14 years there has been a decrease in the number of reported occupational dermatoses in Poland. In 2017 occupational dermatoses ranked 7 th among all occupational diseases, whereas in 2003 they were in the 5 th position. There were 1694 recorded cases of cutaneous occupational diseases. The most common entity was allergic contact dermatitis (80.5% of total occupational skin disease cases), while hands were the most frequent location of occupational dermatoses. The number of registered cases of occupational diseases is low compared to other European countries. This indicates that this number may not reflect the true scale of disease incidence and may lead to underestimation of the problem of occupational dermatoses in Poland. StRESZcZEniE Choroby zawodowe skóry mają bardzo zróżnicowaną etiologię. Czynnikami sprawczymi mogą być czynniki chemiczne, fizyczne, jak również biologiczne. W czasie ostatnich 14 lat w Polsce stwierdzono zmniejszenie liczby rozpoznawanych chorób zawodowych skóry. W 2017 roku dermatozy znalazły się na 7. miejscu wśród najczęściej rozpoznawanych chorób zawodowych, podczas gdy w 2003 roku zajmowały 5. pozycję. W latach 2003-2017 rozpoznano łącznie 1694 przypadki chorób zawodowych skóry. Najczęściej rozpoznawaną jednostką chorobową było kontaktowe alergiczne zapalenie skóry (80,5% wszystkich chorób zawodowych skóry), a najczęstszą lokalizacją dermatoz zawodowych była skóra rąk. Wydaje się, że w Polsce liczba dermatoz zawodowych jest niedoszacowana. Świadczy o tym niewielka liczba rejestrowanych przypadków w porównaniu z innymi krajami Unii Europejskiej. Liczba obecnie wykrywanych chorób zawodowych skóry nie odzwierciedla rzeczywistej zapadalności.

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common disorder, presented with scaly, erythematous lesions associated with chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and possible transforming into an invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is one of non-invasive methods of treatment AK. We report the case of a 61-year-old female patient with AK treated with PDT in whom erythema and pustules with concomitant elevated body temperature were observed, what might indicate on reactivation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection.

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common dermatological disease which may present with disturbed epidermal barrier function, exacerbated by drugs used to treat acne, both general and local. The instructing patients with acne in the selection of appropriate cosmetic products, significantly improves their quality of life. The aim of the study was to gain the knowledge of acne patients about the skin care principles. The study involved 80 patients suffering from acne vulgaris and showed the need to conduct education in the field of proper care of the acne skin.