Nonablative radiofrequency in the treatment of refractory vulvar lichen sclerosus: A case series

Assessing Excessive Keratinization in Acral Areas through Dermatoscopy with Cross-Polarization and Parallel-Polarization: A Dermatoscopic Keratinization Scale

Excessive epidermal hyperkeratosis in acral areas is a common occurrence in dermatology practice, with a notable prevalence of approximately 65% in the elderly, especially in plantar lesions. Hyperkeratosis, characterized by thickening of the stratum corneum, can have various causes, including chronic physical or chemical factors, genetic predispositions, immunological disorders, and pharmaceutical compounds. This condition can significantly impact mobility, increase the risk of falls, and reduce the overall quality of life, particularly in older individuals. Management often involves creams containing urea to soften hyperkeratotic areas. Currently, subjective visual evaluation is the gold standard for assessing hyperkeratosis severity, lacking precision and consistency. Therefore, our research group proposes a novel 6-point keratinization scale based on dermatoscopy with cross-polarization and parallel-polarization techniques. This scale provides a structured framework for objective assessment, aiding in treatment selection, duration determination, and monitoring disease progression. Its clinical utility extends to various dermatological conditions involving hyperkeratosis, making it a valuable tool in dermatology practice. This standardized approach enhances communication among healthcare professionals, ultimately improving patient care and research comparability in dermatology.

Comparison of electrophysiology therapy and glucocorticoid therapy in the treatment of 2 subtypes of vulvar epithelial non-neoplastic lesions: a prospective cohort study

Background

Lichen-like lesions with degeneration and pigmentation alterations can be divided into the following 2 types: (I) chronic simple lichen; and (II) sclerosing lichen. The etiology of the disease is unknown. This study sought to examine the therapeutic effects of electrophysiological smooth-muscle electrical stimulation in the treatment of lichen-like lesions of the vulva.

Methods

A total of 80 outpatients, who had been confirmed to have vulvar lichen-like lesions by vulvar biopsy at our hospital from November 2016 to March 2018, were prospectively included in this study. The patients received electrophysiology or glucocorticoid therapy. After completing a treatment cycle according to the clinical treatment routine, the outpatients were monitored at 1-, 3- and 6-month intervals. Patients used an improvement scale (i.e., the patient global impression of change scale) to score their subjective perceptions and subjective symptoms. The clinical curative effect scale was used to calculate the curative effect index and grade the curative effect.

Results

After 1 month of treatment, the active enhancement of simple lichen in the electrophysiological treatment group and glucocorticoid treatment group improved, while the active enhancement of simple lichen in the electrophysiological treatment group improved after 3 months of treatment. After 6 months of treatment, the subjective improvement score of the electrophysiological treatment group was better than that of lichen sclerosus. After 3 months of treatment, the effective rate of the electrophysiological therapy group was better than that of the glucocorticoid therapy group. After 6 months of treatment in the electrophysiological treatment group, the efficacy of simple lichen is also better than that of sclerotic lichen.

Conclusions

Conventional hormone therapy is easier for patients to accept because of its convenience and low costs.