Alina Ioana Halip

Acne is an inflammatory dermatosis of the pilosebaceous unit that remains highly prevalent worldwide. In recent decades, the epidemiological profile of acne has evolved, with a rising incidence observed not only among adolescents but also in adult populations, particularly adult women. The current global prevalence is approximately 9.4%, reflecting its continued relevance as a public health concern. While early epidemiological studies were predominantly conducted in the United States and United Kingdom, recent data from diverse geographic regions highlight the need for updated, globally representative research. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) initiative has recognized acne as a condition with a substantial impact on disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), underscoring its contribution to both physical and psychological morbidity. This review aims to synthesize current epidemiological findings, identify high-risk populations, and explore intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing disease distribution and progression. A deeper understanding of acne’s epidemiology is essential to inform prevention strategies and improve outcomes in dermatological care.

Psoriasis is not considered a strictly skin condition, but a complex disease with multisystem involvement due to the frequent associated comorbidities. We conducted a retrospective database study of 10,986 patients admitted in the interval January 2008–January 2019 to the Dermatology Clinic of the Iasi County “St. Spiridon” Emergency Hospital. Of the 10,986 patients admitted, 1288 were diagnosed with psoriasis. The association of malignancies was found in 40 of the psoriasis group cases and 399 of the control group cases that included various dermatological conditions. The calculation of Odds Ratios allowed us to determine if the patients with psoriasis could be at risk for certain malignancies. Thus, an association was suggested between psoriasis and central nervous system (CNS), upper aerodigestive tract cancer, endocrine cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, or colorectal cancer. It is the first study of its kind in the northeastern region of Romania and can be the starting point for future long-term prospective cohort studies that will allow a more accurate data collection and a better understanding of the psoriasis–cancer relationship.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a collagenosis characterized by excessive deposition of collagen in the skin and viscera, in a background of immune disorder. The immunological profile of SSc often shows elevated levels of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs). However, many authors have identified cases of SSc having normal ANA levels, framed as paraneoplastic SSc. Among patients with negative ANAs in our group, we did not identify any neoplastic process that could support this hypothesis. The extended detection of autoantibodies is extremely useful in establishing the subset of SSc. Thus, anti‑Scl70 antibodies are specific for the diffuse subset of SSc, while anticentromere antibodies (ACAs) have specificity for a limited subset. However, studies have shown the existence of cases of diffuse SSc having high titers of ACAs and cases of limited SSc with high titers of anti‑Scl70 antibodies. This indicates an inconsistent association between the disease subset and the autoantibodies specific to each subset. Our study found a more balanced consistency between disease subsets and autoantibodies specific for each subset. Therefore, the percentages of patients having an immunological profile inconsistent with the subset of SSc, are lower than those found by other authors. This observation opens the perspective of larger studies on the immunological profile in SSc.