Background: Biologics effectively improve psoriatic skin lesions, but their impact on itch relief remains unclear. Objective: To evaluate itch improvement in severe psoriasis patients treated with ustekinumab or guselkumab. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed patients with severe psoriasis who completed initial efficacy evaluations after treatment with either biologic. Itch severity was assessed using numerical rating scale (NRS), visual analog scale, and verbal rating scale. NRS improvement was evaluated after three injections. Results: Among 108 patients (74 on ustekinumab, 34 on guselkumab), 77 (71.3%) had moderate-to-severe itch (NRS ≥4) at baseline. Of these, 63 (81.8%) achieved an NRS improvement of ≥4 points. Ustekinumab showed greater itch relief compared to guselkumab in NRS (p=0.033). On the other hand, guselkumab showed more reduction for psoriatic skin lesions than ustekinumab in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (p=0.040). In the moderate-to-severe itch group, patients with large plaques experienced significantly greater improvement in NRS than those with small plaques (p=0.012). Conclusion While guselkumab is generally preferred for psoriatic skin lesions, ustekinumab may provide superior itch relief.

Baricitinib, janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 inhibitor, can significantly improve the patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the concerns about its hematological safety have raised. A 57-year-old man with severe AD started taking baricitinib due to ineffectiveness and side effects of conventional treatments. After 16 weeks, hemoglobin level decreased to 7.5 g/dL. He started taking folate and multivitamin supplements for anemia with baricitinib suspension, and hemoglobin level increased after 2 weeks. Baricitinib affects hemoglobin levels and other hematological parameters by inhibiting the action of erythrocyte production, which is promoted by JAK2 signaling.When treating AD patients with baricitinib, periodic blood test is required to confirm the occurrence of hematological abnormalities.

Baricitinib, janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 inhibitor, can significantly improve the patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the concerns about its hematological safety have raised. A 57-year-old man with severe AD started taking baricitinib due to ineffectiveness and side effects of conventional treatments. After 16 weeks, hemoglobin level decreased to 7.5 g/dL. He started taking folate and multivitamin supplements for anemia with baricitinib suspension, and hemoglobin level increased after 2 weeks. Baricitinib affects hemoglobin levels and other hematological parameters by inhibiting the action of erythrocyte production, which is promoted by JAK2 signaling.When treating AD patients with baricitinib, periodic blood test is required to confirm the occurrence of hematological abnormalities.

Baricitinib, janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 inhibitor, can significantly improve the patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the concerns about its hematological safety have raised. A 57-year-old man with severe AD started taking baricitinib due to ineffectiveness and side effects of conventional treatments. After 16 weeks, hemoglobin level decreased to 7.5 g/dL. He started taking folate and multivitamin supplements for anemia with baricitinib suspension, and hemoglobin level increased after 2 weeks. Baricitinib affects hemoglobin levels and other hematological parameters by inhibiting the action of erythrocyte production, which is promoted by JAK2 signaling.When treating AD patients with baricitinib, periodic blood test is required to confirm the occurrence of hematological abnormalities.

Baricitinib, janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 inhibitor, can significantly improve the patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the concerns about its hematological safety have raised. A 57-year-old man with severe AD started taking baricitinib due to ineffectiveness and side effects of conventional treatments. After 16 weeks, hemoglobin level decreased to 7.5 g/dL. He started taking folate and multivitamin supplements for anemia with baricitinib suspension, and hemoglobin level increased after 2 weeks. Baricitinib affects hemoglobin levels and other hematological parameters by inhibiting the action of erythrocyte production, which is promoted by JAK2 signaling.When treating AD patients with baricitinib, periodic blood test is required to confirm the occurrence of hematological abnormalities.

Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors; however, reports on extracranial cutaneous meningiomas are exceedingly rare. A 77-year-old woman visited our hospital with an asymptomatic child fist-sized mass on the scalp.Biopsy results indicated nuclear atypia and mitoses of sarcomatous cells. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a subgaleal mass with strong enhancement. Suspecting sarcoma, wide excision was performed jointly by the departments of plastic surgery and neurosurgery, during which no evidence of cranial invasion was noted. In the surgical specimen, numerous mitoses of sarcomatous cells and poorly formed nests of epithelioid cells were observed. This led to the diagnosis of anaplastic meningioma without intracranial origin. Subsequently, the patient received adjuvant radiotherapy and is currently under close follow-up. Anaplastic meningioma is rare, but early diagnosis is important as it enables timely and appropriate treatment, thus, improving survival rates. Dermatologists should remain vigilant as meningiomas can manifest as cutaneous scalp nodules, and their accurate diagnosis can profoundly impact prognosis.

A 54-year-old man presented to our outpatient clinic with generalized pruritic millet-sized vesicles, pustules, and crusts on the whole body over the past 10 years, which were more dominant in the lower extremities. Due to the difficulty in diagnosis, a series of histopathologic examinations were conducted during the treatment course, and the findings were similar: subcorneal pustules with neutrophils, superficial perivascular and dermal infiltration of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils, with no sign of acantholysis. The patient was treated with cyclosporine, prednisolone, doxycycline, colchicine, sulfasalazine, and acitretin; however, his condition did not improve. After showing a dramatic improvement with dapsone, he was finally diagnosed with subcorneal pustular dermatosis (SPD).Various medications commonly used in inflammatory and immunobullous skin diseases were tried but failed to improve the condition; the patient showed a dramatic response only to dapsone. Due to its rarity, careful attention and repeated biopsies are required for diagnosing SPD.

Owing to advances in diagnostics and the increase in invasive procedures, and immunocompromised patients, cutaneous nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection is rising. NTM should be suspected in patients with persistent skin lesions refractory to treatment with a history of immunosuppression or skin injury. A 59-year-old woman presented with a 4-week history of multiple erythematous tender nodules on left arm. A year prior, multiple nodules appeared on left hand dorsum, followed by recurrent suppurative nodules in left arm. She has been taking methotrexate and leflunomide for 7 years due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Skin biopsy revealed granulomatous inflammation, and NTM polymerase chain reaction test was positive. Furthermore, she had cut her left finger with a knife 14 months ago. Based on these findings, cutaneous NTM infection was diagnosed. Herein, we report a case of cutaneous NTM infection in an immunosuppressed patient with RA, emphasizing differentiating subcutaneous nodules from rheumatoid nodules in RA.

It is important to differentiate violaceous to dusky red papules and plaques that widely persist on the trunk and extremities because there are dermatoses that could be fatal, such as lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, drug eruptions, and graft-versus-host disease.Dyskeratotic cells only in the upper epidermis and horny layer are not well known, but it is a distinctive histopathological pattern of atypical type of rash of adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD). AOSD rash is a transient salmon-colored rash that occurs and disappears with fever; however, an atypical type of rash called “persistent dermal plaque” or “persistent pruritic eruptions” has also been reported. It occurs and persists even after fever subsides.Herein, we describe a case with necrotic dyskeratotic cells in the upper epidermis and horny layer without AOSD symptoms lasting for five years.