SUMMARY: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory skin disorder, affecting 10%–20% of the population, characterized by dryness, intense itching, and recurrent rashes. The pathophysiology of AD is multifactorial, involving skin barrier dysfunction, immune dysregulation, genetic factors (such as filaggrin mutations), and environmental factors. The skin microbiota also plays a pivotal role in AD, serving both as a target and a driver of the disease. In AD, the delicate balance of the skin microbiota is disrupted, leading to a decrease in beneficial bacteria such as Streptococcus , Cutibacterium , and Corynebacterium . Concurrently, bacterial pathobionts, notably Staphylococcus aureus , proliferate and express their virulence factors excessively. This imbalance exacerbates symptoms by damaging the skin barrier, releasing toxins, and triggering a Th2-driven immune response, thus weakening the skin defenses and making individuals with AD more susceptible to bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, thereby complicating treatment and worsening disease outcomes. Effective AD management requires a thorough understanding of the interplay among the skin microbiota, the immune system, and microbial pathobionts. Strategies that restore the microbial balance, preserve the skin barrier, and modulate the immune response show significant potential for reducing infections and improving AD symptoms, highlighting the microbiota’s dual role in AD pathology. This review examines the complex role of the skin microbiota in AD, emphasizing how dysbiosis both drives disease progression and influences immune responses, and vice versa. It also explores emerging microbiota-targeted therapies aimed at improving disease outcomes.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, collectively termed the exposome. Among these determinants, diet emerges as a pivotal component, with diverse nutrients, contaminants, and additives shaping immune responses, microbiota composition, and systemic inflammatory status. This literature review aimed to elucidate the interplay between dietary factors and skin dysbiosis in AD, providing insights into how these interactions may impact disease susceptibility and progression. A comprehensive search of PubMed and Scopus was conducted using relevant keywords and medical subject headings (MeSH). Studies published in English within the past 25 years were included, encompassing in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo research, as well as reviews. Priority was given to frequently cited articles, reflecting significant contributions to current understanding. Findings suggest that dietary habits influence AD by modulating both gut and skin microbiota, immune pathways, and inflammatory processes. These insights underscore the importance of considering diet within a broader exposome framework, paving the way for targeted interventions to improve AD management. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms and optimize nutritional strategies, potentially informing preventive and therapeutic approaches for AD.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are small transmembrane proteins able to facilitate the passive transport of water and small molecules throughout cells. Several studies have demonstrated that modulation of AQPs’ expression contributes to cancer development and progression. However, to date, very little is known about their involvement in malignant melanoma (MM) progression. In this retrospective observational study, we evaluated the correlation between AQP1, -8, and -9 expression and the clinical outcomes of 58 patients diagnosed with MM from 2014 to 2016, of which 14 were diagnosed as nodular melanoma (NM) and 44 as superficial spreading melanoma (SSM). In general, we found that AQPs were more highly expressed in SSM than NM, suggesting a potential correlation with prognosis. While analyzing the expression of each AQP, we discovered that AQP1 was associated with a specific body site and low mitotic index, AQP8 with a negative sentinel lymph node, and AQP9 with the Breslow thickness and lack of ulcerations. Together with the survival analysis performed in this study, our results suggest that the expression of AQP1, -8, and -9 could be correlated with a better prognosis for malignant melanoma.

We describe a case of cutaneous Larva Migrans in an 8-year-old Caucasian girl. The lesion appeared ten days after a bath in the river in a valley in the north-east of Piedmont. The patient was successfully treated with Albendazole 400 mg daily for 5 days. Autochthonous cases are rare, particularly in northern Italy. Probably the high temperatures and the high degree of humidity favored by the climate changes to which Europe is subjected are favorable to the development of larvae. The diagnosis of cutaneous Larva Migrans should, therefore, be considered also in individuals who have not traveled in geographic areas at risk for the climate.