Environmental irritants are important risk factors for skin diseases, but little is known about the influence of environmental factors on eczema incidence. In this time-series study, our objective was to examine the associations of environmental factors with outpatient visits for eczema. Daily outpatient visits between 2007 and 2011 (1826 days) were collected from Huashan Hospital in Shanghai, China. We used an overdispersed generalized additive model to investigate the short-term association between environmental factors and outpatient visits for eczema. Daily outpatient visits for eczema were significantly associated with air pollution and meteorological factors. For example, a 10 μg/m³ increase of 7-day (lag 06) average concentrations of PM₁₀ (particulate matter no greater than 10 microns), SO₂, NO₂ was associated with 0.81% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.39%, 1.22%), 2.22% (95% CI: 1.27%, 3.16%) and 2.31% (95% CI: 1.17%, 3.45%) increase in outpatient visits for eczema, respectively. A 10 °C elevation of temperature on lag 0 day were associated with 8.44% (95% CI: 4.66%, 12.22%) increase in eczema visits, whereas 10 unit decrease of 7-day average relative humidity were associated with 10.86% (95% CI: 8.83%, 12.89%) increase in eczema visits. This study provided clear evidence of ambient air pollution, high temperature and low relative humidity on increasing the incidence of eczema in Shanghai, China.

Objectives: Due to a recent development of high‐frequency ultrasound (HFUS) systems, it is easier to realize high‐resolution in vivo imaging of the biological tissues. The object of this study was to map the thickness and echo density of skin layers in healthy Chinese people and assess the influence of gender, age, and region on it.Methods: A total of 189 volunteers (85 male, 104 female) with age range of 22–75‐year old (mean age of 41.2‐year old) were enrolled. The thickness and density of the epidermis and dermis layer were detected by high‐frequency (22 or 75 MHz) ultrasonography at 13 different anatomical sites, including the forehead, cheeks, flexor and extensor forearms, flexor and extensor upper arms, inner and outer legs, inner and outer thighs, back, and abdomen.Results: The thickness and density of epidermis/dermis between different anatomical sites were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The epidermis thickness of the face and trunk were less than that of the limbs, whereas the thicknesses of the dermis were on the contrary. The density of the epidermis/dermis of the face and trunk were less than that of the limbs. The thickness of dermis in most of the sites were higher in male than in female, and the density of epidermis and dermis in most of the sites were less in men than in women. The thicknesses/densities of dermis were lower in older age group in almost all sites, whereas only several sites reached statistical. The difference between the north and south regions showed the environment also influenced the thickness and density of the skin.Conclusion: HFUS provides a simple noninvasive method for evaluating the skin thickness and echo‐density, which, reflecting intradermal structure, exhibit systematic regional variation. With the establishment of Chinese phenotypic database of skin thickness and density, it will be helpful for the skin disease assessment, skin surgery, and cosmetology technology.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is common among pre-school children in Shanghai. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for childhood AD from the perspectives of home environment, demographics and parents-grandparents’ atopic disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai in April–June, 2010. Preschool children’s parents or guardians were invited to participate a questionnaire survey in six districts (two urban and four suburban/rural) and 6624 children were finally recruited (51.3% boys). AD diagnosis was based on the U.K. Working Party’s (UKWP) criteria. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by multiple logistic regression. Results: A total of 8.5% of children ever had AD. Around 10.2% of the mothers had lived in newly renovated/decorated homes (NRDH) during the prenatal period (one year before or during pregnancy) and 9.5% got new home furniture (NHF) during the same period. AD was more common in children when mothers had lived in NRDH homes during the prenatal period (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI 1.03–1.93), the current home had indoor mold (2.00, 1.48–2.70), parents-grandparents’ had atopic diseases (3.85, 3.05–4.87), the children had food allergy (3.40, 2.63–4.40) or children lived in urban area (1.52, 1.18–1.96). Associations between AD and NRDH, NHF and indoor molds were only significant in children without parents-grandparents’ atopic diseases. There was an interaction effect between parents-grandparents’ atopic diseases and NRDH (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Home renovation/ redecoration, new furniture and indoor mold, urban residency, heredity disposition and food allergy can be risk factors for childhood AD in Shanghai.

Although traditionally used for the diagnosis of skin tumors, in the past few years dermoscopy as a clinical diagnostic aid for inflammatory and infectious skin manifestations has also received more and more attention. The clinical variability of cutaneous sarcoidosis (CS) often makes its correct diagnosis challenging. Dermoscopy can be used as an auxiliary examination method. Our aim was to evaluate the role of dermoscopy in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of CS. This was a retrospective analysis of 39 CS clinical and dermoscopic images collected in the Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital Affiliated with Fudan University from August 2013 to February 2021. Retrospective dermoscopic evaluation revealed small grouped, translucent orange globular structures in all 39 cases. Variable diameter linear vessels were found in 38 cases. A central scar-like area was seen in 26 cases. Bright white streaks were seen in 30 cases. The follicular plugs were seen in 15 cases. First, the number of cutaneous sarcoidosis cases the authors collected is small. Second, due to the lack of a control group, the sensitivity and specificity of the proposed criteria were not calculated. Finally, since our study mainly includes suspicious lesions that were biopsied for diagnostic purposes, there may be a selection bias. Lesions showing on dermoscopy grouped translucent orange ovoid structures associated with linear vessels should raise the suspicion of CS. Central scar-like areas and bright white streaks are also helpful in the diagnosis of CS.

Background: The use of dermatoscopes is constantly increasing globally, but to date, there are no studies on the use of dermatoscopes by Chinese dermatologists.Objective: To determine factors influencing the use of dermatoscopes in China.Methods: A web‐based questionnaire was designed by the Department of Dermatology at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University and was published online via the Shanghai Wheat Color Intelligent Technology Company, China. In 2019 and 2022, 1581 and 1507 dermatologists, respectively, were recruited and completed the questionnaire online.Results: In China, the application rate of dermatoscopy is higher in eastern provinces than in western and remote areas. The proportion of doctors from public tertiary hospitals is the highest, with females being the majority. The age range of 30–40 years has the highest proportion, the proportion of doctors with professional titles of attending physician or above is the highest, and the proportion of doctors with a bachelor's degree or above is the highest.Conclusions: By improving the education and professional standards of doctors, providing more training opportunities, simplifying access, and promoting dermatoscopy in grassroots hospitals, we can increase the confidence of dermatologists in the use of dermatoscopy.