Introduction: Evaluating the response of various skin types to ultraviolet radiation expo- sure is very important in dermatology. The Fitzpatrick system is the most frequently used classification technique. It is straightforward and practical, assesses photodamage and skin cancer risks, and helps in defining light-based treatments. Nevertheless, there seem to be limitations to its use in non-Caucasians.
Objective: To compare the subjective phototype evaluation method to the Fitzpatrick classification in Caucasian and Asian (East and Southeast Asian, in particular) skin types.
Methods: Caucasian and Asian women (n = 42) were classified using 3 evaluation meth- ods (clinical, Fitzpatrick and Modified Fitzpatrick). The data were collected through ques- tionnaires and analyzed using non-parametric methods. A 5% significance level was adopted.
Results: There were no statistically significant differences within each group between the clinical evaluation, Fitzpatrick classification and the Modified Fitzpatrick classification (Caucasian cr2 = 0.375, p = 0.93 and Asians cr2 = 3.5, p = 0.182).
Conclusion: The three methods evaluate phototypes equally, yet studies with larger pop- ulation samples are still necessary.

Keywords: SKIN, SKIN PIGMENTATION, PHOTOBIOLOGY

Introduction: Melasma can be classified as epidermal, dermal, or mixed using clinical measures such as Wood''''''''s lamp and dermoscopy. The Melasma Area Severity Index and the Melasma Quality of Life Scale are additional subjective classification methods. Objectives: To compare noninvasive melasma classification methods according to response to treatment. Methods: Ten women with melasma were treated with 4% hydroquinone + 0.05% tretinoin + 0.01% fluociolone acetate for 90 days. They were evaluated before and after treatment using dermoscopy, Wood''''''''s lamp, and both subjective measures. Results: No significant correlations were found between the Melasma Area Severity Index and dermoscopic classification, Wood''''''''s lamp examination and the Melasma Quality of Life Scale. The average percentage improvement after treatment was 60.6% in the severity index and 41.1% in the quality of life scale. Dermoscopy revealed telangiectasia in most patients (60%), including those without prior treatment. Conclusions: The subjective assessment tools best reflected the patients'''''''' response to treatment. The classification using Wood''''''''s lamp did correlate with improvement measured by the severity index. The use of dermoscopy for classifying melasma requires further research, since the findings were not correlated with the expected response to treatment.

Keywords: HYPERPIGMENTATION, CLASSIFICATION, THERAPEUTICS

Schamberg's disease is a progressive pigmentary dermatosis of chronic course. The present article describes the use of thioglycolic acid peelings in Schamberg's disease, with histological and photographic analyses. A 43-year-old female patient with clinical and histological diagnoses of Schamberg's disease underwent five sessions of 10% thioglycolic acid peeling in gel with an interval of 15 days between each session. The patient had considerable whitening of the lesions, with clinical improvement of 68.7%. Thioglycolic acid solubilizes the haemosiderin, being a treatment option that leads to the whitening of the lesions with good tolerance and few side effects.

Keywords: PURPURA, HEMOSIDERIM, THERAPEUTICS, HYPERPIGMENTATION

Primary cutaneous nodular amyloidosis is a rare form of amyloidosis. The authors report the case of a 44-year old woman with nodules and plaques on the legs with three years of development and increase in the number and size of lesions. Clinical, histological and laboratory investigation dismissed the possibility of systemic amyloidosis, and the diagnosis of nodular amyloidosis was established. A decision was made for the surgical approach, using curettage and cauterization with good response to the proposed treatment.

Keywords: AMYLOIDOSIS; CURETTAGE; CAUTERY