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Life
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Advances in Skin-Related Disease: Pathogenesis and Novel Therapeutic Strategies
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Advances in Skin-Related Disease: Pathogenesis and Novel Therapeutic Strategies

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Physiology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 1677

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elisabetta Palazzo

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy
Interests: skin cancer; squamous cell carcinoma; psoriasis; epidermal homeostasis; keratinocyte stem cells; epidermal differentiation; skin inflammation; mouse models; zebrafish models; skin in vitro 3D models; skin tumor spheroids; next-generation sequencing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marika Quadri

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy
Interests: skin cancer; melanoma; squamo cell carcinoma; skin; atopic dermatitis; psoriasis; 3D models; spheroids; skin reconstructs

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Skin-related diseases, from common issues such as eczema or acne to more severe conditions such as skin cancer or psoriasis, pose significant challenges for both patients and healthcare providers. Recent advancements in understanding the pathogenesis of these diseases have resulted in groundbreaking insights into their underlying molecular mechanisms. These discoveries are paving the way for innovative therapeutic approaches and more effective treatment.

The pathogenesis of skin diseases involves complex interactions between genetic factors, immune responses, environmental influences, and microbial communities. Researchers are increasingly focusing on inflammation, immune system dysfunction, and alterations in skin barrier function as key contributors to disease development. The skin microbiome is also emerging as a critical player in maintaining skin health and modulating disease processes.

In response to these insights, new therapeutic strategies are being developed. Targeted biologics, small molecules, and gene therapies are revolutionizing treatment options, offering more personalized approaches for patients. Moreover, advances in topical treatments, gene-editing technologies, and microbiome-based therapies have the potential to transform skin disease management in the near future.

For the present Special Issue, we invite researchers in both basic science and clinical/translational research to submit their manuscripts related to the topics described above.

Dr. Elisabetta Palazzo
Dr. Marika Quadri
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • skin pathologies
  • skin cancer
  • eczema
  • acne
  • psoriasis
  • skin microbiome

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 1159 KiB  
Article
Multifactorial Refractory Acne in Women: Insights from a Case Series Involving Hormonal-, Metabolic-, and Corticosteroid-Related Triggers
by Alexa Florina Bungau, Ruxandra Cristina Marin, Delia Mirela Tit, Gabriela Bungau, Ada Radu, Daciana Elena Branisteanu and Laura Maria Endres
Life 2025, 15(8), 1196; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15081196 - 28 Jul 2025
Viewed by 614
Abstract
Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial inflammatory skin disorder that significantly impairs quality of life and may signal underlying systemic dysfunction, particularly in adult women with treatment-resistant or atypical presentations. This case series presents three clinically and etiologically distinct examples of persistent acne in [...] Read more.
Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial inflammatory skin disorder that significantly impairs quality of life and may signal underlying systemic dysfunction, particularly in adult women with treatment-resistant or atypical presentations. This case series presents three clinically and etiologically distinct examples of persistent acne in female patients, each associated with different contributing factors: long-term topical corticosteroid misuse, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and metabolic syndrome with autoimmune thyroiditis. All cases underwent comprehensive dermatologic evaluation, endocrine/metabolic assessments, and personalized therapeutic interventions, ranging from corticosteroid withdrawal and barrier repair to hormonal modulation and insulin-sensitizing therapy. Clinical progression was monitored for up to six months, revealing favorable responses in all cases, with substantial lesion clearance and improved skin quality. These real-world cases highlight the importance of an integrative, interdisciplinary diagnostic approach in refractory acne and support the need for individualized, long-term management strategies tailored to underlying systemic contributors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Skin-Related Disease: Pathogenesis and Novel Therapeutic Strategies)
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11 pages, 1642 KiB  
Article
Overcoming Mohs Limitations in Treating DFSP: Retrospective Analysis of a Novel Excision Technique
by Rami Shoufani, Ariel Berl, Ofir Shir-az, Deborah Kidron, Din Mann, Noam Castel and Avshalom Shalom
Life 2025, 15(7), 1025; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15071025 - 27 Jun 2025
Viewed by 333
Abstract
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare, soft-tissue sarcoma characterized by dermal, finger-like projections and high local recurrence rates. Complete surgical excision is the primary treatment goal and Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is the accepted approach for achieving disease-free margins. Despite the effectiveness of [...] Read more.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare, soft-tissue sarcoma characterized by dermal, finger-like projections and high local recurrence rates. Complete surgical excision is the primary treatment goal and Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is the accepted approach for achieving disease-free margins. Despite the effectiveness of MMS, it has limitations when treating DFSP, with documented local recurrences. This paper presents our experience and treatment modality for DFSP, using MMS with an additional “safety margin”. This technique seeks to ensure free surgical margins and potentially lower recurrence rates. This is a retrospective analysis of patients treated for DFSP over a 10-year period. All patients underwent MMS, followed by an additional, circumferential excision of 2–5 mm. Twenty-two patients were treated surgically for DFSP from 2014 to 2023. The median age at presentation was 42.5 years. Four patients (18%) had positive disease margins on the additional safety marginal excision, two had negative MMS slides, and the other two were positive for DFSP. The mean follow-up time was 27 months, and no local recurrences were observed during that time. The surgical method presented here includes an additional excision of the surrounding margins following MMS for DFSP. This technique provides a tool to overcome the limitations of MMS in treating this tumor, aiming to reduce local recurrence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Skin-Related Disease: Pathogenesis and Novel Therapeutic Strategies)
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Review

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28 pages, 1692 KiB  
Review
Exploring the Complexity of Cutaneous Squamous CellCarcinoma Microenvironment: Focus on Immune Cell Roles by Novel 3D In Vitro Models
by Marika Quadri, Marco Iuliano, Paolo Rosa, Giorgio Mangino and Elisabetta Palazzo
Life 2025, 15(8), 1170; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15081170 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 529
Abstract
Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), comprising basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), represents the most common type of cancer worldwide, particularly among Caucasians. While BCC is locally invasive with minimal metastatic potential, cSCC is a highly aggressive tumor with a [...] Read more.
Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), comprising basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), represents the most common type of cancer worldwide, particularly among Caucasians. While BCC is locally invasive with minimal metastatic potential, cSCC is a highly aggressive tumor with a significant potential for metastasis, particularly in elderly populations. Tumor development and progression and the metastasis of cSCC are influenced by a complex interplay between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. Recent research highlights the importance of various immune cell subsets, including T cells, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and dendritic cells, in influencing tumor progression, immune evasion, and treatment resistance. This review outlines key regulatory mechanisms in the immune tumor microenvironment (TME) of cSCC and explores the role of cytokines, immune checkpoints, and stromal interactions. We further discuss the relevance of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models such as spheroids, organoids, and tumor-on-chip systems as tools to mimic immune–tumor interactions with higher physiological relevance, such as macrophage activation and polarization against cSCC cells. Globally, 3D models offer new opportunities for immunotherapy screening and mechanistic studies. Understanding the immune landscape in cSCC through advanced modeling techniques holds strong clinical potential for improving diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Skin-Related Disease: Pathogenesis and Novel Therapeutic Strategies)
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