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Venereology
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Decoding the Skin: HIV, STIs, and the Venereologist Perspective
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Decoding the Skin: HIV, STIs, and the Venereologist Perspective

A special issue of Venereology (ISSN 2674-0710).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1835

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alessandra Latini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
STI/HIV Unit, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
Interests: sexually transmitted infections; HIV infection; Kaposi sarcoma; human papillomavirus infection; cutaneous/mucosal infections; infection diseases epidemiology and prevention; dermatology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The skin plays a pivotal role as a diagnostic interface in infectious diseases, especially in the context of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Dermatological manifestations often represent the earliest and most visible clinical clues—sometimes preceding laboratory detection or systemic symptoms. Their recognition can significantly accelerate diagnosis, risk stratification, and care engagement, particularly among high-risk populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), migrants, sex workers, and individuals with limited healthcare access.

As the global epidemiology of STIs evolves, and HIV continues to present in increasingly diverse clinical and demographic contexts, dermatologists and venereologists are uniquely positioned to identify cutaneous signs indicative of acute infections, chronic viral interactions, immunologic dysfunction, and antiretroviral-related dermatoses.

This Special Issue invites authors to explore and highlight the role of the skin as a sentinel organ, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the need to strengthen venereological expertise in modern infectious disease management.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

  • Cutaneous manifestations of HIV in acute, chronic and post-treatment phases.
  • Dermatologic presentations of STIs: syphilis, gonorrhea, HPV, molluscum, herpes, lymphogranuloma venereum.
  • The diagnostic journey: skin lesions as early warning signs and their implications in clinical practice.
  • HIV-related dermatoses linked to immunosuppression, ART toxicity and inflammatory overlap.
  • The venereologist’s contribution to screening, prevention and therapeutic strategies in vulnerable groups.
  • Public health perspectives: dermatology-based interventions for STI control and HIV awareness.

Through a combination of original research, narrative reviews, case-based reports and clinical commentaries, this Special Issue seeks to underscore the skin’s diagnostic power and position dermatology and venereology as central disciplines in the fight against infectious diseases.

Dr. Alessandra Latini
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Venereology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1000 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

  • HIV
  • STIs
  • STDs
  • venereology
  • dermatology
  • diagnostics
  • dermatoses
  • syphilis
  • gonorrhea
  • HPV
  • molluscum
  • herpes

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

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11 pages, 223 KB  
Review
Closing the Gap Between HIV Testing Guidelines and Dermatology: A Narrative Review of Missed Opportunities in Indicator Condition-Guided Testing
by Maria Gabriella Donà and Alessandra Latini
Venereology 2026, 5(2), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/venereology5020011 - 1 Apr 2026
Viewed by 585
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Early diagnosis of HIV remains a key objective of global health strategies; however, nearly half of HIV infections in Europe (47.0%) continue to be diagnosed at a late stage. Individuals with undiagnosed HIV infection frequently present initially to dermatology services with [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Early diagnosis of HIV remains a key objective of global health strategies; however, nearly half of HIV infections in Europe (47.0%) continue to be diagnosed at a late stage. Individuals with undiagnosed HIV infection frequently present initially to dermatology services with inflammatory or pruritic dermatoses. Indicator condition-guided (IC-guided) HIV testing has been reaffirmed by recent guidelines as a central pillar of differentiated testing services, with explicit recommendations to systematically offer testing when defined conditions are present. Methods: This narrative review compares current HIV testing and IC-guided testing recommendations with major dermatology guidelines. Results: This comparison highlights a persistent misalignment. Although certain conditions, such as herpes zoster in younger adults, crusted scabies and selected forms of chronic pruritus, carry clear recommendations to offer HIV testing, most dermatology guidelines for chronic inflammatory dermatoses do not include HIV testing as part of routine assessment. Observational data and implementation studies indicate that integrating IC-guided testing into dermatology pathways can identify previously undiagnosed HIV infections, often in patients without recognised risk factors. Conclusions: Our observations highlight the need to integrate HIV testing recommendations into dermatology clinical guidelines. Aligning these guidelines with IC-guided testing strategies is not only feasible but can also reduce late HIV diagnoses arising from dermatology services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decoding the Skin: HIV, STIs, and the Venereologist Perspective)

Other

Jump to: Review

6 pages, 808 KB  
Case Report
When Gray Hair Meets the Great Imitator: Syphilis Masquerading as Age-Related Decline in an Elderly Couple
by Grazia Vivanet, Federica Perra, Alberto Murtas, Luca Medda, Natalia Aste and Laura Atzori
Venereology 2026, 5(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/venereology5020013 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 339
Abstract
Background: In older people, syphilis diagnosis might be undervalued due to both clinical conditions and age-related changes that obscure symptom presentation and physician discomfort with sexual history-taking, creating a dual barrier to timely recognition. Methods: Case presentation with literature review. Results [...] Read more.
Background: In older people, syphilis diagnosis might be undervalued due to both clinical conditions and age-related changes that obscure symptom presentation and physician discomfort with sexual history-taking, creating a dual barrier to timely recognition. Methods: Case presentation with literature review. Results: An 80-year-old woman was referred to the Dermatology Department of Cagliari University by her oncologist, with a 2-month history of intermittent episodes of pruritus associated with papular–nodular skin lesion eruptions, accompanied with asthenia, night sweats, and unintentional weight loss, indicative of a paraneoplastic syndrome or an adverse drug reaction. Careful evaluation indicated the need to perform serological testing, which confirmed secondary syphilis (RPR 1:64 and TPHA 1:5120). Specific questioning regarding sexual behaviors pointed out oral and anal intercourse. The 83-year-old husband did not have active lesions at visit but reported a self-healing generalized skin rash, episodes of asthenia, arthralgia, and headache he had never suffered before. Blood tests showed positive RPR 1:64 and TPHA 1:5120. Targeted sexual history assessment disclosed patient’s engaging with commercial sex workers, clarifying the chain of transmission in this conjugal STI case. Treatment with Benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units IM in a single dose resulted in complete recovery in both patients. Conclusions: The observation highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for syphilis even at advanced age. Persistent stigma regarding elderly sexuality should be faced, and targeted interventions are necessary to improve the clinician’s ability to identify STIs in older adults, but also to reduce sexual stigma and taboo persistence in the general population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decoding the Skin: HIV, STIs, and the Venereologist Perspective)
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