Papers of the Week

Pain is a common condition in dermatology. The aim of this review is to analyse the characteristics of pain in dermatology. Some skin diseases are conventionally known to cause pain; e.g. ulcers, pyoderma gangrenosum and herpes zoster. Common dermatoses, such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis, can also cause significant pain. Some conditions are characterized by neuropathic pain and/or pruritus, without visible primary lesions: e.g. the neurocutaneous diseases, including small fibre neuropathies. Patients often fear pain in skin surgery; however, surgical procedures are rather well tolerated and any pain is mainly due to administration of local anaesthetic. Some therapies may also be uncomfortable for the patient, such as photo-dynamic therapy or aesthetic procedures. Thus, pain in dermatology is common, and its aetiology and charac-teristics are very varied. Knowledge of the different situations that cause pain will enable dermatologists to propose suitable analgesic solutions.