The 18th Congress of the Baltic Association of Dermatovenerologists, Riga, Latvia, September 22-24, 2022: celebrating advances in dermatology and dermatologic therapy

On September 22-24, 2022, the 18^th Congress of the Baltic Association of Dermatovenerologists (BADV) convened at the University of Latvia, in the Great Hall, in which dermatology professors from around the world as well as medical students and residents participated. This international Congress was held in a hybrid format such that participants could attend it either in person or remotely.
The Congress President Professor Andris Rubins, who is the Head of the Dermatovenerology Department of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Latvia, assembled a wide range of lecturers, a total of 38 distinguished speakers from 15 different countries, specifically the USA, Germany, Taiwan, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Poland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Norway, Austria, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. The congress program consisted of more than 60 lectures, where the main topics presented included psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, cosmetic dermatology and bacterial infections. In total, during the Congress, 376 participants gathered, of whom 218 participated remotely utilizing the Zoom platform, and 158 in person.
Many innovative concepts were delineated. The Congress President Andris Rubins and Silvestrs Rubins (Latvia) reviewed practical dermatology, emphasizing successful diagnosis and treatment. The advantages of using nano-pulse stimulation^TM technology, a new therapeutic approach on the cellular level, were elucidated by Klaus Fritz and Berenike Lampert (Germany). This new form of radiofrequency therapy delivered by microneedles does not heat the treated site, but rather creates a modulation on the cellular level resulting in a non-thermal disappearance of treated lesions while sparing the surrounding tissue. The value of treating scars and keloids with superficial radiation therapy in the office was advocated by Michael H. Gold (USA) with newer technologies allowing for superficial radiation safely and effectively for optimizing results. Preventing and managing bleeding emergencies in dermatological surgery was highlighted by Daniel Mark Siegel (USA). The rare photodermatitis actinic lichen planus was comprehensively evaluated by Špela Šuler Baglama (Slovenia), Farnam Barati Sadeh (Denmark), Gregor Jemec (Denmark), and associates. Chao-Chun Yang (Formosa) discussed the pathogenesis of scarring and non-scarring alopecia. Torello M. Lotti (Italy) focused on new concepts and treatment for vitiligo. Steven-Johnson...


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