About the Authors

Marthe-Lisa Schaarschmidt

Affiliation Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany

Christian Kromer

Affiliation Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany

Raphael Herr

Affiliation Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany

Astrid Schmieder

Affiliation Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany

Diana Sonntag

Affiliation Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany

Sergij Goerdt

Affiliation Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany

Wiebke K. Peitsch

wiebke.ludwig@umm.de

Affiliation Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany

Competing Interests

Dr. Schaarschmidt conducted clinical trials for Abbvie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis and UCB Pharma; obtained honoraria from Janssen-Cilag; and received financial support for participation in conferences from Abbvie, ALK-Abello, Biogen Inc., Janssen-Cilag and MSD. Mr. Kromer obtained honoraria for presentations from Janssen-Cilag. Dr. Schmieder conducted clinical trials for Abbvie, Celgene and Pfizer and obtained support for conferences from Celgene, Abbvie, Janssen-Cilag and Pfizer. Prof. Goerdt obtained honoraria as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the German Dermatological Society (JDDG) and support for conferences from Abbvie, ALK-Abello, Alma Lasers, ARC Lasers, Asclepion, BMS, GSK, Janssen-Cilag, L’Oreal, LEO Pharma, Medac, Merck, MSD, Novartis, P&M Cosmetics, Pfizer and Roche. Prof. Peitsch served as investigator for Abbvie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen-Cilag, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma; was member of an advisory board of MSD and Novartis; obtained honoraria from ALK-Abello, Abbvie, Janssen-Cilag, MSD and Novartis; and received support for conferences from Abbvie, ALK-Abello, Alma Lasers, ARC Lasers, Asclepion, BMS, GSK, Janssen-Cilag, L’Oreal, LEO Pharma, Medac, Merck, MSD, Novartis, P&M Cosmetics, Pfizer and Roche. Mr. Herr and Dr. Sonntag have no conflict of interest to declare. The study presented here was not supported by pharmaceutical companies. These competing interests do not alter the authors' adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: MLS CK RH AS DS SG WKP. Performed the experiments: MLS CK AS WKP. Analyzed the data: MLS CK RH WKP. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: RH DS SG WKP. Wrote the paper: MLS CK RH AS DS SG WKP.