by Allison Sit
Managed Healthcare Executive and Healio both wrote about a JDD study on the underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minority groups in vitiligo research. The study, “Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Vitiligo Clinical Trials: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study Assessing Demographic Reporting of Participants,” was conducted by researchers at several academic medical centers. The researchers sought to determine if participants in U.S. clinical trials represent the racial and ethnic demographics of the U.S. population. They noted that accurate representation is vital to ensure the results are generalizable and encompass the impacts of the disease in all racial and ethnic groups. Of 15 trials analyzed, only 9 studies — 60% — reported the participant’s race/ethnicity. Of the 9 studies, only 25% of participants were non-White and 20% were Hispanic. The researchers note a disproportionately low percentage of participants were racial minorities, especially Black, Native American and Native Hawaiian. The researchers gave several possible reasons for the lack of diversity, yet noted that investigators should aim to include a more representative study population in future trials.
Healio also wrote about a JDD study on a nano-formulated combination cream for melasma. The study, “Efficacy, Safety, Satisfaction, Adherence to Treatment With Nano-Formulated Cysteamine Tranexamic Acid Cream to Treat Melasma,” was conducted by researchers in Boston and Malaysia. Study participants applied a nano-formulated cysteamine tranexamic acid combination cream for 30 minutes daily for three months. Researchers noticed continuous improvement in the participants’ melasma. The modified Melasma Area and Severity Scores improved by 40% at 30 days, 47% at 60 days and 63% at 90 days. More than 90 percent of study participants experienced improvement in their melasma. Researchers noted favorable patient satisfaction and adherence scores, and no severe side effects. Researchers also wrote that the use of a nano-encapsulation system helped improve the cream’s usefulness.
A JDD article on body dysmorphic disorder also appeared in Healio. The article, “Appearance Dissatisfaction and Body Dysmorphic Disorder in the Dermatology Patient,” was written by dermatology and psychology clinicians in the U.S. and The Netherlands. The authors wrote that most dermatologists are not formally trained in mental health related to dermatology, yet body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) disproportionately impacts dermatology patients. Patients with BDD are preoccupied with flaws in their physical appearance that either don’t exist or are hardly noticeable, and this preoccupation impairs their functioning or causes them significant distress. The authors wrote that social media and the prevalence of acne in teens may make them particularly vulnerable to appearance dissatisfaction, including BDD. The authors recommend that dermatologists use the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire to identify BDD and collaborate with mental health professionals on the patients’ care. The authors shared their hope that dermatologists can develop rapport with BDD patients and slowly introduce the idea of seeing a mental health provider with the goal of the mental health provider eventually becoming a BDD patient’s primary provider.
