USA TODAY recently included The Full Spectrum of Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Color Atlas in an article about how dermatologists are addressing the paucity of skin of color images in medical training. The article outlines how darker skin is underrepresented in medical training and textbooks, and establishes a link between a lack of images and disparities in medical research on treatments for patients with skin of color. The atlas, which was released in 2021, was the idea of dermatologist Misty Eleryan, MD, MS, and created with her former residency program director, Adam Friedman, MD. The digital edition of the atlas displays more than 650 side-by-side images of more than 85 commonly seen dermatology conditions in an array of skin tones.
The JDD also made national news this month with an article in Forbes about the best moisturizers for dry skin. The article references a 2021 JDD study, “Topical S. aureus – Targeting Endolysin Significantly Improves Symptoms and QoL in Individuals With Atopic Dermatitis,” by researchers from L’Oreal, La Roche Posay and Micreos Human Health. The open-label, two-week study analyzed the efficacy and tolerance of a cream containing a S. aureus-targeting technology (endolysin) in children and adults with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis. All 43 patients finished the study with no tolerance issues. Disease severity reduced by 43% in 7 days and by 68% in 14 days. Study results also showed a marked improvement in overall quality of life. Study authors state that the technology could also be beneficial in reducing and preventing flares.
Dermatology Times profiled a December JDD study about the safety profiles of JAK inhibitors for atopic dermatitis. The study, “JAK Inhibitor Safety Compared to Traditional Systemic Immunosuppressive Therapies,” by Stefano G. Daniele, PhD, and Christopher G. Bunick, MD, PhD, analyzed adverse events of special interest in atopic dermatitis treatments. Researchers found that traditional systemic therapies demonstrated equal or higher incidence rates for malignancy (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), non-melanoma skin cancer, major adverse cardiac events and venous thromboembolism. Specifically, the use of upadacitinib and abrocitinib also exhibited either comparable or lower incidence of malignancy (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), major adverse cardiac events and venous thromboembolism, but higher rates of non-melanoma skin cancer, in comparison to baseline rates in atopic dermatitis or control patients. The authors write that these findings show that dermatologists should position JAK inhibitors, at least based on safety, ahead of traditional systemic therapies for atopic dermatitis.
Healio wrote about a November JDD study on platelet-rich plasma and 1550 nm fractional lasers for treatment of androgenetic alopecia. The study, “Evaluating the Efficacy of Platelet Rich Plasma and 1550 nm Fractional Laser in Combination and Alone for the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia,” by researchers in Brazil and New York evaluated the efficacy and safety of the treatments as monotherapy or in combination in 60 patients. Researchers found all patients experienced improvement, and patients treated with the combination therapy had greater improvement in hair density. The authors state that PRP and 1550 nm in combination or alone are good treatment choices for androgenetic alopecia, with no side effects.
