by Allison Sit
Health Day and Healio wrote about a June JDD study on skin cancer rates in rural areas. The study, “Rural Health Disparities in Skin Cancer Amplified Among Skin of Color,” was conducted by Rachel R. Lin and colleagues from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The cross-sectional study used data from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Survey conducted in five states. Researchers found that rural residents had a higher prevalence of a skin cancer history no matter their race compared to their urban counterparts, though there was no significant difference in prevalence between urban and rural populations when household income exceeded $100,000. While rural, non-Hispanic whites had greater odds of skin cancer than their urban counterparts, those odds were even higher for rural Black, Hispanic and Asian populations as well as those who indicated that they were Other Race, non-Hispanic. The authors wrote that the study highlights the need for more research and interventions that impact health disparities based on location.
Healio also wrote about a JDD study on micronized isotretinoin for acne that could enhance patient compliance. The study, “Efficacy and Safety of Micronized Isotretinoin Administered Once Daily Without Food in Patients With Recalcitrant Nodular Acne,” was conducted by James Q. Del Rosso, DO, and Leon Kircik, MD. Patients ages 12 and older with severe nodular acne received once-daily micronized isotretinoin 0.4 to 0.8 mg/kg/day without food for 20 weeks. Researchers found nodular lesion count decreased by a median of 6 from baseline to week 24 and all 24 of the enrolled patients experienced complete clearance of nodules. Nearly all patients had clear or almost-clear skin. Side effects included small, early increases in the severity of erythema, dryness and peeling. Researchers wrote that once-daily micronized isotretinoin administered without food offers a more convenient treatment regimen as it no longer requires a high-fat meal with each dose. This change could improve patient adherence in the group most often treated for acne vulgaris, adolescents and young adults who often are not consistent in their eating pattens.
A JDD study on dupilumab for bullous pemphigoid also made news in Healio. The study, “Treatment of Bullous Pemphigoid With Dupilumab: A Case Series of 30 Patients,” by Austinn C. Miller, MD, and colleagues, was a multicenter, retrospective case series of 30 adults with bullous pemphigoid treated with dupilumab. Patients received a loading dose of dupilumab 600mg followed by a 300mg maintenance dose. All patients experienced some improvement in blister formation and pruritis with 77% of patients experiencing complete clearance of blistering or another noticeable response. Eighty-three percent of patients experienced a complete or noticeable response of pruritis. Eight patients (27%) were able to maintain the response solely on dupilumab, and one patient reported an injection site reaction. While the researchers acknowledge the small sample size, they believe this is the second largest group of bullous pemphigoid patients treated with dupilumab. The researchers assert that dermatology clinicians should consider dupilumab as a treatment option in patients with bullous pemphigoid given the responses and safety profile indicated in this study.
