Louise Gagnon

The IL-23 inhibitor risankizumab was superior to ustekinumab in a phase two trial of adult patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis, researchers report. (©FreeBirdPhotos/Shutterstock.com)

Psoriatic arthritis can often go undiagnosed in patients with psoriasis, and an earlier diagnosis is critical to prevent the adverse effects of psoriatic arthritis, according to an expert.

Cumulative dosing of isotretinoin has followed a reference range of 120 to 150 mg/kg, but there is an absence of strong evidence supporting this recommendation, pointing to the need for clinicians to treat their patients to achieve clearance of acne rather than adhere to this range.

Microbial colonization in the development of inflammatory conditions and immune-mediated conditions is a hot research topic, and new dermatologic therapies can potentially result from greater understanding of the role of microbial communities on the skin and in the gut.

Part of the management of contact dermatitis is identifying the offending agent through patch testing and eliminating contact with the offending agent.

Research suggests colonization of demodex relates to immune activation of the skin, and certain individuals show genetic predisposition to rosacea. Greater disease understanding may offer insight into therapeutic approaches.

There is an absence of strong evidence supporting the recommendation that cumulative dosing of isotretinoin follow a reference range of 120 to 150 mg/kg. This points to the need for clinicians to treat their patients to achieve clearance of acne rather than adhere to this range.

Clinicians recognize that acne is increasingly presenting in pre-adolescents and that early presentation is also a predictor of worse disease in the future and the potential for scarring. Prompt, aggressive treatment will lead to better outcomes and will reduce the potential for adverse psychosocial effects.

The stories of the heroes behind these and other dermatologic therapeutic discoveries are recounted in the book To Heal the Skin: The Heroes Behind Discoveries in Dermatology edited by the late Stuart Maddin, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, and a leader and pioneer in dermatology in Canada and internationally, and Eileen Murray, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., a dermatologist and adjunct professor at UBC. Learn more

The cumulative dose of antibiotics prescribed to treat acne can be reduced through adjunctive use of retinoids or benzoyl peroxide.

Hormonal therapy is effective in treating acne, but patients will likely have to remain on hormonal therapy long-term to maintain the benefits.

The pathogenesis of acne is not entirely understood, but new insights may yield new therapeutic targets in the near future. As research into the pathogenesis of acne continues, the spectrum of available therapies will continue to expand.

Data from a recently published study reveal systemic steroids are often the choice of therapy for clinicians based in the US who treat psoriasis, yet this practice is not endorsed in clinical practice guidelines.

A variety of treatments aside from antibiotics have shown some efficacy in managing hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), according to a clinician speaking at the Dermatology Update 2013 meeting.