June 2018 (Vol. 39, No. 06)

In April we reviewed the first five tips to help boost your resilience and well being in 2018. Below are the final five in the second part of this two-part article.

In a comparison of the performance between physician assistants and dermatologists, physician assistants may have lower diagnostic accuracy for melanoma than dermatologists, suggests a study published in JAMA Dermatology. The AAPA and SDPA question the use of the NNB ratio to determine diagnostic accuracy.

 Pilot study tests whether PDL prior to surgical excision can prevent scarring

Publishing new research findings has its benefits, but how physicians use that information and their personal experience in clinical practice can prove to be more insightful. In this table on page 98 of Dermatology Times June issue, we feature insights from three physicians who participated in the rapid-fire Q&A “60 Tips in 60 Minutes” from this year's Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference.

Acne may primarily be a genetic condition, but one that is compounded by environmental and social influences, shows a twins study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (JDD). This study is among a select group of studies featured in this month's acne supplement.

UCB’s Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) was recommended for approval by the European Committee for Medicinal Products (CHMP) for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Needlestick injuries occur more often than you may think because many go unreported. If you are accidentally pricked by a needle, do you have legal recourse? Dr. David Goldberg addresses this issue in this month's legal column.

 Like eczema, psoriasis or diabetes, pigmentary skin conditions are chronic conditions that can be controlled, but not cured. In this article, Dr. Seemal R. Desai discusses new treatment strategies for melasma and hyperpigmentation.

The recommended use of antihistamines for chronic urticaria have been updated in the most recent installment of treatment guidelines written by a European and American work group.

Specialties are being affected by policy reforms that impact physician payment. In this article, we breakdown the payment models and highlight the pros and cons of each model.

A panel discussion on the increasing trend of total body skin lightening ― and ethical and health concerns associated with skin lightening ― was this year's most discussesd and controversial topic.

What is our obligation to our patients? To satisfy their desires for specific treatments or attempt to maximize health outcomes?

Studies have shown that melanoma incidence rates among non-Hispanic whites have been rising in recent years, which is true ― to a degree, according to a research letter published in March in JAMA Dermatology. The rates are indeed rising for those younger than 15 years old and older than 45 years old. However, the analysis highlights a big dip in melanoma cases for those between 15-44 years.

A recent acne study in identical and fraternal twins indicates the condition may be primarily caused by genetics, and that social and environmental factors influence acne symptom severity.

Dermatology consultations for hospitalized patients with cellulitis may reduce morbidity, superfluous antibiotic use and healthcare costs.

The fixed combination of halobetasol and tazarotene topicals significantly reduced the severity of localized disease with a favorable safety profile, shows a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Spanish researchers have developed a scoring system to assess the severity of frontal fibrosing alopecia, a scarring form of alopecia marked by hairline recession and eyebrow loss primarily affecting postmenopausal women.

Cosmetic needs differ for skin of color patients who may require different treatments, says Dr. Eliot Battle who addressed the use of old and new technologies for skin of color patients during this year’s Skin of Color Seminar Series meeting in New York City.

 La Roche-Posay is developing a nail art version of My UV Patch with clinical trials to start this year.

Brodalumab most cost-effective with high efficacy for plaque psoriasis, but IL-17 inhibitors as a whole outperform other biologics, study shows.  

A recent small study finds that microneedling can improve acne scarring and the associated hyperpigmentation in patients with skin of color.