Derm In The News: October 15-21

Wayne State University: Student Adam Elder founds DermEd organization to provide dermatology outreach in greater Detroit community

DermEd, a new student organization at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, has partnered with the longstanding Dermatology Interest Group to promote skin health education throughout all stages of life. Launched in August, DermEd serves as the outreach arm of the Dermatology Interest Group, focusing on dermatological education, community outreach, and providing free skin screenings. The organization, led by Adam Elder, a third-year medical student, aims to make a lasting impact on the community by visiting local schools, nursing and assisted living facilities, collaborating with student-run free clinics, and organizing a skin fair.

Drug Store News: Redefining the future of skin care

Dermatologists and retailers have collaborated to simplify the shopping experience for consumers seeking dermatologist-recommended skin care products in mass-market wellness categories. This initiative was discussed during the third annual Dermatology and Retail Alliance meeting, where 15 U.S. dermatologists, 20 retail executives, and industry leaders from brands like CeraVe and La Roche-Posay convened to enhance skin health outcomes and access to professional advice. The meeting emphasized the need for open communication between dermatologists and retailers to connect consumers with effective, science-backed products and promote healthy skin care routines.

Scientific American: A Nasty Tropical Skin Disease Is Now Endemic in the U.S.

A tropical skin disease called cutaneous leishmaniasis, previously confined to regions of Central and South America, now considered endemic in parts of the US, including Texas and Oklahoma. The disease is transmitted through sandfly bites and causes painful skin lesions, often leading to disfigurement if left untreated. The emergence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the US is attributed to factors such as climate change, urbanization, and increasing travel to affected areas. Researchers and health care professionals are working to raise awareness about the disease and improve diagnosis and treatment methods as cases continue to rise.

Northwestern Engineering: Using Super-Resolution Imaging to Better Understand Human Skin Cells

Northwestern University researchers, led by Professors Hao F. Zhang and Xiaomin Bao, employed super-resolution imaging techniques on human skin cells, offering new insights into the localization and function of nucleoporins (NUPs) in cell structures. The team visualized NUPs at a resolution of 1/5,000th the diameter of a human hair, shedding light on how these proteins, which are integral to the gateways between cell cytoplasm and the nucleus, can be found in non-traditional locations and play roles beyond their well-established functions. These findings could have significant implications for understanding cell structures, healthy human tissues, and disease progression.

Have you seen any dermatology headlines this week that we may have missed? Share with us by emailing our team at DTEditor@mmhgroup.com.