Search

The traditional patient‐physician relationship is being changed by the patients' searches for medical information on the Internet and in social media (SM). Freely available medical information online bears enormous potential but also holds dangers. In this cross‐sectional, questionnaire‐based study, the patients' motivation, preferences and unmet needs when searching for medical information online and the impact on the patient‐physician relationship were assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficients, χ2‐tests and paired t‐tests. Among 460 participants, 82.4% had already used the Internet/SM to gain medical information, but in only 9.4% their dermatologists had raised this topic. Online search for medical information was associated with female gender (P =.048), a higher skin‐related burden (P =.020), higher level of education (P =.072), higher income (P =.019), anxiety (P =.004), and adnexal skin diseases (P =.043). For 16.1% of patients, "the Internet/SM" was their most important source of medical information; 81.4% deemed the impact of their online searches on their patient‐physician relationship as neutral, 16.0% as positive, 2.6% as negative. The patients' top three unmet needs were "Online consultations", "Professional content on YouTube" and "Chat opportunities". Online search for medical information is a very important topic for most dermatology patients but it may not be adequately addressed by dermatologists. Our results indicate that from the patients'perspective such online searches do not have a significant impact on patient‐physician relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourth paper of review article series about COVID-19 includes a selection of interesting and useful information about this disease and dermatology. This paper contains materials published in literature in various basic fields such as epidemiology, pathogenesis, as well as clinical topics such as symptoms and treatments. The skin manifestations of COVID-19, the challenges of treating skin diseases and dermatoses caused by the virus have also been reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Coordination of care between primary care providers and dermatologists is important to ensure high quality and cost efficiency. In our integrated care setting, we used a retrospective cohort study to assess which patients self-refer to dermatology and which returned for a follow-up visit in dermatology. Methods: We identified 107,832 patients with a new rash diagnosis who presented to primary care or dermatology between January and March 2017. We compared patients who self-referred to dermatology with those who used primary care, using multi-level generalized estimating equations with adjustment for patient-level covariables and medical center. We also characterized patients who returned for a follow-up visit in dermatology. Results: Among patients with a new rash diagnosis, 99% were originally seen in primary care. Patients with a history of a dermatological condition were more likely to present to dermatology. Patients with a history of a dermatological condition or with psoriasis, pigment, hair, bullous, or multiple conditions were more likely to have a follow-up visit with a dermatologist. For each outcome, initial location of care and return for a follow-up visit, we found minimal clustering by medical center or provider. Conclusion: One percent of patients with a new rash diagnosis self-refer to dermatology in this setting. Patients with a history of a dermatological condition were more likely to self-refer to dermatology and to have a follow-up visit with a dermatologist. Individual dermatologists and primary care providers had little impact on a patient’s odds of returning for a follow-up visit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intralesional injection of sterile medications remains a mainstay in dermatology, enabling a tailored, low-cost, in-office therapy. After the 2012 United States outbreak of fungal meningitis from contaminated intrathecally administered corticosteroids, there has been increased regulation of in-office compounding, regardless of the administration route. Studies demonstrating the safety data of in-office corticosteroid compounding for intradermal or subcutaneous use are lacking.Objective: To assess the incidence of infection caused by compounded in-office intralesional triamcinolone.Methods: A retrospective medical record review identified patients who received in-office intralesional corticosteroid injections in 2016. Medical documentation within 30 days of injection was reviewed for suspected infection.Results: The records of 4370 intralesional triamcinolone injections were assessed, of which 2780 (64%) were compounded triamcinolone with bacteriostatic saline. We identified 11 (0.25%) suspected localized infections, with 4 of the 11 in the compounding cohort. Of these, 7 of 11 occurred after injection of an "inflamed cyst." No hospitalizations or deaths occurred. No temporal or locational relationships were identified.Limitations: This study was limited to 2 academic institutions. A 30-day postinjection time frame was used.Conclusion: In-office compounding for intralesional dermal and subcutaneous administration is safe when sterile products are used by medical practitioners. There is no increased risk of compounded triamcinolone relative to noncompounded triamcinolone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is evidence to suggest that there is a mismatch between the number of reported cases of leprosy in India and the number of actual cases in the country. One reason could be that many patients are diagnosed and treated outside the NLEP network and dermatologists may be managing some of these patients not captured by official statistics. To estimate these missing numbers, the DermLep survey was carried out to study the number and profile of leprosy patients seen by dermatologists and their significance. Methodology: The DermLep survey was a questionnaire-based study to be filled in by participating dermatologists from all over India, both in private practice and in medical institutions. Participating dermatologists provided information on old and new leprosy patients seen in their clinic over a 3-month period. Results: Total of 201 dermatologists from 20 states of India participated in the survey. 3701 leprosy patients (M: F ratio 2.1:1) were seen. Of them 46.62% (n = 1680) were new; 22.89% (n = 825) were under-treatment; and 19.65% (n = 708) were post RFT patients. Children <15 years constituted 4.29%, while elderly >60 years were 22.21%. As per WHO classification, MB were 73.36% and PB 28.46%. Of all patients 30.91% had lepra reactions, with T2R being more frequent. While 23.58% of all patients in the survey had G2D; in new patients 17.79%; and in post RFT patients 37% had G2D. Among the 1680 new cases seen, 59% were reported to NLEP by the dermatologists and 41% remained unreported mainly by the private dermatologists, among whom for 20% of the cases they mentioned "no access to register". Source of MDT was WHO-MDT in 60.09% of new cases and for rest of 39.91% it was private pharmacies where private dermatologists had no access to MDT blister packs. Conclusion: This survey suggests that a good number of new-untreated leprosy patients, treatment defaulters and post RFT cases are managed by dermatologists in India. About 40% of the new patients managed mainly by private dermatologists are not being reported to NLEP for various reasons, and these constitute the "missing numbers" from government statistics. If extrapolated to the large of number of practicing dermatologists in India, these numbers could be very significant. The high percentage of G2D noted in patients surveyed (23.58%) and post RFT patient issues observed need special attention. There is a need to develop access for dermatologists to confidentially report leprosy patients treated at their clinics to the NLEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected India and world as a whole, like nothing in the recent history and we, dermatologists, are also affected directly or indirectly. In this review, we have tried to address all COVID-19-related information we need to be aware of as a health-care professional. We have discussed the relevant details of the disease: the agent, the symptomatology, common preventive measures, investigations, and management outline. We have also discussed the implications of COVID-19 in dermatology practice and given a basic guideline for dermatology practice during the pandemic [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) held a trainees symposium at its 2019 annual meeting in Paris, France. Rheumatology and dermatology trainees engaged in psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis research presented their work. This report briefly reviews 5 oral presentations and 19 posters presented at the meeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Career outcomes of top medical graduates (TMG) are seldom studied. The Tsungming Tu Foundation (TTF) has awarded the number one graduate from each medical school in Taiwan since 1981. We aimed to study whether TMG differ from all medical graduates (AMG) in gender, specialty, and geographic regions in the last 30 years. Methods: Overall, 322 TMG and 40,075 AMG were identified from 1981 to 2017 from TTF and Taiwan healthcare public data, respectively. Subjects were further grouped by their graduation year: 1981–1994, 1995–2001, 2002–2011, and after 2012. Ranges were based on implementation dates of new health care policies. Results: The percentages of female AMG increased from 10.9% before 1994 to 32.6% after 2012 (linear trend, P < 0.001). Similarly, the percentages of female TMG increased from 23.1% before 1994 to 42.4% after 2012 (linear trend, P = 0.003). In contrast to 2% of AMG, the percentages of TMG who became dermatologists increased from 11% to 20.5% (linear trend, P = 0.024). TMG favored dermatology, ophthalmology, and neurology, and avoided general surgery (P < 0.001). While still higher than AMG, the percentages of TMG working in medical centers dropped significantly from 58% during 1981–1994 to 33.3% during 1995–2001 (P = 0.035). This coincided with the launch of National Health Insurance in 1995. Finally, though more than half of TMG previously worked in Northern Taiwan, they have recently moved to Central Taiwan. Conclusions: The percentages of female AMG and TMG reached 32.6% and 42.4%, respectively, after 2012. TMG prefer to choose dermatology, ophthalmology, and neurology, but avoid general surgery. Changes in health policy, reimbursement policy, and medical education may be associated with AMG and TMG career choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 is nowadays a pandemic disease. It affects various aspects of human life including physical and mental health and also socio-economic situations. In this review, we attempt to present a brief selection of abundant published papers about pathogenesis, skin manifestations, treatment challenges in different conditions and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Computer vision has promise in image-based cutaneous melanoma diagnosis but clinical utility is uncertain.Objective: To determine if computer algorithms from an international melanoma detection challenge can improve dermatologists' accuracy in diagnosing melanoma.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used 150 dermoscopy images (50 melanomas, 50 nevi, 50 seborrheic keratoses) from the test dataset of a melanoma detection challenge, along with algorithm results from 23 teams. Eight dermatologists and 9 dermatology residents classified dermoscopic lesion images in an online reader study and provided their confidence level.Results: The top-ranked computer algorithm had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.87, which was higher than that of the dermatologists (0.74) and residents (0.66) (P < .001 for all comparisons). At the dermatologists' overall sensitivity in classification of 76.0%, the algorithm had a superior specificity (85.0% vs. 72.6%, P = .001). Imputation of computer algorithm classifications into dermatologist evaluations with low confidence ratings (26.6% of evaluations) increased dermatologist sensitivity from 76.0% to 80.8% and specificity from 72.6% to 72.8%.Limitations: Artificial study setting lacking the full spectrum of skin lesions as well as clinical metadata.Conclusion: Accumulating evidence suggests that deep neural networks can classify skin images of melanoma and its benign mimickers with high accuracy and potentially improve human performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric atopic dermatitis (PAD) is a pluricausal disease and is frequently seen in dermatological and pediatric practice. Therefore, it is important to find common views in clinical practice and to promote consensus among practitioners. Aiming to obtain common views among dermatologists and pediatricians and to disseminate them widely in clinical practice, we held the PAD Consensus Forums described herein. Questionnaire surveys of treatment goals and drug therapy were conducted to prepare topics for discussion at the PAD Consensus Forums. Reaching consensus was defined as agreement among at least 70% of the participants. As a result of discussion among 24 dermatologists and 25 pediatricians, consensus was obtained on 7 topics. These topics configure 3 consensus of treatment goals (Attainment targets were divided into the short/medium term and the long term. Attainment targets were associated with the primary evaluation domains of the Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) roadmap, etc.) and 4 consensus of drug therapy (The number of applications of topical anti-inflammatory drugs in the acute phase and selection and ideal intervals between applications of topical anti-inflammatory drugs in proactive therapy, etc.). The consensus is expected to help practitioners set appropriate treatment goals in clinical practice and facilitate the choice of drugs for treatment. Image 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While prison medicine is a heavily researched area for quality improvement, little is known regarding prisoner access to dermatologists. The goal of this study was to characterize the claims related to a lack of dermatologist access in prison malpractice cases. We searched the LexisNexis Academic database of legal records from 1970 to 2018 using the terms "medical malpractice and dermatologist" to yield federal malpractice cases involving dermatologists. Ultimately, 89 distinct cases in which a prisoner was not able to see a dermatologist were included in the final analysis. Data relating to year, location, anatomical site, symptoms, dermatologist related claim, specialty of treating physician, and final diagnosis were extracted for each case. The 89 cases involving prisoners who were not able to see a dermatologist for their skin condition ranged from 1982 to 2018, with California (n = 12) and Pennsylvania (n = 11) containing the largest number of cases. 76% of the prisoners were only treated by primary care prison physicians for their dermatologic concerns. Several issues regarding dermatologist access were categorized in this study. This study reveals limited access to dermatologists for prisoners in need of dermatologic care. Improved collaboration between prison officials, prison medical staff, and dermatologists could help improve prisoner care and limit malpractice risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin, with its many biological functions, has a unique aesthetic value and determines the self-image and psyche of the person in terms of how they think about themselves. In modern times, smooth-textured flawless skin is a preferred characteristic. Any change in this highly aesthetic organ due to a disease has significant repercussions on personal and social life. There is a bidirectional relationship between dermatological diseases and psychiatric disorders. These can be studied under three categories: psychophysiological disorders, which are dermatologic conditions that fluctuate in clinical severity according to psychological state; primary psychiatric disorders presenting with dermatological manifestations; and dermatological adverse effects of psychotropic medication. Psychiatric disorders are highly prevalent in dermatological patients. Dermatologists should be aware of the psychological factors contributing to or arising from skin disease in common dermatological conditions. Management of psychiatric comorbidities in these patients will help decrease the stigma, stress, and distress, and thus will improve the quality of life of patients and overall treatment success.

The article presents a life story of a great French dermatologist and venereologist, one of the founders of the theory of syphilis Jean-Alfred Fournier (1832-1914). It provides data on the published works by Jean-Alfred Fournier, some of which earned him a doctoral degree. It also provides data on Fournier’s election as a member of the French Academy of Medicine in 1879 as well as on the founding of the French Society of Dermatology and Syphiligraphy by Fournier and other French dermatologists in 1889. The article defines the contribution made by Fournier to the development of venereology and practical medicine in the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century.

As cancer treatment advances, the need for dermatologists in the treatment process is increasing. Cancer patients often experience cutaneous manifestations of internal diseases and dermatological adverse events from chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and stem cell transplants. These diminish patients' health‐related quality of life and negatively affect cancer treatment adherence. To identify the dermatologist's role, we analyzed 893 cases of in‐hospital dermatology consultations at the Niigata Cancer Center Hospital during 2019. The number of dermatology consultations was the second highest among all hospital departments. Malignant tumors accounted for 91.7% of the underlying diseases, including hematological, gastrointestinal, and lung cancer as the top three primary cancers. The most common consultation category was inflammatory skin disorders (29.2%), followed by chemotherapy‐related skin disorders (23.5%), cutaneous infections (11.5%), skin tumors (9.5%), and continued treatment of pre‐existing skin disorders (8.8%). The average intervention time was the longest for continued treatment of existing skin disorders (229 ± 60.6 days), followed by malignant wound management (126 ± 60.6 days) and chemotherapy‐related skin disorders (122 ± 60.6 days). The median overall survival time of the 27 patients in the malignant wound management group was 5 months (95% confidence interval, 1.8–8.2 months) from the initial dermatology consultation. Our results show an increasing demand for dermatologists in cancer management. However, the number of full‐time dermatologists is insufficient in some Japanese cancer hospitals. There is a need to consider increasing the number of adequately trained dermatologists in cancer medical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acne scarring is a frequent complication of acne. Scars negatively impact psychosocial and physical well-being. Optimal treatments significantly improve the appearance, quality of life, and self-esteem of people with scarring. A wide range of interventions have been proposed for acne scars. This narrative review aimed to focus on facial atrophic scarring interventions. The management of acne scarring includes various types of resurfacing (chemical peels, lasers, and dermabrasion); the use of injectable fillers; and surgical methods, such as needling, punch excision, punch elevation, or subcision. Since the scarred tissue has impaired regeneration abilities, the future implementation of stem or progenitor regenerative medical techniques is likely to add considerable value. There are limited randomized controlled trials that aimed to determine which treatment options should be considered the gold standard. Combining interventions would likely produce more benefit compared to the implementation of a single method., (©Enas Attia. Originally published in JMIR Dermatology (http://derma.jmir.org), 21.02.2024.)

Background: Acetyl hexapeptide-8, also known as Argireline, is a topical, short-acting, synthetic peptide that has recently gained popularity for its antiwrinkle effects. This agent has emerged as a more accessible alternative to botulinum neurotoxin., Objective: This study evaluates the public interest in acetyl hexapeptide-8 in the United States from 2013 to 2023, as described by search volume on Google, the most-used search engine., Methods: We analyzed the longitudinal relative monthly search volume from January 1, 2013, to January 1, 2023, for acetyl hexapeptide-related terms. We compared the internet search trends for "Botox" during this period to "Argireline.", Results: The terms "Argireline" and "Botox in a Bottle" both had substantial increases in search volume in 2022. Although its search volume is drastically increasing, "Argireline" was less searched than "Botox," which had a stable, up-trending search volume over the past decade., Conclusions: The increasing interest in acetyl hexapeptide-8 may be due to its cost-effectiveness and use as a botulinum neurotoxin alternative. Affordability, over-the-counter availability, and ease of self-application of the agent suggest its potential to enhance accessibility to cosmetic dermatologic care., (©Sofia Eva Olsson, Bhavana Sreepad, Trevor Lee, Manal Fasih, Arman Fijany. Originally published in JMIR Dermatology (http://derma.jmir.org), 20.02.2024.)

Tik Tok is an emerging social media platform that provides a novel opportunity for health practitioners such as dermatologists to disseminate accurate health information., (©Chaitra Subramanyam, Alyssa Becker, Julianne Rizzo, Najiba Afzal, Yvonne Nong, Raja Sivamani. Originally published in JMIR Dermatology (http://derma.jmir.org), 05.01.2024.)

Background: Dermatological conditions, especially when severe, can lead to sleep disturbances that affect a patient's quality of life. However, limited research exists on the efficacy of treatments for improving sleep parameters in skin conditions., Objective: The objective was to perform a systematic review of the literature on dermatological conditions and the treatments available for improving sleep parameters., Methods: A literature review was performed using the PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases from 1945 to 2021. After filtering based on our exclusion criteria, studies were graded using the SORT (Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy) algorithm, and only those receiving a grade of "2" or better were included., Results: In total, 25 treatment studies (n=11,025) assessing sleep parameters related to dermatological conditions were found. Dupilumab appeared to be the best-supported and most effective treatment for improving sleep in atopic dermatitis (AD) but had frequent adverse effects. Topical treatments for AD were mostly ineffective, but procedural treatments showed some promise. Treatments for other conditions appeared efficacious., Conclusions: The evaluation of sleep parameter changes in dermatological treatments is predominantly restricted to AD. Systemic interventions such as dupilumab and procedural interventions were the most efficacious. Sleep changes in other dermatoses were limited by a paucity of available studies. The inclusion of a sleep assessment component to a broader range of dermatological treatment studies is warranted., (©Vishnutheertha A Kulkarni, Isaiah Mojica, Vahram Gamsarian, Michelle Tahjian, David Liu, Tjinder Grewal, Yuyang Liu, Torunn E Sivesind, Peter Lio. Originally published in JMIR Dermatology (http://derma.jmir.org), 13.12.2023.)

Background: Given the expansion of remote digital dermatology services from the National Health Service, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need for methods that identify patients at risk of digital exclusion to guide equitable representation in service co-design processes and tailor remote services to the needs of their patient population., Objective: This quality improvement project aims to inform the redesign of remote services to optimally support the ongoing needs of patients with chronic skin diseases, ensuring that the services are tailored to patients' digital health literacy requirements., Methods: We profiled the digital health literacy of 123 people with chronic skin conditions who require long-term surveillance in 2 specialist clinics (London, United Kingdom) using the Multidimensional Readiness and Enablement Index for Health Technology (READHY) questionnaire alongside the Optimizing Health Literacy and Access (Ophelia) process for hierarchical cluster analysis., Results: The cluster analysis of READHY dimensions in responding participants (n=116) revealed 7 groups with distinct digital and health literacy characteristics. High READHY scores in groups 1 (n=22, 19%) and 2 (n=20, 17.2%) represent those who are confident with managing their health and using technology, whereas the lower-scoring groups, 6 (n=4, 3.4%) and 7 (n=12, 10.3%), depended on traditional services. Groups 3 (n=27, 23.3%), 4 (n=23, 19.8%), and 5 (n=8, 6.9%) had varying digital skills, access, and engagement, highlighting a population that may benefit from a co-designed dermatology service., Conclusions: By identifying patient groups with distinguishable patterns of digital access and health literacy, our method demonstrates that 63.8% (n=74) of people attending specialist clinics in our center require support in order to optimize remote follow-up or need an alternative approach. Future efforts should streamline the READHY question profile to improve its practicality and use focus groups to elicit strategies for engaging patients with digital services., (©Serena Ramjee, Hanen Mohamedthani, Aditya Umeshkumar Patel, Rebeca Goiriz, Catherine A Harwood, Richard H Osborne, Christina Cheng, Zeeshaan-ul Hasan. Originally published in JMIR Dermatology (http://derma.jmir.org), 08.12.2023.)

Social media significantly affects how patients understand their health and choose their healthcare providers, yet Australian dermatologists have a limited online presence compared to their global peers., (©Antonia C Rowson, Saskia J Rowson. Originally published in JMIR Dermatology (http://derma.jmir.org), 05.12.2023.)

Corticophobia is a major problem in adherence to therapy. This study examined corticophobia among health care professionals using the Topical Corticosteroid Phobia (TOPICOP) questionnaire. The TOPICOP questionnaire was adapted for use with professionals (TOPICOP-P). Four groups of professionals: pharmacists, paediatricians, general practitioners and dermatologists were observed. The mean ± standard deviation global TOPICOP score was 41.9 ± 14.9%. Pharmacists had the highest scores for corticophobia: a global score of 48.5 ± 13.9%, followed by general practitioners, 46.0 ± 13.5%, paediatricians 39.7 ± 14.5%, and dermatologists 32.3 ± 12.1%. Overall, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean score between the 4 groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, there is prominent corticophobia among healthcare professionals, especially among pharmacists and general practitioners, which is probably based on insufficient knowledge of topical corticosteroids. In order to improve patient compliance, re-education of healthcare providers is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The management of psoriasis is a daily challenge for dermatologists as most patients present with varied morphological presentations and exacerbations at every visit. This exerts a heightened responsibility on the dermatologists to tailor their treatments according to each patient. Aims: This study was conducted to assess the variation in treatment practices in the management of psoriasis patients among dermatologists of Kerala. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among the practicing dermatologists of Kerala, South India. Conclusions: At the end of this questionnaire-based study, we concluded that there is a wide variation in the treatment practices among practicing dermatologists of Kerala. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) is not assessed by majority of dermatologists while planning treatment. Most dermatologists rely on body surface area while planning treatment due to time constraints and did not perform PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) or PGA (Physician Global Assessment) scoring. Satisfaction and challenges related to current therapies also impact treatment rates. Our dermatologists adhered to their own individual guidelines while treating and expressed a dire need for a unified guideline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers is increasing in the United Kingdom. Surgical excision carries the highest cure rates for all skin cancers and is the first-line treatment for melanomas and high-risk nonmelanoma cancers. This is most commonly performed by general practitioners (GPs), dermatologists, and plastic surgeons. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify which health-care professionals achieve the best outcomes following surgical excision of skin cancer lesions. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library and PubMed databases was conducted. PRISMA guidelines were adhered to throughout. Results: Six studies were identified and reviewed. Dermatologists were most likely to excise lesions adequately, and GPs were the least likely. Dermatologists displayed the greatest diagnostic accuracy, and excisions led by them had the highest overall and disease-free survival rates. Plastic surgeons were most likely to excise complex lesions on difficult-to-treat areas. Conclusion: Dermatologists can excise many skin lesions adequately, but plastic surgeons should continue to take an active role in complex or anatomically challenging lesions. There is a need for more validated training for GPs in the management of skin cancers. Further studies incorporating a randomized control protocol are needed to definitely assess who is best placed to surgically excise these lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) held a trainee symposium at its 2018 annual meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Rheumatology and dermatology trainees engaged in psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis research presented their work. This report briefly reviews 5 oral presentations and 21 posters presented at the meeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder abundantly found in areas rich in sebaceous glands that are scalp, face, ears, and presternal region. The affected individuals are 1–3% of the immunocompetent adult population with higher prevalence in men than in women. Dandruff is a common problem faced by recent generation adults; this study is to determine the awareness of this disorder among dental students. Aim and Objective: This study aims to determine the awareness and factors such as fungus, hormone, and immune system causing dandruff problem among dental student. Materials and Methods: In this study, a questionnaire was prepared and circulated among the subjects to determine the reliable factors and general view of dandruff among dental college student. The study sample consists of totally 100 subjects. Results: According to our survey, 60% of students are aware of dandruff, 10–20% of students are partially aware of this dermatitis problem, 30–10% of students have no ideas about it. Many students have reported that fungus is the common cause of dandruff which leads to hair fall problem. Conclusion: The study concludes that most of the subjects have associated that fungus is the predominant cause of dandruff and also highlights that fungus Malassezia is the most common species. The survey also concludes that stress and hormonal changes do cause an increase in the incidence of dandruff and 75% of the students are suffering from the same. Hence, further studies have to be conducted to introduce a comprehensive mode of treatment planning to control of dandruff among the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and influence of predatory journals in the field of dermatology in Austria. A total of 286 physicians (50.5% men) completed a questionnaire. The vast majority of subjects read scientific articles (n = 281, 98.3%) and took them into consideration in their clinical decisionmaking (n = 271, 98.5% of participants that regularly read scientific literature). Open access was known by 161 (56.3%), predatory journals by 84 (29.4%), and the Beall's list by 19 physicians (6.7%). A total of 117 participants (40.9%) had been challenged by patients with results from the scientific literature, including 9 predatory papers. Participants who knew of predatory journals had a higher level of education as well as scientific experience, and were more familiar with the open-access system (p < 0.001). These results indicate that the majority of dermatologists are not familiar with predatory journals. This is particularly the case for physicians in training and in the early stages of their career. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has been declared a pandemic. We conducted a systematic review to reveal the contribution of dermatologists in COVID‐19 research. Two hundred and ninety‐eight articles were included and classified into cutaneous manifestations of COVID‐19, operating experience against COVID‐19, mechanisms and treatment of COVID‐19, disinfection and personal protective equipment (PPE)‐related skin diseases, and other topics. The value of these articles and their impact on clinical impact were discussed and we hope that dermatologists can have a better understanding of these areas from this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary care physicians (PCPs) encounter a large number of patients with dermatological diseases. However, delivering appropriate management is a challenge considering the inadequate dermatology training offered during the undergraduate medical curriculum. Teledermatology is the clinical evaluation of skin lesions by dermatologists and allows patients to be diagnosed and treated from a distant site. It is seen as a potential solution to the shortage of specialists and providing equitable service in remote areas. Aim: The study was aimed at estimating the diagnostic agreement of common dermatological conditions between a PCP and a teledermatologist. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients with dermatological ailments who attended a primary health care clinic were recruited into the study, examined by the PCP and offered a diagnosis. The clinical images and patients′ history were collected and transferred to a dermatologist at a tertiary center who also made a diagnosis. Agreement between diagnosis made by the PCPs and the teledermatologist was measured using kappa (κ) statistics. Results: Overall agreement between the diagnoses made by a PCP and the dermatologist was found to be 56%. Poor κ agreement (

Background: Placental extract has been mostly used in skin care for cosmetic purposes. However, the use of various placental extracts has been limited due to the lack of established and effective application methods., Objective: In this study, we investigated the antiwrinkle effect of a cream formulation-LNC wrinkle eye cream (LNC-EC)-containing horse placental extract as the main ingredient., Methods: A total of 24 healthy women, aged 37-54 years, with wrinkle grades 1-3, were treated with LNC-EC for 2 weeks. The cream was applied on one-half of the participants' faces, and the results were compared with the untreated half of the face., Results: Visual inspection, using the wrinkle grade standard, showed that the area treated with LNC-EC had a significantly lower wrinkle grade than the untreated area when comparing before and after the application of LNC-EC. In addition, replica analysis showed a significant reduction in both the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles in the LNC-EC-treated area in comparison to the untreated area before and after the application. These results suggest that LNC-EC has an antiwrinkle effect on the corners of the eyes based on parameters like the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles., Conclusions: LNC-EC, with horse placental extract as its main ingredient, was shown to be effective in improving wrinkles at the eye corners, presumably due to a reduction in the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles. Interpretation of the results is limited because this study was conducted only in the intervention group. A randomized controlled trial with a placebo control group is necessary to verify the antiwrinkle effects of horse placental extract., (©Tsuyuko Watanabe, Kentarou Tahara, Eiichi Hirano. Originally published in JMIR Dermatology (http://derma.jmir.org), 15.11.2023.)

Competing Interests: J.S. is a consultant for Aclaris Therapeutics, Incyte, and Replicel Life Sciences. J.S. and K.L.S. have been investigators for Regen Lab and are investigators for Pfizer. K.L.S. is a consultant for Pfizer and Aquis. The other author has no conflicts of interest to disclose.

We present a survey-based exploration of Hell's Itch, a severe dermatologic reaction often mistaken for sunburn, that reveals distinct symptoms including intense pain, unrelenting itching, paresthesia, and even suicidal ideation, differentiating it from a typical sunburn., (©Katelin J Ball, Brandon W Muse, Bailey Cook, Alyssa P Quinn, Benjamin D Brooks. Originally published in JMIR Dermatology (http://derma.jmir.org), 24.10.2023.)

Background: Congenital telangiectatic erythema (CTE), also known as Bloom syndrome, is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by below-average height, a narrow face, a red skin rash occurring on sun-exposed areas of the body, and an increased risk of cancer. CTE is one of many genodermatoses and photodermatoses associated with defects in DNA repair. CTE is caused by a mutation occurring in the BLM gene, which causes abnormal breaks in chromosomes., Objective: We aimed to analyze the existing literature on CTE to provide additional insight into its heredity, the spectrum of clinical presentations, and the management of this disorder. In addition, the gaps in current research and the use of artificial intelligence to streamline clinical diagnosis and the management of CTE are outlined., Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed, DOAJ, and Scopus using search terms such as "congenital telangiectatic erythema," "bloom syndrome," and "bloom-torre-machacek." Due to limited current literature, studies published from January 2000 to January 2023 were considered for this review. A total of 49 sources from the literature were analyzed., Results: Through this scoping review, the researchers were able to identify several publications focusing on Bloom syndrome. Some common subject areas included the heredity of CTE, clinical presentations of CTE, and management of CTE. In addition, the literature on rare diseases shows the potential advancements in understanding and treatment with artificial intelligence. Future studies should address the causes of heterogeneity in presentation and examine potential therapeutic candidates for CTE and similarly presenting syndromes., Conclusions: This review illuminated current advances in potential molecular targets or causative pathways in the development of CTE as well as clinical features including erythema, increased cancer risk, and growth abnormalities. Future studies should continue to explore innovations in this space, especially in regard to the use of artificial intelligence, including machine learning and deep learning, for the diagnosis and clinical management of rare diseases such as CTE., (©Magda Sara Wojtara, Jayne Kang, Mohammed Zaman. Originally published in JMIR Dermatology (http://derma.jmir.org), 05.10.2023.)

Public response to the recent Mpox outbreak was analyzed using internet search trends and social media posts., (©Nicholas Comeau, Alyssa Abdelnour, Kurt Ashack. Originally published in JMIR Dermatology (http://derma.jmir.org), 06.09.2023.)

The dermatology workforce includes physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician associates/assistants (PAs). The number of dermatologists is growing slowly while the growth of PAs working in dermatology is rapid and accelerating. To understand their characteristics, a descriptive study of PAs practicing in dermatology utilizing the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) workforce dataset on PA practices was undertaken. NCCPA certifies PAs who practice in the United States and queries them about their role, employment, salary, and job satisfaction. Analyses consisted of descriptive statistics, Chi-Square, and Mann-Whitney tests for comparisons between PAs practicing in dermatology versus the total of all other PA specialties. As of 2021, 4,580 certified PAs reported practicing in dermatology-a nearly twofold increase since 2013, when 2323 worked in the specialty. This cohort's median age was 39 years, and 82% were female. Almost all (91.5%) are office based, and 81% work more than 31 h per week. The median salary was $125,000 (2020 dollars). Dermatology PAs work fewer hours and see more patients than their counterparts compared to all 69 PA specialties. At the same time, dermatology PAs are more satisfied and less burnt out when compared to all PAs. The increased number of PAs selecting dermatology as their discipline can help lessen the projected physician shortage in this field., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Earlier, medical literature replicated that diet was not a proven cause of acne. Nonetheless, studies in recent years have demonstrated a relation between certain dietary factors and acne. It is uncertain whether patients are aware of recent research findings. Purposes: Acne patients were surveyed to explore beliefs concerning the relationship between diet and acne, to determine whether these beliefs translated into behavior change and to recognize health information sources. Materials and Methods: Surveys were managed to 104 acne patients at King Abdulaziz Hospital from March2016 till February 2017, with 98 completed in full and included in this analysis. Results: of the 104 questionnaires administered, 98 were completed in full and were included in the analysis. The mean age of patients was 29 years (range, 15 to 45 years); 76 were female and 22 were male. Six respondents had an under-weight BMI of less than 18; 62 respondents had a normal BMI between 18-25; 26 respondents were overweight with BMI 25-30; and 4 respondents were qualified as obese with BMI greater than 30. A majority,( 90 of 98 ) of respondents, was educated at the college level . Conclusion: In this exploratory study, patients reported utilizing a diversity of information sources, a majority from the Internet. In those surveyed, there was a persistence of long-held belief that fried/greasy foods and chocolate may serve as acne triggers, and less belief in trigger foods supported by recent research, including refined carbohydrates and sugar. Given the multiplicity of beliefs and utilized sources among acne patients in our survey, there is a need to establish an up-to-date and reliable methods to educate patients the relationship between diet and occurrence of acne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]