Education
Cutting-edge talks from today’s specialty experts attract attendees to the DF’s annual CME meeting: Clinical Symposia—Advances in Dermatology.
Vitiligo Treatment from the Iron Age to the Age of Biologics: New Hope for an Ancient Disease
Dr. Harris presented an overview of past and present treatments for vitiligo, including advances in vitiligo research and ongoing work to improve vitiligo treatment in the future. First, Dr. Harris described research that led to FDA approval of topical ruxolitinib for vitiligo. Dr. Harris sought to develop targeted immunotherapies that could treat vitiligo while avoiding…
Clinic-Based Surgery for HS
Dr. Sayed presented information about clinic-based surgical procedures for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). First, Dr. Sayed discussed the role of dermatologists in providing surgical care for HS. HS medications can be used to treat inflammation, but the physical wounds and skin changes remain. Surgery may be a good option for patients who do not…
Evolving Treatment of HS
Dr. Sayed presented an overview of treatment options for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and reviewed ongoing clinical trials. The landscape of treatment for HS is rapidly changing. Dr. Sayed predicts that many more treatment options will become available in the next 5–10 years. First, Dr. Sayed described current HS treatment options, including adalimumab, infliximab, golimumab, and…
Off to the Races: Engineering CA(A)R-T Cells for Skin Disease Therapy
CAR T cell therapy is a personalized immunotherapy technology. A patient’s T cells are collected, genetically altered to express chimeric antigen receptors, and reinfused. CAR T cells seek out and kill target cells that express the specified antigen, such as CD19 or B cell maturation antigen (BCMA). Additionally, CAR T cells are programmed to proliferate and produce memory CAR T cells in the presence of target cells. Ongoing research into chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy and chimeric autoantibody receptor (CAAR) T cell therapy for cancers and autoimmune diseases, including pemphigus vulgaris (PV) may lead to clinical trials.
Don’t Miss it! Important Skin Diseases in Children
There are rare but important causes of neonatal blistering, diaper rash, and solitary skin nodules. Incontinentia pigmenti (IP), for example, is an X-linked dominant disorder affecting the skin, eyes, and central nervous system. IP is suspected when blisters occur in a blaschkoid distribution. Because IP is lethal in males, presentation of a female patient whose mother has a history of miscarriages can indicate this disease. IP can be diagnosed based solely on rash and skin biopsy results, without genetic testing. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality by preventing seizures and promoting development.
Top 10 Tips for Treating Skin Disease in Children with Cancer
Children with melanoma may present with different clinical characteristics than adults. They are more likely to present as amelanotic, rapidly growing nodules. Incorporate modified diagnostic criteria for pediatric melanoma and consider the evolution of a lesion. Pediatric melanoma is rare but often diagnosed too late.
Updates in Pustular Psoriasis
Pustular psoriasis is a group of inflammatory skin diseases characterized by visible, sterile pustules on inflamed skin. It appears in generalized and localized forms and can occur in patients with or without a history of psoriasis. Pustular psoriasis has distinct genetic risk factors, inflammatory profile, and response to treatment compared to psoriasis. Thus, it may be its own unique disease. PPP is characterized by sterile pustules on the palms and soles. There is no consensus on optimal treatment , although acitretin, methotrexate, and phototherapy are among the more common treatments.
Evidence-Based Vaccine Recommendations for Dermatology Patients
Although vaccines are typically discussed in primary care settings, dermatologists have an important role in vaccine education, especially when prescribing immunosuppressive medications that can increase risk of infections. Infections are more common in patients with chronic skin diseases due to disruption of the protective skin barrier, immune dysregulation associated with disease, and immunosuppressive treatments.