Practical Guidelines for Managing Patients With Psoriasis on Biologics: An Update.

The paradigm for treating inflammatory diseases has shifted dramatically in the past 10 to 20 years with the discovery of targeted therapeutics or "biologic" agents. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriatic arthritis, and psoriasis, among others, are reaping the benefits of decades of bench to bedside research, allowing them to live more productive lives with less side effects than traditional systemic therapies. Despite these advances, many physicians unfamiliar with biologics are left to care for the basic needs of these patients and may be unaware of the multisystem comorbidities associated with psoriasis and the screening, monitoring, and other special considerations required of biologics patients. This can be overwhelming to primary care physicians and inadvertently expose patients to undue risks. The aim of this review is to provide a practical approach for all health care providers caring for patients with psoriasis being treated with biologics to facilitate communication with their treating dermatologist and ultimately provide patients with more comprehensive care.

Granulomatous Tumoral Melanosis Associated With Pembrolizumab Therapy: A Mimicker of Disease Progression in Metastatic Melanoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has revolutionized the treatment of advanced melanoma, with these agents significantly improving survival for patients with metastatic disease. With the increasing use of these agents, the number of adverse reactions secondary to their use has also increased. Sarcoidosis and sarcoid-like reactions are one such immune checkpoint inhibitor-related adverse event. We report a case of sarcoid-like granulomatous tumoral melanosis in a patient on the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) receptor inhibitor pembrolizumab for metastatic melanoma. This is, to our knowledge, the first reported case of a sarcoidal form of tumoral melanosis in a patient on anti-PD-1 therapy. We postulate that this reflects tumor regression in response to pembrolizumab-induced immune activation, with concomitant therapy-triggered induction of a sarcoid-like reaction. These findings and the literature review presented herein should alert clinicians and pathologists to the possibility of regressed lesions with sarcoid-like features presenting as mimickers of disease progression in patients undergoing immunotherapy for advanced melanoma.

Laser and Light-Based Aesthetics in Men.

Men represent an important evolving segment of the cosmetic market. With the growing acceptability of cosmetic procedures along with societal and workplace pressure to maintain youthfulness, men increasingly seek the advice of aesthetic practitioners. Despite this so-called "Menaissance," there is a paucity of published literature regarding laser and light treatments of male skin. Herein the differences in male cutaneous physiology are addressed, followed by a review of light-based treatment of conditions largely unique to male skin, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and rhinophyma. Next, the publications related to laser treatment of male skin specifically are examined. We conclude with a discussion of personal observations derived from clinical experience with laser and light-based treatments in men.

Therapeutic approaches to cellulite.

Cellulite is a condition that affects the vast majority of women. Although it is of no danger to one's overall health, cellulite can be psychosocially debilitating. Consequently, much research has been devoted to understanding cellulite and its etiopathogenesis. With additional insights into the underlying causes of its clinical presentation, therapeutic modalities have been developed that offer hope to cellulite sufferers. This review examines evidence for topical treatments, noninvasive energy-based devices, and recently developed minimally invasive interventions that may finally provide a solution.

Epidemiology of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in Alberta, Canada, from 1988 to 2007.

BACKGROUND: There have only been a few population-based, epidemiologic studies assessing dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). OBJECTIVE: To assess the epidemiology of DFSP in Alberta, Canada, over a 20-year period. METHODS: A population-based, retrospective analysis of all cases of DFSP in Alberta was conducted using data from the Alberta Cancer Registry. Sex-, age-, and anatomical location-specific incidence rates and trends were determined. RESULTS: The overall age-standardized incidence rate of DFSP remained stable at 0.93 per 100,000. DFSP prevalence was highest in individuals aged 20 to 39 (46.8%), followed by those aged 40 to 59 (34.0%), 60 and older (14.7%), and lastly younger than 20 (4.5%). The mean age at diagnosis was 41.1 (women) and 43.1 (men). The incidence of DFSP in men and women has shown a dramatic shift such that incidence in women has increased 3.2% per year, whereas in men it has decreased 2.7% per year. In women, DFSP incidence increased on the trunk and decreased on the upper extremities. CONCLUSION: The age-standardized incidence of DFSP observed is nearly twice as high as previously reported and has remained stable. The incidence is increasing in women and decreasing in men. DFSP primarily affects young to middle-aged adults and most commonly presents on the trunk.

A population-based study of cutaneous melanoma in Alberta, Canada (1993-2002).

BACKGROUND: There is evidence to suggest that melanoma incidence rates continue to rise in Canada and the United States. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine cutaneous melanoma trends from 1993 to 2002 in the province of Alberta and to compare the results to previously published provincial analyses for the decade of 1967-1976. METHODS: A retrospective study of 3479 patients with cutaneous melanoma diagnosed in Alberta between 1993 and 2002 was conducted. Estimates of relative survival compared the survival of melanoma patients with the Alberta population to derive the likelihood of surviving melanoma in the absence of other causes of death. Further comparison to published Canadian data was also conducted. RESULTS: For the period 1993-2002, the annual melanoma age-standardized incidence rates per 100,000 person-years ranged between 11.1 and 15.9 and between 9.8 and 14.1 among men and women, respectively. These rates are considerably higher than the previously reported (1976) highest Alberta incidence rates of 4.1 and 4.8 in men and women, respectively. The rates increased slightly for the period 1993-1999 with an average annual percentage change of +3.5%, but appeared to decrease for the interval 1999-2002 with an average annual percentage change of -6.4%. The majority of the tumors were less than 1.0 mm in thickness for both genders. On univariate analysis the following parameters were associated with decreasing patient survival: male gender, increasing age, head and neck tumors, Clark level of invasion, and Breslow tumor thickness. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the strongest determinant of survival was Breslow tumor thickness. LIMITATIONS: Melanomas in-situ were not included in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Although melanoma incidence rates in Alberta are higher than previously reported, the incidence rates over the study period of 1993 to 2002 appear to have leveled and may in fact be declining over the past several years.

Fractionated laser skin resurfacing treatment complications: a review.

BACKGROUND: Fractional photothermolysis represents a new modality of laser skin resurfacing that was developed to provide a successful clinical response while minimizing postoperative recovery and limiting treatment complications. OBJECTIVES: To review all of the reported complications that develop as a result of fractional ablative and nonablative laser skin resurfacing. METHODS: A literature review was based on a MEDLINE search (1998-2009) for English-language articles related to laser treatment complications and fractional skin resurfacing. Articles presenting the highest level of evidence and the most recent reports were preferentially selected. RESULTS: Complications with fractional laser skin resurfacing represent a full spectrum of severity and can be longlasting. In general, a greater likelihood of developing post-treatment complications is seen in sensitive cutaneous areas and in patients with intrinsically darker skin phototypes or predisposing medical risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Although the overall rate of complications associated with fractional laser skin resurfacing is much lower than with traditional ablative techniques, recent reports suggest that serious complications can develop. An appreciation of all of the complications associated with fractional laser skin resurfacing is important, especially given that many of them can be potentially prevented. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.

A clinicopathologic review of a case series of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with fibrosarcomatous differentiation.

BACKGROUND: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with fibrosarcomatous differentiation (DFSP-FS) is a rare variant of DFSP with a more aggressive clinical course, characterized by higher rates of local recurrence, metastasis, and death. METHODS: We conducted a clinicopathologic review of all DFSP-FS cases that occurred in Alberta, Canada, from 1997 to 2007. RESULTS: Of the 75 DFSP cases reviewed, 4 demonstrated fibrosarcomatous differentiation. Three patients were female and one was male, and the age range was 25 to 76 years. Three tumors invaded to skeletal muscle, whereas one invaded to subcutaneous tissue only. Although perineural invasion was noted in all four cases, none exhibited lymphovascular space invasion. One local recurrence developed, and two of four tumors metastasized. Metastasis was associated with tumor size, tumor necrosis, grenz zone involvement, ulceration, thickness, and tumor grade. One patient died within 5 years of diagnosis. CONCLUSION: DFSP-FS represents a more aggressive subtype of DFSP. Several features of DFSP-FS may impart a higher risk of metastasis.

Future directions in cutaneous laser surgery.

This article presents an overview of future trends in cutaneous laser therapy and technology. To enhance efficacy and specificity of treatment, new wavelengths directed at both old and new targets are on the horizon. New applications, including the use of lasers to aid in the detection of skin cancers and to enhance drug delivery, are being used and investigated. A trend toward combining different lasers and light sources to optimize results continues. Advancements in at-home devices have been made. Future applications will include waveforms beyond those in the visible light and infrared spectrum, such as microwaves, ultrasound waves, and radiofrequency.

Epidemiology of sebaceous carcinoma in Alberta, Canada, from 1988 to 2007.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of sebaceous carcinoma (SC) has not previously been examined in a Canadian population. OBJECTIVE: To determine the epidemiologic trends of SC in Alberta, Canada, from 1988 to 2007. METHODS: This study was a population-based, retrospective, epidemiologic analysis of SC in Alberta over a 20-year span. RESULTS: Over the study period, the age-standardized SC incidence increased from 0.22 per 100,000 to 0.65 per 100,000. Sebaceous carcinoma is a cancer that predominantly affects the elderly (over 85% of cases were in persons 60 years or older). Interestingly, the face (37.7% of cases), not the eyelids (26.2% of cases), was the most frequently affected site overall. Gender-specific trends reflected a slight male predominance (1.4:1) and significant differences in anatomic distribution between the sexes. CONCLUSION: For unexplained reasons, there has been a threefold increase in SC incidence in Alberta over the last two decades. In addition, there are significant gender-specific differences in the anatomic distribution of SC.

New concepts in median nail dystrophy, onychomycosis, and hand, foot, and mouth disease nail pathology.

Nails are underutilized as diagnostic tools, despite being involved in many dermatologic conditions. This paper explores new concepts in the treatment of median nail dystrophy (MND), onychomycosis, and the nail pathology of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). A Pubmed database literature search was conducted for MND treatment, onychomycosis treatment, and HFMD nail pathology. Only papers published after January 2008 were reviewed. The results showed that 0.1% tacrolimus ointment can be an effective treatment for MND. Early studies on laser therapy indicate that it is a safe and efficacious treatment option for onychomycosis, compared to conventional oral antifungal agents. Vicks VapoRub (The Proctor & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH) is effective against onychomycosis and is a reasonable option in patients who choose to forgo conventional treatments. Lastly, there is evidence to support a correlation between HFMD and onychomadesis.