Work-life balance among female dermatologists.

BACKGROUND: Female dermatologists often face the challenges of balancing a rewarding medical career with duties of home life and childrearing. Excessive responsibility at home or work can introduce barriers to balance and prove detrimental to the health and wellness of the physician. OBJECTIVE: We aim to perform a needs assessment through a series of survey questions with regard to home and work responsibilities and impacts on mental health. METHODS: Survey participants were selected from the Women's Dermatologic Society through an e-mail invitation with a link to an anonymous survey tool and a paper questionnaire at the Women's Dermatologic Society Forum in February 2019 in Dallas, Texas. The survey included 20 questions with regard to household responsibilities, child care, clinical responsibilities, specialty education, and impacts on personal time, sleep, and overall sense of well-being. There were a total of 127 respondents. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of physicians in our cohort are currently married. A large percent of respondents utilized hired household help in the form of nannies to perform chores. Spousal contribution was emphasized in this cohort and often highlighted as an important factor in maintaining home life duties. CONCLUSION: The professional women in our cohort may be balancing work and life at the expense of personal physical and mental health with little time to exercise and fewer hours of sleep per night.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis of the Vulva.

Allergic contact dermatitis is an important diagnostic consideration in the evaluation of patients presenting with vulvar complaints. The high prevalence of contact sensitization in the vulvar region is likely multifactorial. We review the extant literature regarding key predisposing factors in the pathogenesis of vulvar allergic contact dermatitis, as well as the most commonly implicated allergens as identified by a number of retrospective studies and case series. On the basis of our findings, we provide diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations for practicing clinicians.

Emerging Therapies for Acne Vulgaris.

As we gain a greater understanding of acne pathogenesis, both new agents as well as new uses for established drugs are being considered for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Multiple clinical trials assessing new formulations or combinations of established acne treatments have been conducted, and novel uses of antimicrobials such as modified diallyl disulfide oxide and nitric oxide are being assessed in clinical trials. There are also a multitude of new therapies currently being studied that target the inflammatory cascade of acne pathogenesis, including sebosuppressive and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, and  small molecule inhibitors targeting sebaceous glands and enzymes, among others. Laser and light therapy is also being modified for the treatment of acne through combination methods with metal nanoshells and vacuum assistance. Probiotics have gained popularity in medicine as greater knowledge of the microbiome and its effects on multiple organ systems is being elucidated. Studies describing the positive effects of certain ammonia-oxidizing bacterial strains in the regulation of the skin's inflammatory response are ongoing. Therapies for acne are constantly evolving and current gold-standard acne therapy may be supplemented with novel treatment modalities in the near future.

Pustular psoriasis of pregnancy: current perspectives.

Pustular psoriasis of pregnancy (PPP) is a life-threatening condition for both the pregnant mother and fetus, and must be efficiently and accurately diagnosed and treated. This condition has historically been classified as a unique, separate dermatosis of pregnancy. However, current opinion and data suggest that it may be a variant of generalized pustular psoriasis. PPP typically occurs in the third trimester and is characterized by widespread coalescent pustules, desquamation, and systemic symptoms. Clinical features and histopathologic evaluation aid in diagnosis. Treatments during pregnancy include high-dose corticosteroids, cyclosporine, narrow-band ultraviolet B radiation, infliximab, granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis, and systemic antibiotics. Both the mother and fetus should be closely monitored with appropriate laboratory studies for the duration of the pregnancy and postpartum.