PatientsLikeMe and Online Patient Support Communities in Dermatology.

Online patient-oriented platforms such as PatientsLikeMe (PLM) offer a venue for individuals with various diagnoses to share experiences and build community, though they may not be representative of the larger patient population. This potentially limits generalizability and raises concerns about the spread of misinformation, emphasizing the need for informed use and health care provider engagement.

Does Male Skin Care Content on Instagram Neglect Skin Cancer Prevention?

This research letter assesses male skin care content on social media in order to bring to light the lack of content regarding skin cancer prevention posted on Instagram for male audiences.

Oral Cannabidiol for Seborrheic Dermatitis in Patients With Parkinson Disease: Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) affects 18.6%-59% of persons with Parkinson disease (PD), and recent studies provide evidence that oral cannabidiol (CBD) therapy could reduce sebum production in addition to improving motor and psychiatric symptoms in PD. Therefore, oral CBD could be useful for improving symptoms of both commonly co-occurring conditions. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates whether oral CBD therapy is associated with a decrease in SD severity in PD. METHODS: Facial photographs were collected as a component of a randomized (1:1 CBD vs placebo), parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessing the efficacy of a short-term 2.5 mg per kg per day oral sesame solution CBD-rich cannabis extract (formulated to 100 mg/mL CBD and 3.3 mg/mL THC) for reducing motor symptoms in PD. Participants took 1.25 mg per kg per day each morning for 4 ±1 days and then twice daily for 10 ±4 days. Reviewers analyzed the photographs independently and provided a severity ranking based on the Seborrheic Dermatitis Area and Severity Index (SEDASI) scale. Baseline demographic and disease characteristics, as well as posttreatment SEDASI averages and the presence of SD, were analyzed with 2-tailed t tests and Pearson χ2 tests. SEDASI was analyzed with longitudinal regression, and SD was analyzed with generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: A total of 27 participants received a placebo and 26 received CBD for 16 days. SD severity was low in both groups at baseline, and there was no treatment effect. The risk ratio for patients receiving CBD, post versus pre, was 0.69 (95% CI 0.41-1.18; P=.15), compared to 1.20 (95% CI 0.88-1.65; P=.26) for the patients receiving the placebo. The within-group pre-post change was not statistically significant for either group, but they differed from each other (P=.07) because there was an estimated improvement for the CBD group and an estimated worsening for the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not provide solid evidence that oral CBD therapy reduces the presence of SD among patients with PD. While this study was sufficiently powered to detect the primary outcome (efficacy of CBD on PD motor symptoms), it was underpowered for the secondary outcomes of detecting changes in the presence and severity of SD. Multiple mechanisms exist through which CBD can exert beneficial effects on SD pathogenesis. Larger studies, including participants with increased disease severity and longer treatment periods, may better elucidate treatment effects and are needed to determine CBD's true efficacy for affecting SD severity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03582137; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03582137.

Gender Parity Analysis of the Editorial Boards of Influential Dermatology Journals: Cross-Sectional Study.

This study underscores the persistent underrepresentation of women in academic dermatology leadership positions by examining the gender composition of editorial boards across top dermatology journals, emphasizing the urgent need for proactive strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.