Topical Moringa Formulations: An Emerging Skincare Ingredient.

Recently, the addition of moringa to skincare products has become a popular trend, especially in the natural beauty industry. It is being marketed for its intended moisturizing, antioxidant, and anti-aging properties; however, data are scarce demonstrating its clinical effects as well as standardized concentration, formula, source, and extraction methods. Skin specialists must be aware of this trendy ingredient, including its recent claims in marketing material and current evidence in the literature.

Examination of the Utility of Cysteamine in the Treatment of Melasma: Current Perspectives.

Melasma is a chronic cutaneous condition that not only affects the appearance of patients but also has an immense psychosocial impact on patient quality of life. Although many treatment options are currently available, there is no single universal treatment regimen that works for all patients. Significant attention has been recently focused on the development and use of topical treatments that can lighten the dark patches associated with melasma. One such ingredient that has received growing attention in recent years is cysteamine. It works through several mechanisms to influence the melanogenesis pathway. This commentary reviews the information on this topical ingredient and offers relevant clinical insights.

Role of Cica (Centella asiatica) in Skincare Formulations: Examination of a Popular Ingredient.

Skincare products containing ingredients derived from Centella asiatica, more commonly known as Cica, have become popular as anti-aging remedies, moisturizers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and in treating scars, wounds, and atopic dermatitis, among other skin conditions.1-7 Cica has been used in homeopathy for centuries to treat a variety of ailments.2,6 Due to the many purported benefits of its skincare formulations, we examined the mechanisms of cica and reviewed the existing literature in order to shed more light on its role in dermatology. (SKINmed. 2022;20:94-96).

Recalcitrant Facial Port-Wine Stain Successfully Responding to a Novel 585 nm Diode Laser.

Port-wine stains are capillary malformations of the skin that are typically present at birth. As maturity can lead to the development of nodularity and hypertrophy in addition to the risk of bleeding, treatment has been advocated. While the pulsed dye laser has become the standard of care for laser treatment, other lasers have also been used with varying degrees of success for recalcitrant lesions. We demonstrate the safe and effective use of a novel 585 nm diode laser for a recalcitrant facial port-wine stain in a patient.

Impact of Psoriasis on Quality of Life: A Qualitative Study Focused on Patient Perspectives.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that can affect any part of the body, is often present in visible areas, and may occasionally be difficult to treat. Psoriasis can lead to depression and decreased quality of life. We performed a qualitative survey to examine patient perspectives on how psoriasis impacts their lives. Patients with psoriasis are vulnerable to embarrassment and stigmatization in public spaces, as well as discrimination at work, school, or in society. Further studies are needed to determine the best interventions for improving the quality of life in this patient population.

Patient perception of beauty on social media: Professional and bioethical obligations in esthetics.

Recently, social media use has skyrocketed, especially with millennials. The use of filtered images and photo editing has led to a new trend of social media-induced dissatisfaction with appearance, termed "snapchat dysmorphia" and "selfie dysmorphia". It is important for practitioners to recognize and understand this trend in addition to knowing how to manage these patients. As clinicians, we have bioethical and professional obligations to educate ourselves on new and relevant trends, ensure adequate patient safety, and advocate for continued consumer education.

Combination Tripeptide/Hexapeptide Serum with 1540 nm Nonablative Fractional Laser for the Treatment of Striae Distensae: A Pilot Study.

Striae distensae (SD) are associated with negative psychosocial effects. Improvements have been shown with non-ablative fractional lasers (NAFL). Topical peptides have also been effective in cutaneous rejuvenation; however, no studies have examined combination therapy for striae. Our study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a peri-procedural tripeptide/hexapeptide serum as an adjunct to 1540 nm NAFL for the treatment of SD in 10 patients. All patients reported subjective improvement. The addition of tripeptide/hexapep-tide serum increased the objective improvement, reduced the incidence of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and increased patient satisfaction.

Selection Criteria of Program Directors for Dermatopathology Fellows.

Dermatopathology represents a unique field at the intersection of dermatology and pathology. Although programs are approved by the ACGME, there is neither uniformity in application materials, timetables, and deadlines, nor a centralized application process. Despite the competitive nature of dermatopathology fellowships, no formal studies have thoroughly examined the selection criteria by program directors. Our study fills this gap in the literature and evaluates the impact of selection criteria for dermatopathology fellows. Applicants can now gain insight into the most important and meaningful aspects of their application.

Uncovering Unconscious Bias and Health Disparities in the Practice of Dermatology.

The concept of unconscious bias has recently emerged as a possible contributor to current health disparities. A pilot study was performed to evaluate the presence of unconscious bias in dermatology, which has not yet been thoroughly examined. Our results show that some degree of unconscious bias may be present during clinical decision-making for patients of different skin tones and sex. Additional studies are needed to further characterize the role of unconscious bias in health disparities in dermatology.

Evaluating cultural competency and patient satisfaction in an urban dermatology clinic.

Cultural competency continues to gain increased attention in medicine. Not only does it play a significant role in the delivery of health care and patient outcomes, but it also remains a major determinant of patient satisfaction. This study investigated how patients in an urban dermatology clinic rated their satisfaction with cultural competency. Compared to White patients, satisfaction scores were greater for Hispanic or Latino patients and less for Asian patients, while there was no significant difference for Black or African American patients. There were clear differences in patient satisfaction rates of various dimensions of cultural competency. A follow-up study with a larger sample size is needed for closer examination into the conclusions.