Reduced rates of substance use disorder in patients with alopecia: An all of us case-control study.

Alopecia areata (AA), depression, anxiety, and decreased quality of life are highly associated in the literature. It has been noted that there is an increased risk of substance use in those with AA to help cope with the psychological burdens and perceived stigmatization. This study aims to explore the relationship between substance use disorder (SUD) and scarring/non-scarring alopecia using the All of Us database. Of the 9,385 patients with alopecia, 8.4% had SUD of any kind. Multivariable regression revealed that alopecia is a potential protective factor against SUD when controlling for other covariates of significance, with a decreased odds of 0.73. Substance use disorder prevalence was not different between scarring and non-scarring alopecia. This may be the result of patients fearing exacerbation of hair loss, or due to increased mental health and community support in patients with alopecia. Dermatologists and primary care providers should continue to promote psychotherapy and community support to patients whose diagnosis of alopecia has a negative psychosocial impact.

The clinical efficacy and tolerability of a novel triple acid exfoliating blend for reducing signs of photoaging in sensitive skin.

BACKGROUND: Chemical exfoliation of the skin is a frequently utilized treatment in dermatology to improve the appearance and health of photoaged skin. Photodamaged skin is especially prone to dryness and irritation. Over-exfoliation with at-home products are partially to blame for the "epidemic" of sensitive skin affecting over half the population. Combining AHA, BHA, and PHA together creates a complementary blend that has the potential to target numerous age-related changes in the skin including the appearance of pores and smoothing skin texture, while firming skin and increasing its collagen and moisture content. OBJECTIVES: The following study tested the clinical efficacy of a triple acid blend designed specifically for sensitive skin and measured improvements in signs of photodamage and hydration levels in the skin over time. METHODS: Thirty females aged 35-60 with mild to moderate facial lines, wrinkles, sun damage, uneven skin tone/texture, dark spots, or pores were enrolled. Subjects were instructed to use the test article, DWB-EN, on a clean face at night 3 times weekly with 48 h between applications for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were noted in all parameters of photoaging clinical assessments (wrinkles, pores, overall appearance, luminosity, visible texture, skin tone evenness, hyperpigmentation) at the end of the 4-week study period. There were no instances of skin irritation throughout the duration of this study despite half of the women having sensitive skin. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study demonstrated the clinical efficacy and tolerability of DWB-EN for treating photoaging in subjects with all skin types.

Dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopy findings in palisaded encapsulated neuroma (PEN): report of two histologically confirmed cases.

These medical case reports discuss the reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) features of palisaded encapsulated neuromas (PEN), a relatively uncommon benign neural tumor that predominantly manifests in middle-aged females, most notably on the facial cheek. These reports feature two middle-aged females who both presented with concern for progressively enlarging cheek papules. Dermoscopy revealed the presence of symmetrical, dome-shaped papules with arborizing blood vessels that were not in sharp focus. RCM images revealed a honeycomb pattern, replete with follicular openings and slight papillary dermal fibrosis. Horizontally oriented blood vessels and vellus hair follicles, as well as prominent vellus hair bulbs were noted. The findings were initially perplexing and collectively raised the possibility of a skin adnexal neoplasm. However, subsequent biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of PEN in both cases. In retrospect, the neoplastic cells were beyond the imaging depths of RCM but the observed changes, including alterations in hair follicles on confocal microscopy, were likely due to pressure from the underlying tumor. Consideration of these features aids in diagnosing this unique yet benign neoplasm.

A focused review on laser- and energy-assisted drug delivery for nail disorders.

The purpose of this review is to consolidate and summarize laser-assisted drug delivery (LADD) for nail diseases, particularly onychomycosis and psoriasis. A PubMed search was conducted in June 2023 using search terms (1) "laser assisted drug delivery" AND "nail," (2) "laser" AND "nail," and (3) "nail disorder" AND "laser treatment." References of papers were also reviewed, yielding 15 papers for this review. Fractional ablative CO2 laser (FACL) and Er:YAG laser can be used for LADD of topical medications such as amorolfine, terbinafine, and tioconazole to treat onychomycosis. A fungal culture should be performed to determine the type of dermatophyte, which will help determine which topical will be most effective. Laser settings varied between studies, but overall LADD tended to be more effective than topical treatments alone. Laser-assisted photodynamic therapy (PDT) was also found to be effective in treating onychomycosis. For psoriatic nails, LADD was used to deliver calcipotriol-betamethasone dipropionate foam, tazarotene, triamcinolone, or methotrexate into the nail. Again, LADD was found to be significantly more effective than topical treatment alone. FACL was the only laser noted for use for LADD in both diseases. Laser-assisted drug delivery for nail disease is a newer approach for onychomycosis and nail psoriasis with several benefits and drawbacks. Dermatologists should discuss the option of LADD with their patients who have recalcitrant onychomycosis or nail psoriasis.

A clinical evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of a novel topical antioxidant formulation featuring vitamin C, astaxanthin, and fermented turmeric.

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light, and pollution are a few examples of environmental factors that exacerbate the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause damage to skin cells' DNA, proteins, and lipids. By supplementing the skin with antioxidants, we can help neutralize ROS formed by these extrinsic factors before they can damage the skin. AIMS: This prospective open-label study explores the safety and efficacy of this novel topical formulation of antioxidants (vitamin C, astaxanthin, fermented turmeric, and vitamin E) designed to fight free radical damage and improve overall skin quality, as well as the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, radiance, and hyperpigmentation of the skin. PATIENTS/METHODS: This single-center clinical study evaluated the efficacy of twice-daily application of the test article (Asta C™ Vitamin C Age Defense Serum, Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty) in 32 subjects for 12 weeks. Healthy female subjects aged 35-60 with mild to moderate fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation/uneven skin tone were enrolled in this study. Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI, all skin types (dry, normal, combination, oily), and subjects with sensitive skin were included. RESULTS: All subjects demonstrated improvement in overall skin quality (face, neck, and chest) by the end of the 12-week study period. One hundred percent of subjects demonstrated improvement in the appearance of fine lines at Week 12. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the current clinical study demonstrates that Asta C™ is safe, well-tolerated, and effective in improving overall skin quality, as well as the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, radiance, and hyperpigmentation of the skin.

Traction alopecia: assessing the presentation, management and outcomes in a diverse urban population.

Traction alopecia (TA) is a type of hair loss caused by repetitive tension placed on the hair follicle. An institutional review board-approved retrospective study was conducted at a single institution located in the Bronx, New York. The review identified 216 unique patients with TA and collected information on demographics, patient presentation, history, physical exam, treatment, follow-up and disease improvement. Almost all patients identified as female (98.6%), and most were Black or African American (72.7%). Mean (SD) age was 41.3 (17.1) years (median 40 years; range 1-88). Patients reported hair loss for a mean duration of 35 (51.1) months (median 18 months; range 1-264) prior to presentation. Most patients experienced asymptomatic hair loss. Around half (49.1%) of the patients attended a follow-up, with 42.5% of these patients noting improvement in hair loss or symptoms across all visits. Duration of hair loss was not associated with improvement in hair loss at follow-up visit (P = 0.23).

Tranexamic acid in melasma: A focused review on drug administration routes.

BACKGROUND: Melasma is a disorder of hyperpigmentation and vascularization often found in women between the ages of 20 and 40. The pathogenesis is unknown, but melasma often occurs in sun-exposed areas of the face, forearms, and back. Risk factors include family history, increased estrogen/progesterone, certain medications, and UV exposure. Melasma is typically treated with topical hydroquinone (HQ); however, it is often refractory to treatment. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a plasmin inhibitor used off-label in the treatment of melasma. TXA can be administered orally, topically, or intralesionally. AIMS: The purpose of this review is to characterize the wide variety of TXA delivery methods for melasma treatment and the efficacy of these methods compared with traditional treatments. PATIENTS/METHODS: A comprehensive PubMed and Embase search was conducted in May 2022 using the phrases tranexamic acid and melasma. Forty-six articles were included in this review. RESULTS: Oral, intralesional, and topical TXA is safe and effective treatments for melasma. They have been studied in a variety of randomized controlled trials and have been compared with several traditional treatments. Overall, MASI scores in patients using TXA in any form improved. CONCLUSIONS: Oral TXA was found to be the most effective, especially in cases of refractory melasma; however, it caused GI upset and menstrual irregularities in many patients. The pro-thrombotic nature of this drug must be considered before safely prescribing to patients. Intralesional injections and microneedling with topical TXA were found to be effective alternatives to oral treatment. Lastly, topical TXA alone was found to be the least effective method but can be combined with other cosmeceuticals to improve outcomes. Topical TXA was also found to be better tolerated than hydroquinone, a traditional topical melasma treatment.

Pentoxifylline in dermatology.

BACKGROUND: Pentoxifylline was initially marketed for use in patients with intermittent claudication due to chronic occlusive arterial disease of the extremities but has since been shown to have several off-label uses in dermatology. AIMS: The aim of this review is to increase awareness of the several applications of pentoxifylline in the field of dermatology. METHODS: A comprehensive PubMed search was conducted in May 2022 using the following phrases "dermatology" AND "pentoxifylline." Our search period spanned 34 years from 1988 to 2022. All available literature was reviewed. Reference lists of identified articles were included. Studies were excluded if they were not in English and if the study was out of scope. Eighty-one articles were included in this review. RESULTS: Pentoxifylline has been used to treat various dermatological conditions including peripheral vascular disease, vasculitis and vasculopathies, chilblains, pigmented purpuric dermatosis, granuloma annulare, necrobiosis, keloids, lichen sclerosis et atrophicus, scars, radiation-induced fibrosis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, leishmaniasis, and leprosy. CONCLUSIONS: Pentoxifylline's use in dermatology is growing. However, there are limited larger studies and randomized control trials on the use of pentoxifylline in dermatology and more investigation is needed to evaluate its use for many dermatologic conditions. Pentoxifylline's unique mechanism of action as well as its good tolerability, cost-effectiveness, and minimal drug interactions make it a convenient primary or adjunctive option in many dermatological conditions.

Synthesis and characterization of osteoinductive visible light-activated adhesive composites with antimicrobial properties.

Orthopedic surgical procedures based on the use of conventional biological graft tissues are often associated with serious post-operative complications such as immune rejection, bacterial infection, and poor osseointegration. Bioresorbable bone graft substitutes have emerged as attractive alternatives to conventional strategies because they can mimic the composition and mechanical properties of the native bone. Among these, bioactive glasses (BGs) hold great potential to be used as biomaterials for bone tissue engineering owing to their biomimetic composition and high biocompatibility and osteoinductivity. Here, we report the development of a novel composite biomaterial for bone tissue engineering based on the incorporation of a modified strontium- and lithium-doped 58S BG (i.e., BG-5/5) into gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels. We characterized the physicochemical properties of the BG formulation via different analytical techniques. Composite hydrogels were then prepared by directly adding BG-5/5 to the GelMA hydrogel precursor, followed by photocrosslinking of the polymeric network via visible light. We characterized the physical, mechanical, and adhesive properties of GelMA/BG-5/5 composites, as well as their in vitro cytocompatibility and osteoinductivity. In addition, we evaluated the antimicrobial properties of these composites in vitro, using a strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. GelMA/BG-5/5 composites combined the functional characteristics of the inorganic BG component, with the biocompatibility, biodegradability, and biomimetic composition of the hydrogel network. This novel biomaterial could be used for developing osteoinductive scaffolds or implant surface coatings with intrinsic antimicrobial properties and higher therapeutic efficacy.