Virtual Learning Decreases the Carbon Footprint of Medical Education.

INTRODUCTION: The environmental impact of holding in-person academic conferences and continuing medical education (CME) programs can be significant. In-person conferences provide a unique social and professional platform to engage in networking and foster professional development; however, there is an opportunity for hybrid and virtual platforms to provide CME for broader audiences looking to improve their clinical skills and strengthen their knowledge base. This study seeks to describe the reduction in carbon emissions associated with a webinar hosted by an online dermatology-focused medical education platform. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used the location of deidentified virtual attendees of a webinar to predict the carbon emissions produced if attendees had instead traveled to the location of the most recent Integrative Dermatology Symposium (Sacramento, CA). Following collection of each virtual attendee's location, the mode of transportation was predicted on the basis of each participant's distance to the conference. RESULTS: The estimated carbon emissions were calculated for 576 participants. The total estimated, unadjusted carbon emissions for both attendees predicted to fly or drive was 370,100 kg CO2. The emissions produced per participant from those expected to fly to an in-person CME after adjusting for all additional passengers on every flight were 4.5 kg CO2. The emissions produced per participant from those expected to drive were 42.7 kg CO2. CONCLUSION: The use of a virtual CME webinar led to a significant reduction in travel-related carbon dioxide emissions when compared to running the same program in-person event. When accounting for all passengers traveling via plane on any flight, driving to an event produced more emissions per participant than flying.

Management of Acne in Pregnancy.

Acne is one of the most common dermatological conditions to affect women of childbearing age, so it is important to consider the safety of long-term acne treatments on women who could become pregnant. In this review article, we clarify what management options are available to treat acne during pregnancy. Topical treatments, typically first-line for acne, such as azelaic acid, clindamycin, erythromycin, metronidazole, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, dapsone, and retinoids, were reviewed. Systemic treatments, such as zinc supplements, cephalexin, cefadroxil, amoxicillin, azithromycin, erythromycin, and corticosteroids, typically second-line for acne, were also reviewed. Alternative treatments such as light therapy and cosmetic procedures were also evaluated. Due to recommendation of sunscreen utilization during acne treatments, sunscreen usage during pregnancy was also assessed. Management of acne during unplanned pregnancy was discussed in further detail regarding safety and adverse effects. Through summarized tables and examples of studies demonstrating safety and efficacy of treatments, the following is a resource for providers and patients to utilize for management of acne during pregnancy.

Impact of climate change on atopic dermatitis: A review by the International Eczema Council.

Atopic dermatitis (AD), the most burdensome skin condition worldwide, is influenced by climatic factors and air pollution; however, the impact of increasing climatic hazards on AD remains poorly characterized. Leveraging an existing framework for 10 climatic hazards related to greenhouse gas emissions, we identified 18 studies with evidence for an impact on AD through a systematic search. Most climatic hazards had evidence for aggravation of AD the impact ranged from direct effects like particulate matter-induced AD exacerbations from wildfires to the potential for indirect effects like drought-induced food insecurity and migration. We then created maps comparing the past, present, and future projected burden of climatic hazards to global AD prevalence data. Data are lacking, especially from those regions most likely to experience more climatic hazards. We highlight gaps important for future research: understanding the synergistic impacts of climatic hazards on AD, long-term disease activity, the differential impact on vulnerable populations, and how basic mechanisms explain population-level trends.

Safety of dermatologic medications in pregnancy and lactation: An Update - Part I: Pregnancy.

The breadth of therapeutic options for the management of dermatologic skin conditions continues to expand rapidly as exemplified by biologics and small molecule drug development. While dermatologists and healthcare providers are aware of the underlying mechanisms and indications for these therapeutics, there is a recognized practice gap due to an incomplete understanding of the safety of these medications in women of childbearing age during the prepartum, antepartum and postpartum phases. Although a two-part continuing medical education review was published regarding the prescribing practices and safety profiles of these new therapeutics in women of childbearing age while pregnant or lactating in 20141,2, many new medications have been approved since then. Herein, we will update the safety of dermatologic therapies during pregnancy and Part II will review the safety of medications during lactation.

Safety of dermatologic medications in pregnancy and lactation: An Update - Part II: Lactation.

Multiple recently approved medications have been added to our treatment armamentarium for various dermatologic conditions. Herein, we have reviewed the literature, consolidated available safety data, and offered recommendations based upon available evidence as a reference guide for clinicians treating patients for dermatologic conditions during lactation.

Dermatology's role in the fight against human trafficking: A report from the AAD Ad Hoc Task Force and call to action.

While the majority of American Academy of Dermatology members have some broad awareness of human trafficking, most are not aware of it in their communities or of the skin signs that could prompt identification of those being exploited, and have requested educational resources to assist patients affected by trafficking. The American Academy of Dermatology Ad Hoc Task Force on Dermatologic Resources for the Intervention and Prevention of Human Trafficking has been working to develop relevant resources, including an online toolkit on the American Academy of Dermatology website: https://www.aad.org/member/clinical-quality/clinical-care/human-trafficking.

The Burden of Air Pollution on Skin Health: a Brief Report and Call to Action.

INTRODUCTION: Air pollution in North America has intensified due to wildfires in recent years. In 2023, the wildfires in the Canadian province of Quebec caused a southward spread of pollutants, negatively affecting air quality and thereby aggravating certain health conditions in northeastern USA. This study examines the impact of air pollution on atopic dermatitis (AD) and skin health and how wildfires can exacerbate the burden of disease. METHODS: Carbon monoxide levels measured by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Boston region during the months following the Canadian wildfires of 2023 were collected from the U.S. EPA Outdoor Air Quality webpage. Patient records on dermatology clinic visits for dermatitis and eczema at the Mass General Brigham (MGB) hospital system, 300 miles from the wildfires, were examined, and the data compared with data from the corresponding months in 2019-2022 for historical control. No individual patient data were collected. RESULTS: A notable rise and atypical summer peak in carbon monoxide (CO) levels in the Boston region during 2023 correlated with a spike in AD, dermatitis, and eczema-related dermatology clinic visits within the MGB hospital system, as compared with the prior 4 years. CONCLUSION: The synchronized atypical peaks of CO levels and AD-related visits during the summer of 2023 highlight the potential impact of acute air pollution events such as wildfires on air quality and the consequences for skin health. Air pollution, exacerbated by wildfires, can damage the skin through the smoke and chemicals utilized for extinguishing fires, which contain multiple potential allergens and irritants to the skin, such as CO, particulate matter (PM2.5), and ammonium phosphates, triggering airway and skin inflammation and flares of AD. This issue disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including low-income communities and the geriatric and pediatric populations. Healthcare professionals and government agencies must work together to improve air quality and purification policies and initiatives to lower the burden of skin disease, especially for vulnerable communities.

Habit Reversal Therapy for Skin Picking Disorder.

Skin picking disorder is a challenging disease at the intersection of psychiatry and dermatology. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques have been proven to benefit patients with skin picking disorder. However, because patients with skin picking disorder may decline referral to a mental health professional, dermatologists should be aware of techniques based on CBT, such as habit reversal therapy (HRT), and be prepared to implement them in clinical practice to decrease the burden of disease in affected patients.

Gender Equity in Medicine and Dermatology in the United States: The Long Road Traveled and the Journey ahead.

Over the past 50 years there has been an increase in the representation of women in medicine with similar rates of men and women graduating from medical training today. Nevertheless, gender gaps in leadership, research publications, and compensation persist. Herein, we review trends in gender differences among leadership positions in academic medicine with a particular focus on dermatology, evaluate the roles of mentorship, motherhood, and gender bias on gender equity, and discuss constructive solutions for addressing gender inequities that persist in academic medicine today.

Development and multicenter international validation of a diagnostic tool to differentiate between pemphigoid gestationis and polymorphic eruption of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Pemphigoid gestationis (PG) and polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP) may be similar morphologically but confer different maternal and fetal risks. Direct immunofluorescence is the gold standard test used to differentiate between the 2 diagnoses but is not always available. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a clinical scoring system to differentiate PG from PEP. METHODS: After developing a scoring system based on differentiating clinical factors reported in existing literature, we tested its diagnostic accuracy in a retrospective international multicenter validation study in collaboration with the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology's Skin Diseases in Pregnancy Taskforce. RESULTS: Nineteen pregnancies (16 patients) affected by PG and 39 pregnancies (39 patients) affected by PEP met inclusion criteria. PG had a mean score of 4.6 (SD, 2.5) and PEP had a mean score of -0.3 (SD, 2.0). The area under the curve was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.86-1.00). Univariate analysis revealed that almost all criteria used in the scoring system were significantly different between the groups (P < .05), except for skip pregnancy and multiple gestations, which were then removed from the final scoring system. LIMITATIONS: Small retrospective study. CONCLUSION: The Pregnancy Dermatoses Clinical Scoring System may be useful to differentiate PG from PEP in resource-limited settings.

The Impact of Global Health Disparities on Atopic Dermatitis in Displaced Populations: Narrowing the Health Equity Gap for Patients with Skin of Color.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a relatively common inflammatory skin disease marked by eczematous lesions and pruritus often leading to significant morbidity and quality of life impairment for those affected. Recent studies have shown that patients with skin of color (SOC) carry a larger disease burden than patients of European descent. In the USA, these disparities are partly due to structural, environmental, and interpersonal racism. From a global perspective, there is a paucity of research on the burden of atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory skin diseases experienced by the record numbers of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers around the world. Although it is still unclear whether the true prevalence of AD in displaced communities is higher compared with the general population, those who are displaced suffer from unique risk factors that render them especially vulnerable. In this review, we outline a number of factors contributing to AD susceptibility and/or aggravation in displaced communities. These include poor living conditions, climate change events, psychological stress, and lack of access to medical care and health-related behaviors.