Systematic review of randomized controlled trials of topicals for actinic keratosis field therapy.

Cutaneous field cancerization in dermatology describes the anatomic region of photodamaged skin with actinic keratoses (AKs) or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) that is surrounded by cellular atypia, forming a dysplastic field. The concept of field cancerization is especially relevant in dermatology, as actinic keratoses and the surrounding dysplastic region can progress to carcinomas, necessitating the treatment of the field. Recent research has focused on field-directed therapy using topical agents. This study aims to systematically review randomized controlled trials on topical treatments for actinic keratosis field cancerization, following the PRISMA guidelines. Clinical recommendations were based on the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. We identified 20 original randomized controlled trials for topical cutaneous field therapy. 0.5% 5-Fluorouracil/salicylic acid and 0.5% 5-fluorouracil received a clinical recommendation grade of A, while diclofenac sodium received a clinical recommendation grade of B. Calcipotriol/5-fluorouracil, Imiquimod, sunscreen combination therapies, and tirbanibulin received a recommendation grade of C. This review provides a framework for clinicians when considering topical treatments for patients with field cancerization.

An Analysis of Dermatology-Related Red-Light Therapy Patient Questions on Reddit.

BACKGROUND: Reddit is one of the world's most popular social media platforms and is increasingly used as a health information resource for patients on topics such as red-light (RL) therapy. OBJECTIVE: In this article, the authors present an analysis of prevalent patient questions and concerns regarding RL therapy. METHODS: All posts on the "Hot" page of the r/redlighttherapy subreddit were analyzed and categorized. RESULTS: A total of 930 questions from 664 posts were analyzed. The most commonly asked question category was related to product recommendations or feedback (29.7%), followed by usage instructions (15.3%), safety and side effects (12.6%), and indications and efficacy (12.3%). CONCLUSION: Understanding patient concerns and questions about RL, as expressed on online platforms like Reddit, can help clinicians improve patient satisfaction, education, and clinical outcomes. The study offers an innovative approach by using social media to uncover valuable patient insights that might not be easily observable within clinical settings.