Changing Perceptions About the Dermatology Residency Application Process Among Applicants and Program Directors: 2020-2022.

Importance Over the last two years, dermatology has undergone significant reforms in the residency application process in efforts to reduce applicant stress, increase equity, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Objective We aimed to determine applicant and program director (PD) perspectives in implementing these changes over the last two application cycles.  Design, setting, and participants Anonymous online surveys were administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to PDs and applicants from the 2021-2022 dermatology residency application cycle. These results were compared with similar online surveys distributed after the 2020-2021 cycle. Results Coordinated interview release was introduced in the 2020-2021 dermatology application cycle. At that time, 57% of PDs and 84% of applicants wished that more programs participated in the release, compared to 53% and 84%, respectively, in the 2021-2022 cycle. In 2021, 28% of PDs reported matching applicants from their home institution higher on their list compared to 14% in 2022. In 2021 and 2022, 94% of PDs reported that diversity was an explicit goal in their application process. However, in 2021, 33% of PDs reported that they matched no UIMs (underrepresented in medicine) in their cohort, which grew to 39% in 2022. Conclusions This study identifies key trends in applicant and PD perspectives associated with changes in the application process such as coordinated interview release, virtual interviews, and emphasis on diversity. Additional data is needed from subsequent cycles in order to determine the efficacy of these reforms.

Drug patch testing in Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The data on patch testing (PT) to identify culprit medications in Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) are limited to scattered case reports and small case series, without analysis of overall trends to inform clinicians of its utility, methodology, and safety. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of the practice of PT in SJS/TEN, quantify the positivity rate of common drug classes, and assess safety during testing. METHODS: PubMed was searched from inception to 2021. Search terms included "patch testing" AND "SJS" OR "TEN" OR "Stevens-Johnson syndrome" OR "toxic epidermal necrolysis" OR "Lyell's syndrome." RESULTS: There were 58 articles that met the inclusion criteria. In total, 82 patients underwent patch testing for SJS/TEN, resulting in 104 positive reactions to 49 unique medications. Antiepileptic drugs were responsible for 48.1% of the positive reactions; antibiotics, 28.8%; and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 6.7%. The positivity rates of antiepileptics, antibiotics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were 33.1%, 13.1%, and 21.9%, respectively. When accounting for suspected causality, these rates increased to 54.3%, 78.4%, and 54.5%, respectively. Three patients (3.7%), 2 of whom had human immunodeficiency virus infection and active tuberculosis, experienced systemic reactions during PT, which required only conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: Published reports suggest that PT in SJS/TEN is useful and safe. Antiepileptic drugs have been tested most frequently and found to have the highest positivity rate. There is a critical need for large-scale studies with standardized methodology to obtain reproducible data on PT in SJS/TEN.

Can Atopic Dermatitis and Allergic Contact Dermatitis Coexist?

Due to their seemingly divergent immune pathways, it previously was thought that atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) could not occur together. However, novel research suggests that the 2 conditions may be more closely related than previously understood. Herein, we discuss the overlapping relationship between AD and ACD and review the evidence for their coexistence. We also review management strategies to consider for patients with dual diagnoses of AD and ACD.

Aluminum: The 2022 American Contact Dermatitis Society Allergen of the Year.

Aluminum recently was selected as the 2022 Allergen of the Year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. Aluminum contact allergy, which most often is related to its use as an adjuvant in select vaccines and allergen-specific immunotherapies, tends to present with pruritic subcutaneous nodules at the injection site. Allergy to aluminum-containing antiperspirants manifests as axillary vault dermatitis. In this article, we highlight the growing recognition of aluminum contact allergy, particularly in the pediatric population, focusing on distinct presentations of aluminum allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), unique sources of exposure, and nuances of patch testing to this metal.