The American Academy of Dermatology
The annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology was held from March 1 to 5 in Miami and attracted more than 15,000 participants from around the world, including clinicians, academicians, allied health professionals, and others interested in dermatology. The conference highlighted recent advances in the diagnosis and management of dermatologic conditions, with presentations mainly focusing on acne, vitiligo, psoriasis, melanoma, and contact dermatitis.
During one presentation, Chris Adigun, M.D., of the New York University School of Medicine in New York City, discussed the potential for nail problems associated with the use of gel manicures, including nail thinning linked to brittleness, peeling, and cracking, as well as the potential for the camouflaging of nail disease when the manicures are done repeatedly.
According to Adigun, there are several chemicals present in gel and shellac lacquers that are known to cause allergic contact dermatitis, onycholysis, and brittle nails. In addition, the gel manicure removal process requires at least 10 to 15 minutes of bathing the nail in acetone in order to loosen the polish. Ultraviolet light exposure used in the process may also be linked to photoaging.
"Given the information that we have at this time, we cannot conclude whether the observed increased brittleness and decreased thickness of nails after gel manicures is due to the chemicals in the lacquer or a result of the chemical removal process," Adigun said.
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During another presentation, Erin Gilbert, M.D., Ph.D., of the State University of New York Downstate in Brooklyn, discussed the potential use of botulinum toxin A for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema.
"In our mouse model of psoriasis, botulinum toxin A dramatically improved skin disease two weeks after a single injection. We demonstrated that the improvement was accompanied by a significant reduction in skin inflammation, including that specific to psoriatic disease," said Gilbert. "Botulinum toxins are used in a wide range of medical subspecialties but we are all a bit in the dark about the nuances of how they work. We are optimistic that these data will help us get closer to an understanding of the mechanism of action of botulinum toxin in many specialties, ranging from dermatology to neurology and beyond. I am currently using botulinum toxin off-label for inflammatory skin diseases like acne and rosacea, and am currently working on clinical projects in inflammatory skin disease like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. I am hoping that these studies will allow us to introduce botulinum toxin as a new tool for treating our patients."
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Joshua Zeichner, M.D., of the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, discussed how tailored acne treatments may not only help women address acne but also may aid in improving aging skin.
"Adult females are a unique population to treat because they are concerned not only with acne, but also aging skin," said Zeichner. "Selecting treatments for adult females with acne depends on patient preferences, skin types, and severity and timing of acne. Especially for women who develop acne around the time of their menstrual period, hormonal therapies may be used. Topical and oral therapies can be used in various combinations and tailored specifically to each patient's needs."
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AAD: Skin Changes Can Be First Sign of Underlying Condition
FRIDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Skin changes, including new rash, new growths, discoloration, and changes in texture, could be among the first signs indicating an underlying medical condition, according to information presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, held from March 1 to 5 in Miami Beach.
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AAD: Older Men Should Screen Themselves for Skin Cancer
FRIDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Men aged 50 years or older are more likely to be diagnosed with invasive melanoma by a dermatologist than to detect it themselves; and they are less likely to seek a skin cancer screening due to a suspicious lesion, according to the results of two studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, held from March 1 to 5 in Miami Beach.
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AAD: Complications of Tattoos and Tattoo Ink Discussed
FRIDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Complications linked to tattoos and tattoo inks include allergic reactions, serious infections, and reactions that can be mistaken for skin cancer, according to information presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, held from March 1 to 5 in Miami Beach.
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