Dermatology

The issue of when to use eczema and when atopic dermatitis has thrown a wrench into data-mining machinations.

Childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) usually resolves before adulthood, a meta-analysis of cases showed. Those patients who did see their AD persist were more likely to be female, to have been older at onset, and to have relatively severe AD.

An early clinical trial of a topical preparation of tofacitinib, a janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, demonstrated that it improved symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD) and was well tolerated.

Analysis of patient records from Denmark and Iceland found that obese psoriatic arthritis patients responded less than their lighter counterparts to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFIs) and that they used such medications for shorter periods of time.

The drug, a fully human monoclonal antibody that has impressed equally in asthma and atopic dermatitis trials, may be approved for market as soon as March of 2017.

The FDA has granted approval for ustekinumab (Stelara/Janssen Biotech) to treat adults with moderately-to severely active Crohn’s disease (CD).

A new model that combines real-world prices with outcome data from both controlled trials and clinical practice indicates that the immediate use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (anti-TNFs) is a cost-effective way to achieve good first-year outcomes in patients newly diagnosed with both plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Across the board, researchers saw that studies of active smokers showed increased prevalence of the skin condition, regardless of age or region. It isn't quite clear, though, whether smoking causes AD or AD causes people to smoke.

An increasing number of studies of treatment effectiveness for atopic dermatitis (AD) are measuring changes in quality of life (QOL) as well as in symptoms.

Researchers recommend all organ transplant patients should undergo total-body screenings for skin cancer.

Topical corticosteroid worked as well as bleach in transforming the microbiota of affected skin to that of healthy skin, an NYU study found.

Phototherapy can be effective in treating AD but not all patients have access to the therapy, a study found.

A retrospective analysis of patient records has found a significant link between psoriatic arthritis and malignant cancer – particularly breast cancer.

Will our next president be medically fit? And how much is the public entitled to know about candidates’ personal health?

Are people with atopic dermatitis at a higher or lower risk of developing skin cancer? Researchers found conflicting evidence.

In the past 15 years, no new topical AD treatments have been approved. Crisaborole, however, could be an efficient, safe, non-steoidal treatment option, according to the results of two recent phase III studies.

Ixekizumab patients, who all started with an introductory 160-mg dose, were all more likely than placebo patients to achieve the primary endpoint of the study: a 20% reduction in disease burden as measured by American College of Rheumatology criteria (an ACR20 response) by week 24.

The process for treatment of plaque psoriasis can be a very involved process depending on their history with the condition and other issues they may have as well. This can include psoriatic arthritis.

As newer treatment options hit the market for plaque psoriasis patients may have more questions about the best options for them. This is part of the importance of communicating with patients throughout the treatment process.

An experimental inpatient program worked for atopic dermatitis that had not been resolved despite treatment.

French investigators did a retrospective study of atopic dermatitis treatment and found immunosuppressive agents were well tolerated and worked.

The antifungal, sertaconazole (Ertaczo, Valeant, others), was no better than the topical vehicle placebo in a well controlled, multicenter trial to treat unremitting pruritus in atopic dermatitis (AD).

For patients diagnosed with plaque psoriasis there can be other health issues to consider as well. This can include heart attack, stroke, and obesity as well as obesity and others.

As with many conditions, the kind of care a patient receives can depend on where they live. This can be especially true for dermatology patients needing things like phototherapy. Other factors, like cost and fear, can also impede the treatment process.

Despite the life of a patient with eczema being in many ways similar to that of a patient with psoriasis, their options for treatment are not nearly as robust as the other dermatologic condition.

As patients go through the process of treating their plaque psoriasis, there can be different levels of success depending on a number of situations. As a result, measuring success can be a challenge as well.

With most cases of plaque psoriasis being diagnosed in adolescence the treatment and diagnosis can be a delicate process, especially when parents are involved.

As new treatments for plaque psoriasis are developed the field as a whole is taking a new look at the condition. However, there are still challenges to overcome in diagnosis and treatment.

It was not long ago that patients diagnosed with plaque psoriasis would require a month-long hospital stay for a short-lived treatment of the condition.