September 19
IN THIS ISSUE / September 19, 2018
- More than 25% of Americans surveyed think psoriasis is contagious
- Atopic dermatitis associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation
- Have you joined the JAAD Journal Club yet?
- Risk for surgical-site infection increased in lower extremity Mohs surgery
More than 25% of Americans surveyed think psoriasis is contagious
A study published in JAAD found that stigmatizing views of people with psoriasis are prevalent among people in the U.S. Nearly 400 Americans (187 medical students and 198 laypeople) completed an online survey about their perceptions of people with psoriasis. Survey participants were shown images of people with psoriasis along with enlarged photos of psoriasis lesions.
More than 54% of lay participants said they didn’t want to date someone with psoriasis, and nearly 40% didn’t want to shake hands with them. About 32% of respondents didn’t want someone with psoriasis in their homes, and 45% said people with psoriasis were unattractive. The study also highlighted persistent myths: 27% thought psoriasis was contagious. About one-third of respondents thought psoriasis only affects the skin, and more than 25% did not believe psoriasis is a serious disease. The medical students surveyed showed less stigmatizing views.
The respondents’ reactions underscore the misconceptions associated with the disorder, the researchers said. Better education about the disease could help reduce misinformation.
Learn more about advances in psoriasis treatments in Dermatology World.
Related Links:
- Which topicals work for scalp psoriasis? – Dermatology World (June 2016)
- The itchy scalp – Dermatology World (December 2017)
- AAD web: Psoriasis clinical guidelines
- For your patients: Psoriasis Resource Center
- AAD product: 2019 Coding Webinar All-Access Pass
What did the AADA have to say about the proposed fee schedule?
The AADA has submitted its official comment letter to CMS based on feedback from Academy members and analysis by the AADA’s Rapid Response Committee.
Atopic dermatitis associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation
According to a recent study in JAAD, adults with AD are significantly associated with depression and anxiety and children with AD are significantly associated with depression. Only a few studies examined the risk of completed suicide for people with AD, but the majority showed a positive association.
The review highlights the importance of understanding the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in individuals with AD, and the need for physicians to focus on disease improvement to reduce these risks.
Learn more about how drugs like dupilumab and crisaborale have changed AD treatment and about newer drugs on the way in Dermatology World.
Related Links:
- Should systemic steroids be avoided in atopic dermatitis? - Dermatology World (July 2018)
- Can IL-31 inhibition reduce atopic dermatitis itch? – Dermatology World (June 2017)
- New treatments target potential pathways for atopic dermatitis treatments – Dermatology World (December 2016)
- AAD web: Atopic dermatitis clinical guidelines
- For your patients: All about atopic dermatitis
- AAD product: Digital patient handouts subscription
Have you joined the JAAD Journal Club yet?
Join the JAAD Journal Club on Facebook for the inaugural meeting Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. CT. The discussion will focus on the article, “Financial burden of emergency department visits for atopic dermatitis in the United States.” Author Jonathan Silverberg, MD, PhD, MPH, will be answering questions, and the discussion will be facilitated by the University of New Mexico residency program. Join now!
Related Links:
Risk for surgical-site infection increased in lower extremity Mohs surgery
According to a study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, there is an increased risk for surgical-site infections (SSIs) when dermatologic surgery is performed on lower extremities. The study examined clinical characteristics associated with SSIs following Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) and wide local excisions (WLEs) performed below the knee. A total of 271 patients were evaluated — 175 underwent MMS and 96 underwent WLE.
Of those in the MMS group, 2.3% developed an SSI, while 8.3% of the WLE group developed an SSI. The study also found that dermatologists who used subcuticular sutures and vertical mattress sutures had reduced 30-day infection rates compared with the use of other suture methods. At 14 days, the infection rate with doxycycline was 0%, whereas the infection rates with cephalexin or no antibiotic were 6.5% and 6.4%, respectively — suggesting more research could be done to study the difference between the antibiotics for dermatologic surgery on the lower extremities.
What do the AAD’s new non-melanoma skin cancer guidelines say? Find out in Dermatology World.
