Moving on to snail mucin…
From the Editor
Dr. Schwarzenberger is the former physician editor of DermWorld.
By Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD, FAAD, October 1, 2023
Last month, we explored the subject of allergic contact dermatitis to cosmetic ingredients. It appears that we may have missed some potential allergens, including snail mucin. While reports of contact dermatitis to snail mucin have not yet hit (at least not to my knowledge) the headlines, it only seems to be a matter of time, as it is now one of the ingredients in some cosmetic products trending on social media. Our colleagues share their experiences with some of the skin care trends your patients may be learning about on social media, ranging from cosmetic products containing less than traditional ingredients to DIY cosmetic procedures. Some are simply interesting, while others may be overtly dangerous. All are worth knowing about, if only so we can have informed discussions with our patients about potential risks and benefits. I was reassured to discover that our old favorite, petrolatum, has finally flipped from being reviled to being revered, validating the advice shared over the years by dermatologists and mothers alike!
Will snail mucin continue to be available in the future? In years past, cosmetics have been less tightly regulated than drugs, relying largely on those who produce them to ensure their safety and efficacy. This has allowed ineffective or unsafe ingredients to infiltrate the cosmetic market, some with little transparency. Enter MoCRA, the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022, which significantly expands the FDA’s authority to regulate cosmetics. Read about ways this new legislation will reform the cosmetic industry and see how we can be part of the effort to ensure our patients have access to safe and effective cosmetic products in our feature article this month!
What has your Academy done for you lately? I hear this question voiced by some of our members and, while I could name any number of strong initiatives, DataDerm™ immediately comes to mind as one of the best. Almost 10 years now in the making, DataDerm was created in response to what was recognized as a significant paucity of data about the important work that dermatologists do every day. Our leaders recognized that the absence of information would ultimately harm our specialty and committed time, effort, and financial resources to the creation of DataDerm. Thanks to robust participation from our members (who have free access to this incredible member benefit!), DataDerm now contains data from over 50 million patient visits. We have moved from the initial data collection (which continues) to being able to mine data to answer questions that will demonstrate the significance of the care we provide. And this is only one of the ways in which DataDerm serves us all. Participation in DataDerm satisfies the American Board of Dermatology’s quality improvement requirement for continuing certification; it also streamlines participation in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). I suspect we will see more good things coming from the DataDerm investment over the years. So, yes, our Academy is doing good things for us!
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