Safety of DEET insect repellent in children: Do the natural alternatives work?
A study published in Pediatric Dermatology evaluated the safety of N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) insect repellent use in children. The article highlights the excellent safety record of DEET when used correctly but advises caution regarding concentrations exceeding 30% and use in very young children. The article also discusses data regarding Environmental Protection Agency–approved alternatives, such as citronella oil, oil of lemon eucalyptus, 2-undecanone, permethrin, and natural oils such as clove, petitgrain, and peppermint oil for mosquito and tick protection, offering guidance to primary care professionals and dermatologists in selecting suitable insect repellent options for children and caregivers. The authors conclude that these approved alternatives can also provide effective insect protection, depending on the needs of the children and caregivers. They also conclude that DEET remains the preferred insect repellent of choice for children when used as directed.
Experts discuss treatment options and tips for successfully diagnosing and treating lice and scabies. Read more.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Hair straightening and acute renal injury — The latest data straight up
Those who desire to straighten their hair will do so by physical or chemical processes. These are summarized in the excellent review by Baretto et al. and include physical or thermal straightening agents (hot comb, hair dryer, and flat iron), alkaline straighteners (hydroxides, thiols), and acid straighteners (formaldehyde, glyoxylic acid, and its variants). This commentary will focus on recent reports of acute renal injury related to hair straightening products. Keep reading!
DermWorld Coding Consult: CMS finalizes and implements evaluation and management visit complexity HCPCS add-on code G2211
CMS has officially implemented the novel evaluation and management (E/M) office/outpatient (O/O) visit complexity add-on code G2211 effective Jan. 1, 2024. G2211 now has an “active” status indicator which allows it to be separately payable when appropriately reported. Read more.
Consensus statements for treating CCCA
A study published in JAAD sought to develop consensus statements regarding the use of various therapies in treating adults with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA). The authors invited 27 dermatologists with expertise in hair and scalp disorders to participate in a three-round modified Delphi study. Statements met strong consensus if 75% of respondents agreed or disagreed. Statements met moderate consensus if 55% or more but less than 75% agreed or disagreed.
The group agreed strongly on recommendations for topical and intralesional corticosteroids, oral antibiotics, topical and/or low-dose oral minoxidil, and hair transplantation. Recommendations for hydroxychloroquine reached moderate consensus agreement. The group reached a strong consensus disagreement for the utility of systemic corticosteroids. There was a lack of consensus for other therapies such as topical calcineurin inhibitors, topical metformin, and oral hair growth supplements.
[What has research revealed about the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and CCCA. Read more.]
The Open Payments program is a national disclosure program that houses a publicly accessible database of payments that reporting entities, including drug and medical device companies, make to covered recipients like physicians. Each year, pharmaceutical and medical device companies must report to CMS their payments or transfers of value for research, meals, travel, gifts, speaking fees, and more made to covered recipients, including physicians. Physicians have 45 days (April 1 – May 15) to check the data that companies have submitted about them to make sure it’s accurate before it is published at OpenPaymentsData.CMS.gov in late June 2024.
CMS strongly encourages all physicians covered under the program to review, affirm, and, if needed, dispute payments attributed to them — before the data become public. If the data are correct, then an affirmation by the physician helps let CMS know that the data have been reviewed. Companies will have time to correct records if the disputes were initiated during the review period.
View this video for an overview of how the Open Payments review and affirmation or dispute process works.
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