In a review published in theInternational Journal of Dermatology, the authors reviewed 20 popular over-the-counter oral supplements taken for hair loss, including vitamins, minerals, plant derivatives, and nutraceuticals. The authors identified no clinical evidence supporting the use of vitamin A, vitamin D, biotin, niacin, selenium, ashwagandha, curcumin, and capsaicin for treatment of hair loss.
The authors indicated that mild evidence exists for the use of vitamin E and zinc in hair loss conditions in addition to mild evidence for horsetail and methylsulfonylmethane as complementary management for skin and hair health. Some evidence exists for the use of pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto as additional options for androgenic alopecia. Also, marine complexes have shown positive effects on hair health. Because oral supplements are not regulated by the FDA as drugs, larger peer-reviewed clinical studies are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of the oral supplements discussed in the article.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Going green — The complexities of the green nail syndrome
I started to turn green after thinking about how I may not have been managing green nail syndrome (GNS) optimally. While straightforward, the disorder has levels of complexity that demand our attention. Whether it is diagnosing attendant onychomycosis or properly warning our patients of the risk of fluoroquinolones, there is much more to GNS than eradicating its color. Keep reading!
A practical guide for managing hidradenitis suppurativa patients
In a recentJAAD article, the authors present a guide for caring for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) patients over a year, which includes a practical table of assessments and treatments outlined for each visit. The guide is designed to assist dermatologists, who are often in busy clinics or who may infrequently see HS patients, in making a complex and challenging disease less stressful and time intensive to manage. In addition to the guide, the author experts also provide a patient handout that covers topics such as lifestyle changes, diet, soaps and body washes, and hormonal birth control, among others.
Read an interview with Christopher Sayed, MD, about his JAAD article “North American Clinical Management Guidelines for Hidradenitis Suppurativa” in DermWorld.
Randall K. Roenigk, MD, has been selected as the new executive director of the American Board of Dermatology (ABD) effective July 1, 2021. Dr. Roenigk has served as the ABD’s assistant executive director from 2014 through 2021. Before that, he served as an ABD director from 2001 – 2009, and president in 2009.
As executive director, Dr. Roenigk’s priorities will be to expand the use of technology in certification and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) activities, redesign the ABD’s governance to prioritize input from diplomates and advocacy efforts on their behalf, and engage in a strategic planning process to ensure the future of the ABD reflects the practice of dermatology. Read more about the new executive leadership team.
How effective are educational brochures at encouraging skin cancer screenings?
In a recently published study in JAAD, investigators explored the impact of educational brochures on patients’ behavior after participating in an AAD SPOT me® skin cancer screening program. Of 393 individuals who had a presumptive diagnosis of melanoma, 203 participants in the intervention group received an emailed or mailed AAD brochure highlighting the importance of early detection while 190 in the control group received no additional information.
In all, 91% of those who were screened in the intervention group reported that they would ask their primary care physician or dermatologist to examine the skin on their whole body in the next year (versus 81% in the control group). Of those who received the brochure, 88% said they would examine their own skin in the next year (versus 77% in the control group). However, 45% of participants who received the brochure did not recall reading it. The authors suggest that efforts may need to focus on sending reminders to reinforce the mailing of the brochure soon after it’s sent.
Academy Advisory Board invites members to submit policy resolutions
The Academy’s Advisory Board invites all Academy members as well as state, local, and specialty dermatology groups to submit proposed AAD/A policy resolutions on issues of interest and/or concern. The Advisory Board convenes every year at the AAD Annual Meeting to deliberate on issues of importance to individual physicians and propose new policies to the Academy’s Board of Directors for consideration.
If there is an issue of interest and/or concern, now is your opportunity to submit a resolution from which an official Academy position might arise. Determine who your state or local dermatology society’s Advisory Board representative is and work with them to draft a policy resolution. The resolution will ask for the Academy to take specific action relating to advocacy or a general Academy policy.
To ensure full consideration, please submit resolutions by Feb. 12. The author or Advisory Board representative of the resolution must be present during the Virtual Reference Committee Hearing on Friday, March 19, at 2 PM ET to introduce and discuss the resolution. Even if you do not submit a resolution, the Academy strongly encourages all members to attend the Virtual Reference Committee Hearing to hear the debate on proposed resolutions. The full Advisory Board will vote on the resolutions at the Virtual General Business Meeting on Sunday, March 21, at 3 PM ET.
To submit a resolution, your Disclosure of Outside Interests (DOI) statement must be updated. Please submit all resolutions and/or questions regarding the process to Cierra Martin at cmartin@aad.org by Feb. 12.
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