Red and green LED light therapy in individuals with androgenetic alopecia
A comparative study published in Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine evaluated the efficacy of red (633 nm) vs. green (522 nm) LED light therapy in patients with androgenetic alopecia. After six months of weekly 20-minute treatments (40 J/cm2) to the frontal scalp, both red and green LED light treatments resulted in significant improvements in hair diameter, non-vellus hair density, and patient satisfaction scores. Although both wavelengths demonstrated efficacy within the first three months, patients receiving red LED light treatment maintained this improvement in hair density by six months and showed comparatively greater improvements in hair diameter from baseline.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Treatments for renal IgA vasculitis are beginning to flow
IgA vasculitis (IgAV, aka Henoch-Schönlein purpura [HSP]) is the most common vasculitis in children but is much less frequent in adults. Aside from nonthrombocytopenic palpable purpura, the clinical characteristics of HSP include abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, purpura, arthritis, and renal involvement. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) presents a variant of IgAV restricted to the kidneys. While IgAV with nephritis and IgAN share a common pathological feature of significant mesangial IgA deposition, whether they are clinical manifestations of the same disease occurring on a spectrum but varying in symptomatic presentations and prognosis remains controversial.Keep reading!
Safety of using JAK inhibitors in elderly patients with atopic dermatitis
Authors of a study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology performed a retrospective review to describe real-world outcomes for the use of JAK1 inhibitors in patients with atopic dermatitis aged 65 years or older. Thirty-eight atopic dermatitis cases were identified. Patients were aged 65 to 96 years, and treatment duration ranged from four to 28 months. Nearly 95% of patients tolerated the treatment well and another 95% achieved an Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) of 0/1, 93% achieved an Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) of 0/1, and 100% had a peak pruritus response with an improvement of four or more points on NRS. There were no clinically meaningful abnormalities throughout the treatment course.
Dermatologists discuss considerations and complexities in caring for older adults with skin cancer. Read more.
A case report published in Contact Dermatitis highlighted the role of non-occupational allergens, particularly sulfites and cinnamon, in causing allergic contact cheilitis/stomatitis. The first case highlighted data from an 81-year-old woman with recurrent lip swelling and erythema linked to sulfite sensitivity, confirmed through patch testing. The elimination of sparkling wine from the patient’s diet led to symptom resolution.
The second case detailed data regarding a 50-year-old woman with persistent aphthous lesions and eyelid swelling, eventually diagnosed with allergic contact stomatitis owing to cinnamon based on patch-test results. The patient showed symptom improvement after cinnamon avoidance. According to the authors, a thorough patient history analysis and patch testing are important for identifying contact allergens that could be contributing to treatment-resistant oral ulcers.
Wound characteristics among patients exposed to xylazine
A study published in JAMA Dermatology examined the clinical features of wounds among patients exposed to xylazine, an adulterant in illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Of 59 wounds from 29 unique patients with confirmed xylazine exposure, 90% of wounds were located on extremities, and 69% involved extensor surfaces.
[Dermatologists discuss cutaneous signs of established and emerging illicit substances in DermWorld.]
Five wounds (9%) involved exposed deep structures such as bone or tendon. Of 57 wounds with photographs, 34 (60%) had wound beds of predominantly devitalized tissue (eschar or slough). Subacute and chronic wounds were more often medium or large in size and more frequently had devitalized wound beds.
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