January 11, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE / Jan. 11, 2023
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Acquisition and loss — A tribute to Jouni Uitto, MD, PhD
Nail clipping histopathology for routine evaluation of melanonychia
Academy Advisory Board invites members to submit policy resolutions
Antihistamines as adjunct therapy for alopecia areata
In a study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, the study authors assess the use of antihistamines and dupilumab in the treatment of alopecia areata (AA). Forty-two articles with 395 patients describe the use of antihistamines or dupilumab in AA, with the most common antihistamine regimens being oxatomide 30 mg twice per day, fexofenadine 60 or 120 mg/day, and ebastine 10 mg/day.
[Should dermatologists be anti-antihistamine for atopic dermatitis? Read more in DermWorld Insights and Inquiries.]
The majority of cases reported significant hair regrowth, decreased pruritus, and erythema. Studies on the use of dupilumab for AA demonstrated remarkable hair growth in some patients, no change in others, and no new hair loss in a patient with resolved alopecia universalis. In contrast, dupilumab therapy for AD has been implicated as a cause of AA, drug-induced alopecia, and AA-like psoriasis. The authors conclude that the current literature is promising for the use of antihistamines as adjunct treatments for AA, while monotherapy needs to be further explored.
FDA approves first systemic treatment for alopecia areata. Read more in DermWorld Weekly.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Acquisition and loss — A tribute to Jouni Uitto, MD, PhD
getting my feet wet at Cooper Hospital. Jouni was recruited to Jefferson as an esteemed international authority on collagen disorders. Naturally, I was impressed by his achievements, but I was awed by his warmth and generosity of spirit, which blossomed over our decades working together through the Philadelphia Dermatological Society. The dermatology universe has lost a scholar; I have lost a mentor and friend. I was fortunate to express my thanks to him for all he has done for the dermatology community and me via email — his wife told me that he smiled when she read it to him. I will always cherish that. Keep reading!
Lidocaine shortage: Ask the expert
DermWorld spoke to Eric Millican, MD, FAAD, chair of the AADA Regulatory Policy Committee and Drug Shortage Workgroup, about the AADA’s advocacy efforts on the lidocaine and lidocaine with epinephrine shortage. Read more about why the shortage exists and what the AADA has been doing to improve supplies.
Nail clipping histopathology for routine evaluation of melanonychia
Authors of an article published in the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology have called on dermatologists and dermatopathologists to include nail clipping histopathology as an essential component of the routine evaluation of melanonychia. Histopathologic evaluation of nail clippings can result in a diagnosis of nail unit melanoma through the identification of melanocyte remnants. It can also aid in triaging nail unit biopsy and assist in surgical planning. Nail clipping histopathology can provide extensive information in the evaluation of melanonychia with minimal discomfort for a patient and minimal disruption to a physician’s clinic flow.
When to see red in linear erythronychia — malignant onychopapilloma. Read more in DermWorld Insights and Inquiries.
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 practitioners 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. If passed by the Advisory Board, it will go directly to the AAD/A Board of Directors. To get started on a resolution, determine who your state or local dermatology society’s Advisory Board Representative is by using the state society directory, and work with them to draft a policy resolution. The resolution should ask for the Academy to take specific action relating to advocacy or a general Academy policy.
To ensure full consideration, submit resolutions Jan. 14-Feb. 7. The author or Advisory Board representative of the resolution must be present during the Reference Committee Hearing on Friday, March 17, at 3 p.m. (CT) to introduce and discuss the resolution. Even if you do not submit a resolution, the Academy strongly encourages all members to attend the Reference Committee Hearing to hear the debate on the proposed resolutions. The full Advisory Board will vote on the resolutions at the General Business Meeting on Sunday, March 19 at 3 p.m. (CT).
To learn more, visit the Advisory Board website and view the resolution template. In order 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 Heather Schultz at hschultz@aad.org by Feb. 7.
