Finasteride: Topical vs. oral for male androgenetic alopecia
In a study published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology, 458 men with androgenic alopecia were randomized to treatment with topical finasteride spray, oral finasteride, or placebo. The topical finasteride group had significantly higher hair growth at week 24 compared with placebo. Hair growth was similar between the topical and oral finasteride groups. Topical finasteride was associated with lower plasma drug levels and smaller reduction in serum dihydrotestosterone concentration, which may lower the likelihood of sexual adverse events.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Probing pityriasis rosea in pregnancy
I have always been captivated by pityriasis rosea (PR). As a second-year medical student, my late brother Andrew (presumably) developed it. I was clueless when he showed me his rash. He immediately told my father that money was being wasted on my budding medical career — I figured that I had better take a dermatology elective sometime prior to graduation. Up until mid-career, I always delighted in rendering the diagnosis of PR because I was able to put patients at ease — as of 2008, that may not always be the case.
PR is a common self-limiting rash with an incidence of 170 cases per 100,000, typically affecting younger people (10 to 35 years old), possibly occurring more frequently in winter. Clinically, PR characteristically begins with a herald patch on the trunk and, in approximately two weeks, progresses along Langer lines to a generalized eruption (with the “Christmas tree” pattern) over the trunk and extremities. Keep reading!
The AADA coding team has researched dermatology code utilization for benign, premalignant, and malignant destruction codes for calendar years 2018 and 2019. This article is designed to compile dermatology relevant data and provide the dermatology practice with the information needed to assess, and adjust where applicable, its internal coding and reporting patterns. Dermatology practices are encouraged to use the information provided as a benchmark to compare the practice’s reporting of benign, premalignant, and malignant destruction codes to the Medicare national utilization data. Read more.
DermWorld Young Physician Focus: To stress is human
As we enter the third year of the pandemic, this new year feels decidedly somber. Typically, I would use the post-holiday lull to plan annual goals for my office; this year, my goal is to keep my staff from all going out sick at the same time. I’m not confident that I will achieve this goal.
The strain imposed by the pandemic on the health care industry has been brought to the forefront as hospitals fill yet again. Staffing woes have been compounded during this wave as many workers fall ill themselves. Health care resources are once again at a premium, but this time it is human resources in short supply, rather than masks or ventilators. Read more from DermWorld Young Physician Advisor Jenna O’Neill, MD, FAAD.
Supreme Court upholds CMS vaccine mandate, strikes down OSHA
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) vaccine-or-test rule, which would have required the vaccination (or weekly testing) of those who work for a company with 100 or more employees. The court, however, did uphold the CMS mandate, which requires vaccinations for health care workers at facilities receiving federal money. The mandate was previously stayed in about half the country after states brought lawsuits against the policy. The CMS facilities rule generally does not apply to physician practices, although some might be subject to it based on how they are structured.
According to CMS, the decision to uphold the CMS mandate does not affect compliance dates for providers in states where the mandate was already in effect. Employees in those 25 states, plus the District of Columbia and the territories, must by fully vaccinated or exempt from the requirement by Feb. 28.
Health care workers in the 24 states that are newly subject to the CMS’ COVID-19 vaccine mandate will need to get their first shot by Feb. 14 and final shot by March 15, according to a recent CMS guidance.
Learn more about the CMS vaccine mandate in the Academy’s Practice Management Center and view CMS’ FAQs for the rule.
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