Finasteride vs. minoxidil for female pattern hair loss
In an analysis published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, researchers analyzed the relative efficacy of minoxidil and finasteride — in varying dosages and administrative routes — on change in total hair density at 24 weeks in women with pattern hair loss. Researchers reported a significant dosage effect in many regimens. For example, 5% topical minoxidil solution at 1 mL twice a day for 24 weeks was significantly more efficacious than 5% topical minoxidil solution at 1 mL once a day for 24 weeks. Likewise, 5% topical minoxidil solution administered at 1mL twice daily for 24 weeks was significantly more efficacious than 2% topical minoxidil solution administered at 1 mL twice a day for 24 weeks. Researchers also found higher doses of finasteride to be more efficacious; 5 mg of finasteride once a day for 24 weeks was far more effective than 1 mg finasteride once a day for 24 weeks.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Pathway to reducing medical errors
The 2000 landmark report by the Institute of Medicine, To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System, ushered in the patient safety movement in the modern era. The report highlighted nearly 98,000 hospital deaths a year due to medical errors. Faulty processes and systems in the care environment accounted for over half of the deaths. Patient safety and quality improvement are now regular activities of residency training programs where a team approach in the prevention of errors is emphasized rather than the blame-shame-discipline culture of the past. Borne out of this new culture of safety, Huang and colleagues reported errors encountered in a dermatopathology laboratory over a one-year period.Keep reading!
Cutaneous drug reactions to psychedelics and hallucinogens
A review published in Dermatitis characterized the varying cutaneous reactions associated with psychedelic and hallucinogenic drugs, including cannabis, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, phencyclidine, and other drugs. Exposure to cannabis products can produce reactions such as urticaria, angioedema, and contact dermatitis. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine has been associated with acneiform eruption, urticarial eruption, guttate psoriasis–like reaction, fixed drug eruption, and Stevens–Johnson syndrome.
Dermatologists discuss the cutaneous signs of established and emerging illicit substances. Read more.
Trichophyton indotineae: Clinical course, antifungal susceptibility, and genomic sequencing
A retrospective cohort study published in JAMA Dermatology assessed the correlation of clinical features of Trichophyton indotineae dermatophyte infections with antifungal susceptibility and squalene epoxidase gene sequence variations. Most patients presented with widespread pruritic lesions, with a substantial delay in diagnosis (three to 42 months) and topical antifungal therapy failure. Terbinafine treatment failed in seven patients despite prolonged standard doses (250 mg daily); these patients had isolates with squalene epoxidase sequence variations L393S and F397L and elevated terbinafine minimum inhibitory concentration values of 0.5 μg/mL or higher. Itraconazole cleared or improved symptoms in five of seven patients, with two lost to follow-up or treatment cessation.
With increasing resistance to antifungal therapies, here’s what dermatologists need to know about managing dermatophytosis. Read more.
The FDA recently approved sofpironium topical gel 12.45% for primary axillary hyperhidrosis. The drug is approved for use in adults and children nine years or older. Approval of sofpironium came from two phase III trials (CARDIGAN) that compared topical sofpironium versus vehicle in a total of 701 patients with primary axillary hyperhidrosis. The trials met all primary and secondary endpoints, showing “clinically and statistically meaningful” improvement from baseline. The company plans to launch an early access program during the third quarter of 2024, followed by a broader launch during the fourth quarter.
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