Isotretinoin plus desloratadine vs. isotretinoin alone in patients with acne
A study published in the International Journal of Dermatology assessed outcomes in patients with moderate to severe acne undergoing treatment with either low-dose oral isotretinoin plus desloratadine or isotretinoin alone. Both groups showed comparable improvements in acne severity at 12 weeks, but patients receiving low-dose isotretinoin plus desloratadine 5 mg/day reported significantly lower rates of pruritus and higher rates of satisfaction with treatment. Pruritus reported was 9.7% in the study versus 33.3% in the control group.
Also, 53.6% of participants reported “excellent” treatment satisfaction in the study group versus 36.6% in the control group. The authors concluded that the addition of desloratadine to isotretinoin has a role in reducing disease and therapy-related pruritus in acne and leads to improved patient satisfaction.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Reflections on infantile perianal pyramidal protrusion and Hippocrates
In 1996, Kayashima et al. reported 15 infants with a pyramidal protrusion located only in the midline anterior to the anus. Histological examination revealed acanthosis in the epidermis, marked edema in the upper dermis, and mild dermal infiltrates. The patients had been brought to the hospital because of swelling of the protrusion. However, all protrusions gradually reduced over weeks without any treatment other than petrolatum. In the differential diagnosis, the authors acknowledge that it is necessary to exclude perianal eruption associated with child abuse or skin diseases such as genital warts, granulomatous lesions of inflammatory bowel disease, or rectal prolapse. The authors proposed the term infantile perianal pyramidal protrusion (IPPP) as being more precise. Keep reading!
AADA president delivers powerful testimony at congressional hearing on Medicare payment reform
Congress must pass a permanent Medicare physician payment update that acknowledges the inflationary growth of health care costs while working toward long-term reform, AADA President Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD, told members of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health last week. The AADA provided testimony to the House Subcommittee on Medicare physician payment reform and the negative impact that of the current payment structure places on private practices. The AADA continues to fight for Medicare physician payment reform as its sole federal congressional advocacy priority. Read more.
What effect does botulinum toxin have on cutaneous flushing?
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Dermatologic Surgery assessed data from studies examining the effects of treatment with botulinum toxin on cutaneous flushing. Patient diagnoses included rosacea, Frey syndrome, and idiopathic neck/chest flushing. All studies demonstrated a decrease in the mean clinical flushing scores at week four. The authors conclude that botulinum toxin significantly improves clinical flushing scores one month after treatment.
Live attenuated vaccines in children with AD treated with dupilumab
A case series published in Pediatric Dermatology reported outcomes in children with severe atopic dermatitis (AD) treated with dupilumab who received the MMR vaccine with or without the varicella vaccine. Of the nine children who received the vaccine, five had a 12-week or less gap that ranged from one to seven weeks between dupilumab administration and vaccinations. Among these, one resumed dupilumab treatment as early as two days, and four resumed treatment 18-43 days after vaccination. No treatment-emergent adverse events, including vaccine-related infection, were reported within four weeks after vaccination.
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