Intralesional vs. intramuscular hepatitis B vaccine for common warts
Authors of a study published in Dermatologic Surgery investigated whether intralesional or intramuscular injection of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine was more effective in treating multiple common warts. In the study, 60 patients with three or more common warts were randomly assigned to be treated with the HBV vaccine injected intralesionally at two-week intervals until complete clearance (or for a maximum of five sessions), or with intramuscular HBV vaccine at zero, one, and six months. Complete clearance of warts was 23.3% in the intralesional group versus 50% in the intramuscular group. The authors conclude that the HBV vaccine, particularly in the intramuscular form, seems to be a promising and well-tolerated therapeutic option for the treatment of warts.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Hair straighteners and the risk of uterine cancer — More studies are necessary to get this straight
Every time the New York Times publishes a dermatology-related article, I receive a flurry of text messages from friends and family and messages from patients. The most recent article discussing the possible link between the use of hair straighteners and uterine cancer was no different, perhaps even heightened given my clinical interests in hair loss/hair styling. In the study reviewed, the researchers examined associations between hair product use and the incidence of uterine cancer among approximately 34,000 participants in the Sister Study, a United States/Puerto Rican cohort of breast cancer-free women aged 35-74 years who had a uterus at enrollment (2003-2009), who also had at least one sister diagnosed with breast cancer. Keep reading!
Alopecia areata: Two investigational JAK inhibitors report positive results
Treatment with deuruxolitinib and ritlecitinib, two investigational JAK inhibitors, resulted in substantial regrowth of scalp hair for patients with alopecia areata (AA), according to coverage of the annual congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology by MDedge.
Deuruxolitinib, an oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, has been tested in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials in patients with AA. In the THRIVE-AA1 study, the primary endpoint of a SALT score of 20 or lower, which indicates that hair regrowth has occurred on at least 80% of the scalp, was achieved among patients taking deuruxolitinib. The endpoint of having a SALT score of 10 or less, which indicates hair regrowth has occurred over 90% of the scalp, was met by 21% of patients who received deuruxolitinib 8 mg twice a day and by 35% of those who received the 12-mg dose twice a day at 24 weeks.
[Read about how Academy HAIR Grants enable new research on hair loss and skin of color in DermWorld.]
In the ALLEGRO-LT study, the effects of ritlecitinib, which targets JAK3 and the TEC family of tyrosine kinases, appeared to be sustained for two years. Nearly 70% of patients treated with the JAK inhibitor had a SALT score of 20 or lower by 24 months. The proportion of patients with a SALT score of 20 or less was 2.5% at one month, 27.9% at three months, 50.1% at six months, 59.8% at nine months, and 65.5% at 12 months. A similar pattern was seen for SALT scores of 10 or less, ranging from 16.5% at three months to 62.5% at 24 months.
The AAD distributes another round of hair disorder research grants. Read more in DermWorld.
In a systematic review published in Dermatologic Surgery, researchers evaluated cases of filler-associated necrosis and impending necrosis. Necrosis mostly resulted from injection of hyaluronic acid filler into the nasolabial fold or nose (32%). Patients who had a prior minor procedure or surgery near the injection site made up 22% of the cases. Of the cases analyzed, 66% had progressed to necrosis whereas 34% had impending necrosis. Treatments consisted of hyaluronidase, antimicrobials, and topical or systemic steroids. Most patients who received hyaluronidase had full resolution of necrosis or minor residual scarring.
Read more about how to use hyaluronidase from Lily Talakoub, MD, FAAD, inDermWorld Weekly.
Authors of a JAMA Dermatology study investigated the presence of contact allergens in 1,651 “natural” personal care products sold in the United States. The ingredients from these products were compared with 191 potential contact allergens in the Contact Allergen Management Program database.
At least one contact allergen was noted in 94% of the personal care products and nearly 90% contained one or more of the 100 most prevalent allergens in the database. Additionally, 73 unique allergens were identified in the products. Given the lack of FDA regulation and increasing prevalence of contact dermatitis, the authors recommend dermatologists counsel patients on the risk of contact dermatitis from natural products.
2022 Allergen of the year: Aluminum. Read an interview with Magnus Bruze, MD, PhD, inDermWorld.
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