Effects of probiotic supplementation in adults with atopic dermatitis
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology investigated the effectiveness of probiotic supplementation in adults with atopic dermatitis (AD). Probiotics with certain strains, specifically Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus acidophilus, showed modest effects in improving AD in adults. Probiotics showed better results in patients with moderate to severe AD than in those with mild AD. However, the decrease in AD severity did not seem to translate into a better quality of life assessed by the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Although additional research is still needed, the authors indicate that incorporating probiotics into the management of adults with AD could be a useful complementary approach to improving overall disease control.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Sweet sounds of the “SKINphony” — Incorporating music into daily dermatologic practice
I imagine that music has the potential to stir up intense emotions in everyone reading this commentary. It may be the soundtrack to your favorite movie. Or it could be a song played at an important family event (e.g., your spouse walking down the wedding aisle to the melody of Pachelbel’s Canon in D). Perhaps it is an energizing music snippet from a sporting event you attended (e.g., Europe’s “The Final Countdown” as the players re-entered the court in the waning seconds as the outcome of a pivotal game hung in the balance).
Can music enhance our daily experience in dermatology (particularly amid our busy clinical schedules)? For many of us, it already does in ways both obvious and subtle. When describing the tender occasion of singing an opera song to a frail patient, Joshua Wales, MD, remarked: “Connections forged with other people over shared experiences of the arts — movies, visual art, books, pop music, opera, theater, magazines — transcend these personal details and tap into something universal.” I will briefly share a few (non-exhaustive) findings from the literature, mixed with some personal anecdotes, that suggest music may benefit our relationships with patients, colleagues, students, and ourselves. Keep reading!
Is flutamide gel effective in treating patients with acne?
A study published in the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery evaluated the efficacy and safety of topical flutamide in the treatment of acne vulgaris. In this randomized controlled study of 54 patients with acne vulgaris, the researchers treated half of the participants with topical flutamide 1% gel, a first-generation nonsteroidal antiandrogen, and the other half with a vehicle for eight weeks. In the flutamide group, there was a significant reduction in papule and pustule count from baseline but no significant reduction in comedone count. There was a highly significant difference in the reduction of pustule count between the flutamide group and the vehicle group. The adverse effects associated with topical flutamide were minor, with scaling being the most frequently observed adverse effect.
Risk of skin cancer in patients with atopic dermatitis receiving UV-B phototherapy
A study published in JAAD investigated the risk of skin cancer among patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) receiving ultraviolet B (UV-B) phototherapy. In this population-based cohort study, the rate of skin cancer among 1,241 patients with atopic dermatitis treated with UV-B phototherapy was similar to that noted among matched controls (0.48% vs. 0.50%), with a median follow-up duration of 11 years. A higher number of UV-B phototherapy sessions was not associated with an increased risk of skin cancer.
Requesting input: 2022 MIPS cost data to help avert payment penalties
The AADA is working with the AMA to urge CMS to reweight the problematic 2022 MIPS cost category, which will affect Medicare physician payment starting on Jan. 1, 2024. We need your help. As a reminder, in 2022, the Cost Performance Category accounted for 30% of MIPS final scores and significantly contributed to physicians’ 2024 MIPS payment adjustments, which could impact Medicare payment by up to -9%. If there was a problem with your MIPS Feedback Report based on 2022 performance, please share those stories with Jillian Winans, the Academy's associate director of Regulatory and Payment Policy, by Thursday, Nov. 30, at jwinans@aad.org.
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