Subcision with and without suction for acne scars: a split-faced, rater-blinded randomized control trial.

Therapeutic options for acne scars include subcision and suction with microdermabrasion, but these treatment modalities have not been studied in conjunction. To compare effectiveness of subcision alone versus subcision with suction for the treatment of facial acne scars. Randomized, split-faced, evaluator-blinded control trial. Participants underwent one subcision treatment on both sides of the face followed by 10 sessions of suction to one side. Photographs at baseline, 1-month, and 4-months were assessed. Primary outcome measures were the validated Acne Scar Severity Scale (ASSS) (0 = no acne scarring, 4 = severe), Acne Scar Improvement Grading Scale (ASIGS) (-100 to 100%), and modified Quantitative Global Scarring Grades (QGSG) (point-based questionnaire instrument), as well as subject preference. Twenty-eight treatment areas and 154 treatments were analyzed. Dermatologist raters found no differences between subcision alone and subcision-suction at 1-month or 4-months. Mean subject-assessed percent improvement for subcision-suction was higher than that for subcision alone at 1-month (37% versus 24%, p = 0.04) but not at 4-months (p = 0.37). Subjects preferred combination therapy to monotherapy at 1-month (50% vs. 21%) and 4-months (43% vs. 21%). While blinded raters did not detect significant differences, subjects perceived combination treatment as working more quickly than monotherapy, and preferred combination treatment at all time points.Clinical trial registration NCT01696513 on Clinicaltrials.gov.

Risk factors for hospital-based surgical site infections.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) contribute to morbidity and are costly to the healthcare system. To identify factors associated with SSIs. Case-control study analyzing the Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD). We identified 45,445 SSIs. Infection rates were higher in those who were obese (BMI ≥ 30) (OR: 1.39, 95% CI 1.28-1.51), tobacco users (OR: 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.15), diagnosed with diabetes (OR: 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.22), with Elixhauser Comorbidity Index ≥ 2 (OR: 1.14, 95% CI 1.09-1.20), admitted to hospital for 4-6 days (OR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.29-1.42), in medium-size hospital (OR: 1.15, 95% CI 1.05-1.26), or large-size hospital (OR: 1.43, 95% CI 1.31-1.56). In contrast, patients who were 60-79 years old (OR: 0.78, 95% CI 0.73-0.84), 80 years or older (OR: 0.66, 95% CI 0.59-0.73), female (OR: 0.95, 95% CI 0.91-0.99), underweight (BMI < 18.5) (OR: 0.14, 95% CI 0.03-0.59), in a non-metropolitan hospital (OR: 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.91), self-pay (OR: 0.82, 95% CI 0.74-0.91), or covered by Medicare (OR: 0.86, 95% CI 0.80-0.91) had lower odds. Initial data entry to NRD is susceptible to human error. Patients who are obese, use tobacco, have multiple comorbidities, and have long hospital stays in medium-to-large-size hospitals are at risk of SSIs. Conversely, odds of SSIs are lower in females, age ≥ 60, BMI < 18.5, self-pay or Medicare (versus private insurance), or at smaller hospitals. Understanding factors associated with SSIs may help surgeons anticipate complications.

Perceptions of telehealth among inpatient consultative dermatology providers and practice patterns during COVID-19.

Use of inpatient teledermatology increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. We surveyed the Society for Dermatology Hospitalists to better characterize the impact of COVID-19 on teledermatology use by inpatient dermatology providers, particularly on provider perceptions of teledermatology. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 40% (8/20) of surveyed providers had used telehealth at their institution to help perform inpatient consults, while 90% (18/20) adapted use of teledermatology during the pandemic. 80% (16/20) reported that their opinion of teledermatology changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the vast majority (87.5%, 14/16) reporting having a more positive opinion. Benefits of teledermatology included efficiency, ability to increase access safely, and ability for clinicians to focus on complex cases. Some providers expressed concerns over the potential implications regarding the perception of dermatology within medicine, limitations of inadequate photos, and breakdowns in communication with consulting teams and patients. Robust algorithms and or utilization criteria of teledermatology may help to mitigate risk, while increasing access to inpatient dermatologic evaluation.

Pain of local anesthetic injection of lidocaine during subsequent stages of Mohs micrographic surgery: A multicenter prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Patients awake during staged cutaneous surgery procedures may experience procedure-related pain. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the level of pain associated with local anesthetic injections prior to each Mohs stage increases with subsequent Mohs stages. METHODS: Multicenter longitudinal cohort study. Patients rated pain (visual analog scale: 1-10) after anesthetic injection preceding each Mohs stage. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-nine adult patients presenting for Mohs who required multiple Mohs stages at 2 academic medical centers were enrolled; 330 stages were excluded due to complete anesthesia from prior stages, and 511 stages were analyzed. Mean visual analog scale pain ratings were nominally but not significantly different for subsequent stages of Mohs surgery (stage 1: 2.5; stage 2: 2.5; stage 3: 2.7: stage 4:2.8: stage 5: 3.2; P = .770). Between 37% and 44% experienced moderate pain, and 9.5% and 12.5% severe pain, during first as versus subsequent stages (P > .05) LIMITATIONS: Both academic centers were in urban areas. Pain rating is inherently subjective. CONCLUSIONS: Patients did not report significantly increased anesthetic injection pain level during subsequent stages of Mohs.

Comparative effectiveness of ice packs versus topical lidocaine-prilocaine mixture for pain control in laser hair removal of the axilla: A rater-blinded randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Laser hair removal is associated with moderate acute pain. OBJECTIVE: To compare effectiveness of ice pack to topical lidocaine-prilocaine for pain reduction during axillary laser hair removal. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to receive topical anesthetic to one axilla and ice packs to the other before each of 3, monthly 810 nm diode laser sessions. The primary endpoint was participant-reported pain on the visual analog scale (VAS) immediately following and 5 minutes after laser session. Posttreatment erythema, overall edema, and perifollicular edema were assessed by 2 blinded photoraters. Skin temperatures, patient preferences, and adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: Eighty-eight of 90 (98%) planned laser treatments were delivered and randomized. Participants reported higher VAS scores immediately after laser treatment with lidocaine-prilocaine compared to ice (P = .03). Five minutes after, participants reported higher VAS scores with ice (P = .03). After 53 of the 88 treatments (60.2%), participants reported preferring ice (P = .055). No serious adverse events were reported. LIMITATIONS: All participants were Caucasian or Asian with Fitzpatrick skin type I to III and coarse dark axillary hair, which may limit generalizability. CONCLUSIONS: While pain control with ice and topical anesthesia is associated with time after treatment, the 2 modalities do not differ in terms of degree of pain reduction associated with axillary laser hair removal.

Eccrine Syringofibroadenoma in Association With Acquired Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis.

A 75-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus infection and numerous biopsy-proven warts for 10 years, refractory to cryosurgery, cimetidine, and topical imiquimod, presented with numerous pink to hypopigmented verrucous papules and plaques involving the face, trunk, buttocks, and groin. Laboratory evaluation revealed a CD4 T-cell count of 62 cells per microliter and human immunodeficiency virus viral load of <117 copies per milliliter. Biopsy of a plaque groin lesion was performed. Histopathology revealed vertically oriented anastomosing strands of basaloid epithelium arising from multiple points along the epidermis in a background fibrovascular stroma. Ductal differentiation was identified. Areas of epidermis showed compact orthokeratosis, coarse hypergranulosis, and keratinocytes with abundant steel-blue-gray cytoplasm, indicative of viral cytopathic changes. Cytologic atypia was not identified. Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping of this lesion was positive for types 5 and 14. Overall, the findings were consistent with epidermodysplasia verruciformis in association with eccrine syringofibroadenoma (ESFA). The patient was subsequently treated with acitretin and showed clinical improvement. ESFA is an uncommon benign adnexal tumor with unknown pathogenesis. Although its association with HPV has rarely been reported, ESFA in the setting of acquired epidermodysplasia verruciformis has not been described. The development of ESFA in this case may be the result of HPV-induced cellular transformation.

Dermatologic infections in cancer patients.

Dermatologic infections are among the most commonly experienced complications of cancer and anti-cancer therapy. Alterations in host immune function secondary to the underlying malignant process and/or its treatment have been linked to an increase in the risk of infections. The skin and its appendages (i.e., hair and nails) represent the first line of defense against infectious microorganism; its dysfunction as a physical barrier and an immunologic organ in cancer patients leads to an increased susceptibility to infectious organisms. Moreover, a cancer patient's vulnerable state facilitates dissemination of infections to other sites, secondarily involving the skin. This chapter delineates dermatologic infections that are unique to cancer patients as a result of their underlying malignancies and associated comorbidities as well as those resulting from antineoplastic therapies.

Levamisole toxicity mimicking autoimmune disease.

BACKGROUND: Levamisole is present as a contaminant or additive in most cocaine sold in the United States. Cases of agranulocytosis attributed to levamisole-tainted cocaine have been widely described. A vasculopathic reaction to levamisole has also been reported; however, diagnostic features such as antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) and additional autoimmune marker positivity are not well recognized. As such, many patients are given a misdiagnosis, prompting aggressive and often unnecessary treatment. OBJECTIVE: We hope to educate practitioners about the clinical and laboratory features of levamisole-induced vasculopathy to ensure accurate diagnosis and management. METHODS: This was a case series. RESULTS: Six patients were admitted with purpuric lesions and vasculitic changes on biopsy specimen; 5 of them were given the diagnosis of and treated for autoimmune conditions before their true diagnosis was revealed. All patients had ANCA positivity, and 4 had additional abnormalities in autoimmune markers. All patients reported recent cocaine abuse, and were ultimately given the diagnosis of levamisole-induced vasculopathy. LIMITATIONS: This observational study is limited by sample size. CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting with purpuric lesions with ANCA positivity should be assessed for cocaine exposure. It is important to recognize that levamisole may not only induce ANCA positivity but also other autoimmune marker abnormalities. Patients can often be treated with less aggressive therapeutic strategies than what is used for primary ANCA-associated vasculitides.