An expert panel consensus on opioid-prescribing guidelines for dermatologic procedures.

BACKGROUND: Opioid overprescribing is a major contributor to the opioid crisis. The lack of procedure-specific guidelines contributes to the vast differences in prescribing practices. OBJECTIVE: To create opioid-prescribing consensus guidelines for common dermatologic procedures. METHODS: We used a 4-step modified Delphi method to conduct a systematic discussion among a panel of dermatologists in the fields of general dermatology, dermatologic surgery, and cosmetics/phlebology to develop opioid prescribing guidelines for some of the most common dermatologic procedural scenarios. Guidelines were developed for opioid-naive patients undergoing routine procedures. Opioid tablets were defined as oxycodone 5-mg oral equivalents. RESULTS: Postoperative pain after most uncomplicated procedures (76%) can be adequately managed with acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen. Group consensus identified no specific dermatologic scenario that routinely requires more than 15 oxycodone 5-mg oral equivalents to manage postoperative pain. Group consensus found that 23% of the procedural scenarios routinely require 1 to 10 opioid tablets, and only 1 routinely requires 1 to 15 opioid tablets. LIMITATIONS: These recommendations are based on expert consensus in lieu of quality evidence-based outcomes research. These recommendations must be individualized to accommodate patients' comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Procedure-specific opioid prescribing guidelines may serve as a foundation to produce effective and responsible postoperative pain management strategies after dermatologic interventions.

Epidermal Fluence Threshold Determination by Real-Time Melanin Measurements.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Epidermal preservation is essential during laser treatment for vascular, hair, and benign pigment dyschromias. Epidermal tolerance is determined by epidermal melanin content, fluence, pulse width, wavelength, skin cooling, and spot size. The authors' objective was to determine the maximum epidermal tolerance for the long-pulse alexandrite 755 nm and the long-pulse neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) 1064-nm lasers for varying epidermal melanin content. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Skin melanin measurements were performed at the test sites with a melanin reader, and 0.5 to 1 second of refrigerated air precooled the skin. Then, alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser test spots of 5 to 18 mm were delivered in a series of ascending fluences using 5-, 20-, and 50-ms pulse widths. Skin response at 24 to 48 and 96 hours was scored from 0 to 15 varying from "no reaction" to "severe scabbing." RESULTS: Alexandrite laser, mean threshold fluences increased by a factor of 1.2 increasing from 5 to 20 ms, and by a factor of 1.4 increasing from 5 to 50 ms, among subjects with a melanin index (MI) from 9 to 25 (Fitzpatrick skin phototype I-III). The Nd:YAG fluence to reach epidermal tolerance was 6X the fluence with the alexandrite laser for the same MI in subjects with MI 26 to 35. CONCLUSION: Epidermal melanin measurements are quantitative and objective, therefore, improving treatment setting determination by decreasing the risk of overtreatment or undertreatment.

Incidence of and Risk Factors for Skin Cancer in Organ Transplant Recipients in the United States.

Importance: Skin cancer is the most common malignancy occurring after organ transplantation. Although previous research has reported an increased risk of skin cancer in solid organ transplant recipients (OTRs), no study has estimated the posttransplant population-based incidence in the United States. Objective: To determine the incidence and evaluate the risk factors for posttransplant skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), melanoma (MM), and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in a cohort of US OTRs receiving a primary organ transplant in 2003 or 2008. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter retrospective cohort study examined 10 649 adult recipients of a primary transplant performed at 26 centers across the United States in the Transplant Skin Cancer Network during 1 of 2 calendar years (either 2003 or 2008) identified through the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) database. Recipients of all organs except intestine were included, and the follow-up periods were 5 and 10 years. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incident skin cancer was determined through detailed medical record review. Data on predictors were obtained from the OPTN database. The incidence rates for posttransplant skin cancer overall and for SCC, MM, and MCC were calculated per 100 000 person-years. Potential risk factors for posttransplant skin cancer were tested using multivariate Cox regression analysis to yield adjusted hazard ratios (HR). Results: Overall, 10 649 organ transplant recipients (mean [SD] age, 51 [12] years; 3873 women [36%] and 6776 men [64%]) contributed 59 923 years of follow-up. The incidence rates for posttransplant skin cancer was 1437 per 100 000 person-years. Specific subtype rates for SCC, MM, and MCC were 812, 75, and 2 per 100 000 person-years, respectively. Statistically significant risk factors for posttransplant skin cancer included pretransplant skin cancer (HR, 4.69; 95% CI, 3.26-6.73), male sex (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.34-1.81), white race (HR, 9.04; 95% CI, 6.20-13.18), age at transplant 50 years or older (HR, 2.77; 95% CI, 2.20-3.48), and being transplanted in 2008 vs 2003 (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.22-1.94). Conclusions and Relevance: Posttransplant skin cancer is common, with elevated risk imparted by increased age, white race, male sex, and thoracic organ transplantation. A temporal cohort effect was present. Understanding the risk factors and trends in posttransplant skin cancer is fundamental to targeted screening and prevention in this population.

Defining the Absorption Spectrum of the Skin After Application of a Popular Sunless Tanner, Dihydroxyacetone, Using Re ectance Photospectrometry.

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is a popular ingredient in sunless tanner and lotions. We sought to measure the absorption spectrum of hu- man skin after application of DHA. A male in his 30's applied DHA to one underarm once daily for seven days. Re ectance spectropho- tometry was performed on the treated and untreated side. The area treated with DHA revealed increased absorption in the 400-700 nm range. Compared to normal skin, the absorption spectrum of human skin after application of DHA is altered from 400-700 nm. Care should be taking with using lasers in these wavelengths on skin treated with DHA. J Drugs Dermatol. 2016;15(11):1459-1460..

Cutaneous siderosis secondary to intramuscular iron dextran treated with 755 nm Q-switched alexandrite laser: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous siderosis is accumulation of iron in the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue secondary to extravasation of an intramuscular or intravascular iron injection. It presents as varying shades of brown macules with no distinct contours. The hyperpigmentation is permanent without treatment. OBJECTIVE: Q-switched lasers have been used effectively to treat lentigines and tattoos however, there is little data on the treatment of cutaneous siderosis with lasers. Our objective was to effectively treat cutaneous siderosis with a Q-switched alexandrite laser. RESULTS: A 50-year-old female had received nine injections of intramuscular iron dextran, one injection every 2 weeks alternating right buttock and left buttock over the course of 5 months. A couple of weeks after her 9th injection which was on the left, she noted brown hyperpigmentation in the injection area with the left worse than the right. She waited 3 months for the hyperpigmentation to self-resolve before presenting in our clinic. We utilized the Q-switched alexandrite laser to treat the patient with a test spot. One week later, there was nice partial clearance from the test spot so we commenced full treatment of the hyperpigmentation. There was significant improvement after the first treatment and she has been treated 4 times with continued improvement over the past 2 months. CONCLUSION: The Q-switched alexandrite laser is a useful tool in the treatment of cutaneous siderosis secondary to iron injection.

Treatment of acral persistent papular mucinosis using an Erbium-YAG laser.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acral persistent papular mucinosis (APPM) is a rare condition with persistent flesh colored papules on the hands and extensor wrists. The authors aim to present a novel treatment option for this condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A female with APPM was treated using a 2940 nm Erbium-YAG laser with a 1 mm spotsize defocused to 2-3 mm with settings of 200-300 mJ until the lesion was flush with the surrounding skin. RESULTS: Healing of the wounds with resolution of the individually treated papules. CONCLUSIONS: Erbium-YAG lasers should be considered a treatment option for APPM.

Rapid improvement of pyoderma gangrenosum after treatment with infliximab.

Infliximab, a novel chimeric anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) monoclonal antibody, has been increasingly used in the treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum. However, an established dosing regimen is lacking in the published literature. A variety of dosing regimens have been suggested, including a treatment schedule similar to that of psoriasis. The authors report a case of rapid response to infliximab in a patient with pyoderma gangrenosum associated with inflammatory bowel disease utilizing a dosing regimen similar to that used for psoriasis.