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PASI responses with biologics similar among white, nonwhite individuals, study finds
MIAMI – Skin clearance rates among people with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treated with brodalumab were superior to clearance rates among those treated with ustekinumab in a study that also provided comparisons between white and nonwhite patients.
In the study, presented in a poster at the 2018 Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference, there were no significant difference in overall efficacy, safety, or health-related quality of life outcomes between white and nonwhite patients treated with either biologic.
Additional analyses specific to patients with skin of color can be beneficial, Amy McMichael, MD, one of the investigators, said in an interview. “Patients with skin of color experience differences in psoriasis-related symptoms,” noted Dr. McMichael, chair of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. “Greater degrees of skin involvement have been shown in African-American patients, as have differences in erythema, scaling, dyspigmentation, and plaque thickness.”
She and her colleagues evaluated 1,849 participants in phase 3 brodalumab clinical trials, which included ustekinumab-treated patients as a comparison group. Approximately 10% of the AMAGINE-2 and AMAGINE-3 study populations were skin of color participants. The results reported at the meeting were from their ad hoc study of 12-week induction findings from the 52-week clinical trials.
At week 12, 70% of white and 63% of nonwhite participants treated with ustekinumab achieved a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75. At the same time, 86% of white and 88% of nonwhite patients treated with brodalumab achieved the same outcome. Similarly, PASI 90 and PASI 100 scores did not differ significantly between the 1,667 white and 182 skin of color participants.
The two biologics act on different aspects of the molecular pathway involved in psoriasis. Brodalumab (Siliq) specifically blocks the interleukin-17 receptor, whereas other biologics used to treat psoriasis, including ustekinumab (Stelara), an IL-12 and -23 antagonist, target upstream molecules in the inflammatory pathway. Dr. McMichael said, “The superior skin clearance rates seen in patients treated with brodalumab may be due to its target being a receptor as opposed to a ligand.”
Treatment-emergent adverse event rates were similar between the white and nonwhite patients. Treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 58% and 57% of the white brodalumab and ustekinumab groups, respectively, and in 53% and 47% of the nonwhite brodalumab and ustekinumab groups, respectively. Serious adverse events occurred in 1.2% and 1.1% of the white brodalumab and ustekinumab cohorts, respectively, and in 1.7% and 0% of the nonwhite participants, respectively.
The investigators also assessed health-related quality of life and again found outcomes were similar between white and nonwhite participants. For example, among those treated with brodalumab, 80% of white and 78% of nonwhite patients achieved a score improvement of 5 or greater on the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Of those randomized to ustekinumab, 76% of white patients and 73% of nonwhite patients achieved the same outcome.
“We plan to perform a further analysis evaluating the Dr. McMichael said. Additionally, a population-based study to investigate treatment patterns in patients with psoriasis across racial and socioeconomic groups could also shed light on how patients with skin of color manage their psoriasis, she added.
Dr. McMichael’s disclosures include having been an investigator for Allergan, Incyte, and Samumed and a consultant to Aclaris, Galderma, IntraDerm, Johnson & Johnson, Merz, Pfizer, and Procter & Gamble.
SOURCE: McMichael A et al. ODAC 2018.
MIAMI – Skin clearance rates among people with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treated with brodalumab were superior to clearance rates among those treated with ustekinumab in a study that also provided comparisons between white and nonwhite patients.
In the study, presented in a poster at the 2018 Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference, there were no significant difference in overall efficacy, safety, or health-related quality of life outcomes between white and nonwhite patients treated with either biologic.
Additional analyses specific to patients with skin of color can be beneficial, Amy McMichael, MD, one of the investigators, said in an interview. “Patients with skin of color experience differences in psoriasis-related symptoms,” noted Dr. McMichael, chair of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. “Greater degrees of skin involvement have been shown in African-American patients, as have differences in erythema, scaling, dyspigmentation, and plaque thickness.”
She and her colleagues evaluated 1,849 participants in phase 3 brodalumab clinical trials, which included ustekinumab-treated patients as a comparison group. Approximately 10% of the AMAGINE-2 and AMAGINE-3 study populations were skin of color participants. The results reported at the meeting were from their ad hoc study of 12-week induction findings from the 52-week clinical trials.
At week 12, 70% of white and 63% of nonwhite participants treated with ustekinumab achieved a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75. At the same time, 86% of white and 88% of nonwhite patients treated with brodalumab achieved the same outcome. Similarly, PASI 90 and PASI 100 scores did not differ significantly between the 1,667 white and 182 skin of color participants.
The two biologics act on different aspects of the molecular pathway involved in psoriasis. Brodalumab (Siliq) specifically blocks the interleukin-17 receptor, whereas other biologics used to treat psoriasis, including ustekinumab (Stelara), an IL-12 and -23 antagonist, target upstream molecules in the inflammatory pathway. Dr. McMichael said, “The superior skin clearance rates seen in patients treated with brodalumab may be due to its target being a receptor as opposed to a ligand.”
Treatment-emergent adverse event rates were similar between the white and nonwhite patients. Treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 58% and 57% of the white brodalumab and ustekinumab groups, respectively, and in 53% and 47% of the nonwhite brodalumab and ustekinumab groups, respectively. Serious adverse events occurred in 1.2% and 1.1% of the white brodalumab and ustekinumab cohorts, respectively, and in 1.7% and 0% of the nonwhite participants, respectively.
The investigators also assessed health-related quality of life and again found outcomes were similar between white and nonwhite participants. For example, among those treated with brodalumab, 80% of white and 78% of nonwhite patients achieved a score improvement of 5 or greater on the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Of those randomized to ustekinumab, 76% of white patients and 73% of nonwhite patients achieved the same outcome.
“We plan to perform a further analysis evaluating the Dr. McMichael said. Additionally, a population-based study to investigate treatment patterns in patients with psoriasis across racial and socioeconomic groups could also shed light on how patients with skin of color manage their psoriasis, she added.
Dr. McMichael’s disclosures include having been an investigator for Allergan, Incyte, and Samumed and a consultant to Aclaris, Galderma, IntraDerm, Johnson & Johnson, Merz, Pfizer, and Procter & Gamble.
SOURCE: McMichael A et al. ODAC 2018.
MIAMI – Skin clearance rates among people with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treated with brodalumab were superior to clearance rates among those treated with ustekinumab in a study that also provided comparisons between white and nonwhite patients.
In the study, presented in a poster at the 2018 Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference, there were no significant difference in overall efficacy, safety, or health-related quality of life outcomes between white and nonwhite patients treated with either biologic.
Additional analyses specific to patients with skin of color can be beneficial, Amy McMichael, MD, one of the investigators, said in an interview. “Patients with skin of color experience differences in psoriasis-related symptoms,” noted Dr. McMichael, chair of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. “Greater degrees of skin involvement have been shown in African-American patients, as have differences in erythema, scaling, dyspigmentation, and plaque thickness.”
She and her colleagues evaluated 1,849 participants in phase 3 brodalumab clinical trials, which included ustekinumab-treated patients as a comparison group. Approximately 10% of the AMAGINE-2 and AMAGINE-3 study populations were skin of color participants. The results reported at the meeting were from their ad hoc study of 12-week induction findings from the 52-week clinical trials.
At week 12, 70% of white and 63% of nonwhite participants treated with ustekinumab achieved a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75. At the same time, 86% of white and 88% of nonwhite patients treated with brodalumab achieved the same outcome. Similarly, PASI 90 and PASI 100 scores did not differ significantly between the 1,667 white and 182 skin of color participants.
The two biologics act on different aspects of the molecular pathway involved in psoriasis. Brodalumab (Siliq) specifically blocks the interleukin-17 receptor, whereas other biologics used to treat psoriasis, including ustekinumab (Stelara), an IL-12 and -23 antagonist, target upstream molecules in the inflammatory pathway. Dr. McMichael said, “The superior skin clearance rates seen in patients treated with brodalumab may be due to its target being a receptor as opposed to a ligand.”
Treatment-emergent adverse event rates were similar between the white and nonwhite patients. Treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 58% and 57% of the white brodalumab and ustekinumab groups, respectively, and in 53% and 47% of the nonwhite brodalumab and ustekinumab groups, respectively. Serious adverse events occurred in 1.2% and 1.1% of the white brodalumab and ustekinumab cohorts, respectively, and in 1.7% and 0% of the nonwhite participants, respectively.
The investigators also assessed health-related quality of life and again found outcomes were similar between white and nonwhite participants. For example, among those treated with brodalumab, 80% of white and 78% of nonwhite patients achieved a score improvement of 5 or greater on the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Of those randomized to ustekinumab, 76% of white patients and 73% of nonwhite patients achieved the same outcome.
“We plan to perform a further analysis evaluating the Dr. McMichael said. Additionally, a population-based study to investigate treatment patterns in patients with psoriasis across racial and socioeconomic groups could also shed light on how patients with skin of color manage their psoriasis, she added.
Dr. McMichael’s disclosures include having been an investigator for Allergan, Incyte, and Samumed and a consultant to Aclaris, Galderma, IntraDerm, Johnson & Johnson, Merz, Pfizer, and Procter & Gamble.
SOURCE: McMichael A et al. ODAC 2018.
REPORTING FROM ODAC 2018
Key clinical point: Responses to brodalumab and ustekinumab were comparable in nonwhite and white patients with psoriasis.
Major finding: At week 12, 70% of white and 63% of nonwhite participants treated with ustekinumab achieved PASI 75, a nonsignificant difference.
Study details: An ad hoc comparison of week 12 phase 3 study data in 1,849 patients including 182 patients with skin of color.
Disclosures: Dr. McMichael’s disclosures include having been an investigator for Allergan, Incyte, and Samumed; and a consultant to Aclaris, Galderma, IntraDerm, Johnson & Johnson, Merz, Pfizer, and Procter & Gamble.
Source: McMichael A et al. ODAC 2018.
Study highlights need to investigate psoriasis treatment outcomes in skin of color patients
MIAMI – Psoriasis often presents differently in skin of color patients, but an unanswered question remains: Does response to treatment with an agent like a fixed-dose combination foam also differ by ethnicity?
Researchers at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital in New York addressed this question using phase 2 and 3 study data for 1,104 people with psoriasis, about half of whom were randomized to topical treatment with calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate foam 0.005%/0.064% (Enstilar); the rest received a single component or vehicle only. The data were obtained from LEO Pharma, the product’s manufacturer.
“We were very interested in knowing if there was any difference in efficacy between the specific ethnic groups – the skin of color and non–skin of color patients,” said Bridget Kaufman, MD, a dermatopharmacology fellow at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital. “So we went back to look at the data to see if there was any difference in side effects or efficacy between ethnic groups.”
Strength in numbers?
The three randomized, pooled clinical studies included many ethnic groups. However, only 6.5% of participants were black and even fewer were Asian, American Indian, or native Hawaiian, Dr. Kaufman said. “It’s hard to see meaningful differences when you don’t have a substantial skin of color population.”
As a result, no significant associations emerged from the pooled data. “That is the main take-home message of this study: We don’t have a great understanding now of the difference in efficacy between white and nonwhite ethnic groups,” Dr. Kaufman said.
The researchers defined treatment success at 4 weeks as a two-point improvement to “clear” or “almost clear” on the Investigator Global Assessment of psoriasis. Of the adult participants with chronic plaque psoriasis randomized to the combination foam product, 54% of the white patients; 30% of black patients; 69% of Asian patients; and one of the two Hawaiian/Pacific Islander patients achieved treatment success after 4 weeks of topical treatment.
“All subgroups analyzed had a good response to treatment at 4 weeks. Numerically it appears African Americans in particular did not do quite as well, but we can’t [definitively] draw that conclusion,” Dr. Kaufman said in an interview.
More data, please
The study is just the first step in investigating the efficacy of this particular product in diverse ethnic groups, Dr. Kaufman added. “That really emphasizes the importance of studying these medications in skin of color populations in particular.”
More guidance on psoriasis in skin of color patients is available in a published review article by Dr. Kaufman and Andrew F. Alexis, MD, director of the Skin of Color Center at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai West, New York (Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017 Dec 5. doi: 10.1007/s40257-017-0332-7).
Enstilar manufacturer LEO Pharma supplied the clinical data but did not fund the study. Dr. Kaufman had no relevant financial disclosures.
dermnews@frontlinemedcom.com
SOURCE: Kaufman B et al. ODAC 2018
MIAMI – Psoriasis often presents differently in skin of color patients, but an unanswered question remains: Does response to treatment with an agent like a fixed-dose combination foam also differ by ethnicity?
Researchers at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital in New York addressed this question using phase 2 and 3 study data for 1,104 people with psoriasis, about half of whom were randomized to topical treatment with calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate foam 0.005%/0.064% (Enstilar); the rest received a single component or vehicle only. The data were obtained from LEO Pharma, the product’s manufacturer.
“We were very interested in knowing if there was any difference in efficacy between the specific ethnic groups – the skin of color and non–skin of color patients,” said Bridget Kaufman, MD, a dermatopharmacology fellow at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital. “So we went back to look at the data to see if there was any difference in side effects or efficacy between ethnic groups.”
Strength in numbers?
The three randomized, pooled clinical studies included many ethnic groups. However, only 6.5% of participants were black and even fewer were Asian, American Indian, or native Hawaiian, Dr. Kaufman said. “It’s hard to see meaningful differences when you don’t have a substantial skin of color population.”
As a result, no significant associations emerged from the pooled data. “That is the main take-home message of this study: We don’t have a great understanding now of the difference in efficacy between white and nonwhite ethnic groups,” Dr. Kaufman said.
The researchers defined treatment success at 4 weeks as a two-point improvement to “clear” or “almost clear” on the Investigator Global Assessment of psoriasis. Of the adult participants with chronic plaque psoriasis randomized to the combination foam product, 54% of the white patients; 30% of black patients; 69% of Asian patients; and one of the two Hawaiian/Pacific Islander patients achieved treatment success after 4 weeks of topical treatment.
“All subgroups analyzed had a good response to treatment at 4 weeks. Numerically it appears African Americans in particular did not do quite as well, but we can’t [definitively] draw that conclusion,” Dr. Kaufman said in an interview.
More data, please
The study is just the first step in investigating the efficacy of this particular product in diverse ethnic groups, Dr. Kaufman added. “That really emphasizes the importance of studying these medications in skin of color populations in particular.”
More guidance on psoriasis in skin of color patients is available in a published review article by Dr. Kaufman and Andrew F. Alexis, MD, director of the Skin of Color Center at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai West, New York (Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017 Dec 5. doi: 10.1007/s40257-017-0332-7).
Enstilar manufacturer LEO Pharma supplied the clinical data but did not fund the study. Dr. Kaufman had no relevant financial disclosures.
dermnews@frontlinemedcom.com
SOURCE: Kaufman B et al. ODAC 2018
MIAMI – Psoriasis often presents differently in skin of color patients, but an unanswered question remains: Does response to treatment with an agent like a fixed-dose combination foam also differ by ethnicity?
Researchers at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital in New York addressed this question using phase 2 and 3 study data for 1,104 people with psoriasis, about half of whom were randomized to topical treatment with calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate foam 0.005%/0.064% (Enstilar); the rest received a single component or vehicle only. The data were obtained from LEO Pharma, the product’s manufacturer.
“We were very interested in knowing if there was any difference in efficacy between the specific ethnic groups – the skin of color and non–skin of color patients,” said Bridget Kaufman, MD, a dermatopharmacology fellow at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital. “So we went back to look at the data to see if there was any difference in side effects or efficacy between ethnic groups.”
Strength in numbers?
The three randomized, pooled clinical studies included many ethnic groups. However, only 6.5% of participants were black and even fewer were Asian, American Indian, or native Hawaiian, Dr. Kaufman said. “It’s hard to see meaningful differences when you don’t have a substantial skin of color population.”
As a result, no significant associations emerged from the pooled data. “That is the main take-home message of this study: We don’t have a great understanding now of the difference in efficacy between white and nonwhite ethnic groups,” Dr. Kaufman said.
The researchers defined treatment success at 4 weeks as a two-point improvement to “clear” or “almost clear” on the Investigator Global Assessment of psoriasis. Of the adult participants with chronic plaque psoriasis randomized to the combination foam product, 54% of the white patients; 30% of black patients; 69% of Asian patients; and one of the two Hawaiian/Pacific Islander patients achieved treatment success after 4 weeks of topical treatment.
“All subgroups analyzed had a good response to treatment at 4 weeks. Numerically it appears African Americans in particular did not do quite as well, but we can’t [definitively] draw that conclusion,” Dr. Kaufman said in an interview.
More data, please
The study is just the first step in investigating the efficacy of this particular product in diverse ethnic groups, Dr. Kaufman added. “That really emphasizes the importance of studying these medications in skin of color populations in particular.”
More guidance on psoriasis in skin of color patients is available in a published review article by Dr. Kaufman and Andrew F. Alexis, MD, director of the Skin of Color Center at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai West, New York (Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017 Dec 5. doi: 10.1007/s40257-017-0332-7).
Enstilar manufacturer LEO Pharma supplied the clinical data but did not fund the study. Dr. Kaufman had no relevant financial disclosures.
dermnews@frontlinemedcom.com
SOURCE: Kaufman B et al. ODAC 2018
REPORTING FROM ODAC 2018
Key clinical point: There were no significant differences in response to calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate foam in phase 2 and 3 trials, possibly because of small percentages of skin of color participants in these studies.
Major finding: Treatment success rates at 4 weeks were 30% among black patients, 54% among white patients, and 69% among Asian patients, but not enough skin of color patients were enrolled for differences to reach statistical significance.
Study details: A retrospective analysis of pooled phase 2 and phase 3 studies with 1,104 participants with psoriasis.
Disclosures: LEO Pharma supplied the clinical data but did not fund the study. Dr. Kaufman had no relevant financial disclosures.
Source: Kaufman B et al. ODAC 2018.
Set realistic expectations prior to perioral rejuvenation procedures
MIAMI – The success of perioral rejuvenation depends in large part on setting realistic expectations. But there are also tips and tricks to individualizing the technique for each patient that can lead to better outcomes and greater satisfaction – whether patients receive injections into the fine lines above the lip, full-field erbium laser resurfacing, neuromodulator treatment, or a combination approach, according to Joel L. Cohen, MD.
When a patient presents with major lines in the perioral area, an “orange peel” texture, and/or elastotic changes, laser resurfacing can be an appropriate option. “Full field erbium laser resurfacing can give patients a nice improvement of upper lip lines and even a nice contraction of oral commissure,” Dr. Cohen said at the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference.
Although each treatment is individualized to the patient, “I tend to do full field erbium resurfacing around the mouth and eyes, and fractional ablative resurfacing around the rest of the face,” said Dr. Cohen, an aesthetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in private practice in metropolitan Denver.
More downtime is associated with laser resurfacing compared with fillers or neuromodulator injections, but long-term patient satisfaction, even with improvement in quality of life for some patients (who become less anxious about these lines and more self-confident), can make this approach worthwhile. During his presentation, Dr. Cohen showed photos of many of his treated patients, including one woman whose grandchildren he said had been commenting about the “orange peel texture of her upper lip,” until she completed the resurfacing treatment.
Keep expectations realistic
Dr. Cohen recommended counseling patients about the potential benefits – and the caveats – associated with full-field erbium heavier resurfacing. “Make sure people understand they will look terrible for several days after heavy resurfacing, usually taking about 10-12 days to re-epithelialize,” he said. “We need to tell patients that the perioral area typically manifests more lines than other areas, so we need treat this area differently than just ablative fractional resurfacing in many cases.”
He explained that with heavier resurfacing procedures, it helps to show patients what is expected over the days to weeks in the healing process. They need to understand and see photos that show that the full-field erbium areas will have a yellow fibrinous healing response for the first week or so, which looks very different from the fractional ablative-treated areas (which are more typically red, weepy, and swollen).
He encourages these patients to come back a few days after the procedure to check their healing and review wound-care instructions, especially for patients who have deeper full-field perioral erbium resurfacing (those who are treated with 450-700 microns). Another tip he provided is to have these postresurfacing patients enter/exit through a separate entrance and also sit in a separate cosmetic waiting room at off-hours.
Re-epithelialization generally takes about 10-12 days for most people, with a maximal improvement at approximately 3 months, Dr. Cohen said. “Some patients can see not only significant improvement of upper lip lines, but often a nice contraction of the oral commissure even before fillers are performed to buttress the marionette area and oral commissure,” he said.
With full-field ablative resurfacing in specific areas, rather than simply fractional ablative resurfacing, it is also important to educate patients that some postinflammatory erythema is expected, which, in some cases, may persist for a few months. “In my experience, topical vasoconstrictors don’t seem to help minimize prolonged redness in the full-field erbium areas, but potent topical steroids can be beneficial,” Dr. Cohen said.
More tips for success
Injected local anesthesia is warranted prior to heavier laser resurfacing to keep patients as comfortable as possible. An infraorbital block with an added submucosal/sulcus block with plain lidocaine can be a good approach, he noted. Different perioral and facial areas have different degrees of lines, requiring different laser settings. He prefers to use plain lidocaine perioral blocks, “so that I can theoretically best see the endpoint pinpoint bleeding,” he said, adding that “significant pinpoint bleeding is a good place to stop.”
Typically, he uses a neuromodulator a week or two before full-field perioral erbium resurfacing. “I choose not to give a neuromodulator on the same day as I am concerned about swelling or manipulation of the skin causing unwanted spread to adjacent musculature,” Dr. Cohen said.
Another tip is to take photos with more than one device. “Standardized photos may lose detail of etched lines; we take both iPad and standardized camera system photos,” he said, adding that it is important that clinic staff are proficient at taking proper before-and-after photos, making sure, for example, that the patient does not have confounding makeup or lipstick on for photos, and patient positioning is consistent.
He said it is imperative to emphasize the importance of diligent sun protection for several months after the laser procedure. “Every patient reassures us they use sunscreen, but we often don’t know what sunscreen they are using or how frequently they are using it,” Dr. Cohen said. “If they don’t follow our specific instructions to use a physical block sunscreen, they will significantly increase their risk of developing postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. This caveat applies all year round, and isn’t just for those that go to the beach or play golf, but is also especially important for those patients that ski or hike at higher altitudes.”
Depending on the degree of etched-in lines in the perioral area, one perioral full-field laser resurfacing treatment is generally sufficient for most patients to see significant improvement. For those with more severe etched lines and/or bigger goals for improvement, additional treatments can be performed – but he generally waits about 3 months to see the overall effect of the initial treatment session.
If patients have just a few discrete etched-lines on each side of the upper lip, fillers can be helpful. But, the number and caliber of fine lines on the cutaneous lip limit how much a dermatologist can realistically treat. “So for people with many, many etched-in lines on the cutaneous lip, I explain that fillers are not the right tool for the job – and that they need heavier laser resurfacing.” And those patients really concerned about downtime need to understand that the bruising that can occur with fillers for several days can lead to some degree of social downtime as well.
Options to treat perioral lines not ‘etched in’
Sometimes younger patients, those in their late 20s to early 40s, present with concerns about their perioral appearance. Although they do not have lines at rest yet, they can be unhappy with the muscle columns that appear above their lips with animation that begin to cause lines at rest imprinted in the skin. And many of these women complain that their lipstick bleeds into this area,” Dr. Cohen said. “These patients without etched lines can be treated with a neuromodulator alone to soften the mechanical action of the orbicularis oris muscle,” he pointed out.
Dr. Cohen disclosed having participated in clinical trials and/or having served as a consultant for Merz, Allergan, Galderma, Suneva, Sciton, and Lutronic.
MIAMI – The success of perioral rejuvenation depends in large part on setting realistic expectations. But there are also tips and tricks to individualizing the technique for each patient that can lead to better outcomes and greater satisfaction – whether patients receive injections into the fine lines above the lip, full-field erbium laser resurfacing, neuromodulator treatment, or a combination approach, according to Joel L. Cohen, MD.
When a patient presents with major lines in the perioral area, an “orange peel” texture, and/or elastotic changes, laser resurfacing can be an appropriate option. “Full field erbium laser resurfacing can give patients a nice improvement of upper lip lines and even a nice contraction of oral commissure,” Dr. Cohen said at the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference.
Although each treatment is individualized to the patient, “I tend to do full field erbium resurfacing around the mouth and eyes, and fractional ablative resurfacing around the rest of the face,” said Dr. Cohen, an aesthetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in private practice in metropolitan Denver.
More downtime is associated with laser resurfacing compared with fillers or neuromodulator injections, but long-term patient satisfaction, even with improvement in quality of life for some patients (who become less anxious about these lines and more self-confident), can make this approach worthwhile. During his presentation, Dr. Cohen showed photos of many of his treated patients, including one woman whose grandchildren he said had been commenting about the “orange peel texture of her upper lip,” until she completed the resurfacing treatment.
Keep expectations realistic
Dr. Cohen recommended counseling patients about the potential benefits – and the caveats – associated with full-field erbium heavier resurfacing. “Make sure people understand they will look terrible for several days after heavy resurfacing, usually taking about 10-12 days to re-epithelialize,” he said. “We need to tell patients that the perioral area typically manifests more lines than other areas, so we need treat this area differently than just ablative fractional resurfacing in many cases.”
He explained that with heavier resurfacing procedures, it helps to show patients what is expected over the days to weeks in the healing process. They need to understand and see photos that show that the full-field erbium areas will have a yellow fibrinous healing response for the first week or so, which looks very different from the fractional ablative-treated areas (which are more typically red, weepy, and swollen).
He encourages these patients to come back a few days after the procedure to check their healing and review wound-care instructions, especially for patients who have deeper full-field perioral erbium resurfacing (those who are treated with 450-700 microns). Another tip he provided is to have these postresurfacing patients enter/exit through a separate entrance and also sit in a separate cosmetic waiting room at off-hours.
Re-epithelialization generally takes about 10-12 days for most people, with a maximal improvement at approximately 3 months, Dr. Cohen said. “Some patients can see not only significant improvement of upper lip lines, but often a nice contraction of the oral commissure even before fillers are performed to buttress the marionette area and oral commissure,” he said.
With full-field ablative resurfacing in specific areas, rather than simply fractional ablative resurfacing, it is also important to educate patients that some postinflammatory erythema is expected, which, in some cases, may persist for a few months. “In my experience, topical vasoconstrictors don’t seem to help minimize prolonged redness in the full-field erbium areas, but potent topical steroids can be beneficial,” Dr. Cohen said.
More tips for success
Injected local anesthesia is warranted prior to heavier laser resurfacing to keep patients as comfortable as possible. An infraorbital block with an added submucosal/sulcus block with plain lidocaine can be a good approach, he noted. Different perioral and facial areas have different degrees of lines, requiring different laser settings. He prefers to use plain lidocaine perioral blocks, “so that I can theoretically best see the endpoint pinpoint bleeding,” he said, adding that “significant pinpoint bleeding is a good place to stop.”
Typically, he uses a neuromodulator a week or two before full-field perioral erbium resurfacing. “I choose not to give a neuromodulator on the same day as I am concerned about swelling or manipulation of the skin causing unwanted spread to adjacent musculature,” Dr. Cohen said.
Another tip is to take photos with more than one device. “Standardized photos may lose detail of etched lines; we take both iPad and standardized camera system photos,” he said, adding that it is important that clinic staff are proficient at taking proper before-and-after photos, making sure, for example, that the patient does not have confounding makeup or lipstick on for photos, and patient positioning is consistent.
He said it is imperative to emphasize the importance of diligent sun protection for several months after the laser procedure. “Every patient reassures us they use sunscreen, but we often don’t know what sunscreen they are using or how frequently they are using it,” Dr. Cohen said. “If they don’t follow our specific instructions to use a physical block sunscreen, they will significantly increase their risk of developing postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. This caveat applies all year round, and isn’t just for those that go to the beach or play golf, but is also especially important for those patients that ski or hike at higher altitudes.”
Depending on the degree of etched-in lines in the perioral area, one perioral full-field laser resurfacing treatment is generally sufficient for most patients to see significant improvement. For those with more severe etched lines and/or bigger goals for improvement, additional treatments can be performed – but he generally waits about 3 months to see the overall effect of the initial treatment session.
If patients have just a few discrete etched-lines on each side of the upper lip, fillers can be helpful. But, the number and caliber of fine lines on the cutaneous lip limit how much a dermatologist can realistically treat. “So for people with many, many etched-in lines on the cutaneous lip, I explain that fillers are not the right tool for the job – and that they need heavier laser resurfacing.” And those patients really concerned about downtime need to understand that the bruising that can occur with fillers for several days can lead to some degree of social downtime as well.
Options to treat perioral lines not ‘etched in’
Sometimes younger patients, those in their late 20s to early 40s, present with concerns about their perioral appearance. Although they do not have lines at rest yet, they can be unhappy with the muscle columns that appear above their lips with animation that begin to cause lines at rest imprinted in the skin. And many of these women complain that their lipstick bleeds into this area,” Dr. Cohen said. “These patients without etched lines can be treated with a neuromodulator alone to soften the mechanical action of the orbicularis oris muscle,” he pointed out.
Dr. Cohen disclosed having participated in clinical trials and/or having served as a consultant for Merz, Allergan, Galderma, Suneva, Sciton, and Lutronic.
MIAMI – The success of perioral rejuvenation depends in large part on setting realistic expectations. But there are also tips and tricks to individualizing the technique for each patient that can lead to better outcomes and greater satisfaction – whether patients receive injections into the fine lines above the lip, full-field erbium laser resurfacing, neuromodulator treatment, or a combination approach, according to Joel L. Cohen, MD.
When a patient presents with major lines in the perioral area, an “orange peel” texture, and/or elastotic changes, laser resurfacing can be an appropriate option. “Full field erbium laser resurfacing can give patients a nice improvement of upper lip lines and even a nice contraction of oral commissure,” Dr. Cohen said at the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference.
Although each treatment is individualized to the patient, “I tend to do full field erbium resurfacing around the mouth and eyes, and fractional ablative resurfacing around the rest of the face,” said Dr. Cohen, an aesthetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in private practice in metropolitan Denver.
More downtime is associated with laser resurfacing compared with fillers or neuromodulator injections, but long-term patient satisfaction, even with improvement in quality of life for some patients (who become less anxious about these lines and more self-confident), can make this approach worthwhile. During his presentation, Dr. Cohen showed photos of many of his treated patients, including one woman whose grandchildren he said had been commenting about the “orange peel texture of her upper lip,” until she completed the resurfacing treatment.
Keep expectations realistic
Dr. Cohen recommended counseling patients about the potential benefits – and the caveats – associated with full-field erbium heavier resurfacing. “Make sure people understand they will look terrible for several days after heavy resurfacing, usually taking about 10-12 days to re-epithelialize,” he said. “We need to tell patients that the perioral area typically manifests more lines than other areas, so we need treat this area differently than just ablative fractional resurfacing in many cases.”
He explained that with heavier resurfacing procedures, it helps to show patients what is expected over the days to weeks in the healing process. They need to understand and see photos that show that the full-field erbium areas will have a yellow fibrinous healing response for the first week or so, which looks very different from the fractional ablative-treated areas (which are more typically red, weepy, and swollen).
He encourages these patients to come back a few days after the procedure to check their healing and review wound-care instructions, especially for patients who have deeper full-field perioral erbium resurfacing (those who are treated with 450-700 microns). Another tip he provided is to have these postresurfacing patients enter/exit through a separate entrance and also sit in a separate cosmetic waiting room at off-hours.
Re-epithelialization generally takes about 10-12 days for most people, with a maximal improvement at approximately 3 months, Dr. Cohen said. “Some patients can see not only significant improvement of upper lip lines, but often a nice contraction of the oral commissure even before fillers are performed to buttress the marionette area and oral commissure,” he said.
With full-field ablative resurfacing in specific areas, rather than simply fractional ablative resurfacing, it is also important to educate patients that some postinflammatory erythema is expected, which, in some cases, may persist for a few months. “In my experience, topical vasoconstrictors don’t seem to help minimize prolonged redness in the full-field erbium areas, but potent topical steroids can be beneficial,” Dr. Cohen said.
More tips for success
Injected local anesthesia is warranted prior to heavier laser resurfacing to keep patients as comfortable as possible. An infraorbital block with an added submucosal/sulcus block with plain lidocaine can be a good approach, he noted. Different perioral and facial areas have different degrees of lines, requiring different laser settings. He prefers to use plain lidocaine perioral blocks, “so that I can theoretically best see the endpoint pinpoint bleeding,” he said, adding that “significant pinpoint bleeding is a good place to stop.”
Typically, he uses a neuromodulator a week or two before full-field perioral erbium resurfacing. “I choose not to give a neuromodulator on the same day as I am concerned about swelling or manipulation of the skin causing unwanted spread to adjacent musculature,” Dr. Cohen said.
Another tip is to take photos with more than one device. “Standardized photos may lose detail of etched lines; we take both iPad and standardized camera system photos,” he said, adding that it is important that clinic staff are proficient at taking proper before-and-after photos, making sure, for example, that the patient does not have confounding makeup or lipstick on for photos, and patient positioning is consistent.
He said it is imperative to emphasize the importance of diligent sun protection for several months after the laser procedure. “Every patient reassures us they use sunscreen, but we often don’t know what sunscreen they are using or how frequently they are using it,” Dr. Cohen said. “If they don’t follow our specific instructions to use a physical block sunscreen, they will significantly increase their risk of developing postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. This caveat applies all year round, and isn’t just for those that go to the beach or play golf, but is also especially important for those patients that ski or hike at higher altitudes.”
Depending on the degree of etched-in lines in the perioral area, one perioral full-field laser resurfacing treatment is generally sufficient for most patients to see significant improvement. For those with more severe etched lines and/or bigger goals for improvement, additional treatments can be performed – but he generally waits about 3 months to see the overall effect of the initial treatment session.
If patients have just a few discrete etched-lines on each side of the upper lip, fillers can be helpful. But, the number and caliber of fine lines on the cutaneous lip limit how much a dermatologist can realistically treat. “So for people with many, many etched-in lines on the cutaneous lip, I explain that fillers are not the right tool for the job – and that they need heavier laser resurfacing.” And those patients really concerned about downtime need to understand that the bruising that can occur with fillers for several days can lead to some degree of social downtime as well.
Options to treat perioral lines not ‘etched in’
Sometimes younger patients, those in their late 20s to early 40s, present with concerns about their perioral appearance. Although they do not have lines at rest yet, they can be unhappy with the muscle columns that appear above their lips with animation that begin to cause lines at rest imprinted in the skin. And many of these women complain that their lipstick bleeds into this area,” Dr. Cohen said. “These patients without etched lines can be treated with a neuromodulator alone to soften the mechanical action of the orbicularis oris muscle,” he pointed out.
Dr. Cohen disclosed having participated in clinical trials and/or having served as a consultant for Merz, Allergan, Galderma, Suneva, Sciton, and Lutronic.
EXPERT ANALYSIS FROM ODAC 2018
Be alert for BAP1 mutations in hereditary melanomas
MIAMI – Although rare, patients who present with one or more skin cancers characteristic of those associated with loss of the BAP1 tumor suppressor protein may be at elevated risk for more aggressive uveal melanomas and other cancers such as kidney cancer and mesothelioma. For this reason, dermatologists who recognize the lesions and telltale pattern of this inherited mutation within families can do a great service, encouraging education, genetic counseling, and referral of patients to a nearby cancer center, according to Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD.
“ Dr. Tsao said at the 2018 Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference.
The BAP1-associated skin lesions can emerge when patients are relatively young, even as teenagers. The melanoma and renal cell cancers also can have an early onset, said Dr. Tsao, director of the melanoma genetics program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. The skin lesion itself can be a tipoff for a BAP1 germline mutation. In general, they are small, dome shaped – not flat like a superficial basal cell – rarely pigmented and appear “orangey translucent.” Dr. Tsao added: “When you start seeing them, you’ll recognize them. However, to be sure, you’re going to have to biopsy to know what is going on.”
In one patient he described, the pattern of malignancies in the patient’s family was a hint that she had a BAP1 mutation, Dr. Tsao said. The proband had melanoma starting at age 31 years, a squamous cell carcinoma at 35 years, and basal cell carcinoma at age 40 years. “She had nine ‘nevoid melanomas’ over the years. Nevoid melanomas are rare, and with nine in a row, you know something odd is going on.” Dr. Tsao and his team performed a series of sentinel lymph node biopsies that ruled out metastasis. “What is also interesting is the father had ocular melanoma, which is what got us to thinking about BAP1 mutations in this family.” A sister who developed melanoma and a brother who also was diagnosed with melanoma plus kidney cancer at age 45 years were further clues to the germline mutation.
No longer ‘condemned proteins’
Under normal circumstances, BAP1 is a tumor suppressor protein involved in cellular process called “ubiquitination.” Often, ubiquitination serves to identify proteins “condemned” for destruction by the proteasome system. The BAP1 protein acts through a molecular relay and removes ubiquitin polypeptide groups on the protein. “In the absence of BAP1, proteins often linger longer because they accumulate ubiquitin groups, or alternatively, the protein’s function is somehow altered by mechanisms we don’t quite understand yet,” Dr. Tsao explained.
Once a dermatologist suspects a BAP1 mutation–associated cancer, they can order a BAP1 nuclear stain to confirm diagnosis. Formal documentation of a germline mutation, however, requires genetic testing of blood DNA.
A family history lesson
Ask patients not only about history of melanoma in their family, including if any close relative was diagnosed with eye melanoma, Dr. Tsao suggested. “We had an opportunity to look at cutaneous and ocular melanoma families. Overall, if your family has an ocular melanoma along with cutaneous melanoma, the risk of being a BAP1 mutation–bearing family is greater.” In addition, he and his colleagues did a case control study with Ivana K. Kim, MD, at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, and found people with metastatic ocular melanoma were more likely to have BAP1 mutations, compared with those with nonmetastatic ocular melanoma.
“The fear is, of course, patient who are BAP1 mutation carriers might be predisposed to more lethal variants of uveal melanoma.”
Although taking a family history is essential, some patients may be unfamiliar with mesothelioma. “So ask about any unusual lung cancers or eye cancers,” Dr. Tsao suggested. “And if it looks like there is an aggregation of rare tumors, get them to a nearby cancer center [for further work-up]. Mesothelioma is difficult to treat and a horrible disease,” he added. “So if there is any chance you can [catch] the mesothelioma early, that’s good.”
He also cautioned against over interpretation of patient reports about family malignancies, in part because lung and breast cancers are relatively common. “Sometimes, when you see a family with lung or breast cancers, it could just be a chance association since these are quite common in the general population.” In other words, determining if a lung cancer in a family with melanoma is an association beyond chance can take some “pretty large numbers to prove.”
In contrast, “the number of kidney cancers among BAP1 families I do believe are out of proportion with normal population expectations,” Dr. Tsao added.
Follow-up and genetic counseling
There is no standard protocol for follow-up once a patient is identified with a BAP1 mutation. “I refer them for uveal, kidney, and/or lung cancer evaluation and see them back two to four times a year for skin checks.”
A meeting attendee suggested that management of a patient with melanoma might not differ based on genetic-testing results. “I agree with you that I don’t need to know the genetic status within these families to help with their cutaneous melanomas,” Dr. Tsao replied. “But the question becomes, are there other internal malignancies you’re not screening for appropriately?”
Another attendee asked about genetic counseling. “I encourage genetic counseling since dermatologists often don’t have time to take at detailed family history of all cancers and ages of onset,” Dr. Tsao said. “Genetic counselors can help sort out the strength of the genetic pedigree in a family. My residents usually ask if someone has a history of melanoma in their family, and that’s it. But there is a big difference between having a cousin with melanoma and three brothers with melanoma.”
MIAMI – Although rare, patients who present with one or more skin cancers characteristic of those associated with loss of the BAP1 tumor suppressor protein may be at elevated risk for more aggressive uveal melanomas and other cancers such as kidney cancer and mesothelioma. For this reason, dermatologists who recognize the lesions and telltale pattern of this inherited mutation within families can do a great service, encouraging education, genetic counseling, and referral of patients to a nearby cancer center, according to Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD.
“ Dr. Tsao said at the 2018 Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference.
The BAP1-associated skin lesions can emerge when patients are relatively young, even as teenagers. The melanoma and renal cell cancers also can have an early onset, said Dr. Tsao, director of the melanoma genetics program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. The skin lesion itself can be a tipoff for a BAP1 germline mutation. In general, they are small, dome shaped – not flat like a superficial basal cell – rarely pigmented and appear “orangey translucent.” Dr. Tsao added: “When you start seeing them, you’ll recognize them. However, to be sure, you’re going to have to biopsy to know what is going on.”
In one patient he described, the pattern of malignancies in the patient’s family was a hint that she had a BAP1 mutation, Dr. Tsao said. The proband had melanoma starting at age 31 years, a squamous cell carcinoma at 35 years, and basal cell carcinoma at age 40 years. “She had nine ‘nevoid melanomas’ over the years. Nevoid melanomas are rare, and with nine in a row, you know something odd is going on.” Dr. Tsao and his team performed a series of sentinel lymph node biopsies that ruled out metastasis. “What is also interesting is the father had ocular melanoma, which is what got us to thinking about BAP1 mutations in this family.” A sister who developed melanoma and a brother who also was diagnosed with melanoma plus kidney cancer at age 45 years were further clues to the germline mutation.
No longer ‘condemned proteins’
Under normal circumstances, BAP1 is a tumor suppressor protein involved in cellular process called “ubiquitination.” Often, ubiquitination serves to identify proteins “condemned” for destruction by the proteasome system. The BAP1 protein acts through a molecular relay and removes ubiquitin polypeptide groups on the protein. “In the absence of BAP1, proteins often linger longer because they accumulate ubiquitin groups, or alternatively, the protein’s function is somehow altered by mechanisms we don’t quite understand yet,” Dr. Tsao explained.
Once a dermatologist suspects a BAP1 mutation–associated cancer, they can order a BAP1 nuclear stain to confirm diagnosis. Formal documentation of a germline mutation, however, requires genetic testing of blood DNA.
A family history lesson
Ask patients not only about history of melanoma in their family, including if any close relative was diagnosed with eye melanoma, Dr. Tsao suggested. “We had an opportunity to look at cutaneous and ocular melanoma families. Overall, if your family has an ocular melanoma along with cutaneous melanoma, the risk of being a BAP1 mutation–bearing family is greater.” In addition, he and his colleagues did a case control study with Ivana K. Kim, MD, at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, and found people with metastatic ocular melanoma were more likely to have BAP1 mutations, compared with those with nonmetastatic ocular melanoma.
“The fear is, of course, patient who are BAP1 mutation carriers might be predisposed to more lethal variants of uveal melanoma.”
Although taking a family history is essential, some patients may be unfamiliar with mesothelioma. “So ask about any unusual lung cancers or eye cancers,” Dr. Tsao suggested. “And if it looks like there is an aggregation of rare tumors, get them to a nearby cancer center [for further work-up]. Mesothelioma is difficult to treat and a horrible disease,” he added. “So if there is any chance you can [catch] the mesothelioma early, that’s good.”
He also cautioned against over interpretation of patient reports about family malignancies, in part because lung and breast cancers are relatively common. “Sometimes, when you see a family with lung or breast cancers, it could just be a chance association since these are quite common in the general population.” In other words, determining if a lung cancer in a family with melanoma is an association beyond chance can take some “pretty large numbers to prove.”
In contrast, “the number of kidney cancers among BAP1 families I do believe are out of proportion with normal population expectations,” Dr. Tsao added.
Follow-up and genetic counseling
There is no standard protocol for follow-up once a patient is identified with a BAP1 mutation. “I refer them for uveal, kidney, and/or lung cancer evaluation and see them back two to four times a year for skin checks.”
A meeting attendee suggested that management of a patient with melanoma might not differ based on genetic-testing results. “I agree with you that I don’t need to know the genetic status within these families to help with their cutaneous melanomas,” Dr. Tsao replied. “But the question becomes, are there other internal malignancies you’re not screening for appropriately?”
Another attendee asked about genetic counseling. “I encourage genetic counseling since dermatologists often don’t have time to take at detailed family history of all cancers and ages of onset,” Dr. Tsao said. “Genetic counselors can help sort out the strength of the genetic pedigree in a family. My residents usually ask if someone has a history of melanoma in their family, and that’s it. But there is a big difference between having a cousin with melanoma and three brothers with melanoma.”
MIAMI – Although rare, patients who present with one or more skin cancers characteristic of those associated with loss of the BAP1 tumor suppressor protein may be at elevated risk for more aggressive uveal melanomas and other cancers such as kidney cancer and mesothelioma. For this reason, dermatologists who recognize the lesions and telltale pattern of this inherited mutation within families can do a great service, encouraging education, genetic counseling, and referral of patients to a nearby cancer center, according to Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD.
“ Dr. Tsao said at the 2018 Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference.
The BAP1-associated skin lesions can emerge when patients are relatively young, even as teenagers. The melanoma and renal cell cancers also can have an early onset, said Dr. Tsao, director of the melanoma genetics program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. The skin lesion itself can be a tipoff for a BAP1 germline mutation. In general, they are small, dome shaped – not flat like a superficial basal cell – rarely pigmented and appear “orangey translucent.” Dr. Tsao added: “When you start seeing them, you’ll recognize them. However, to be sure, you’re going to have to biopsy to know what is going on.”
In one patient he described, the pattern of malignancies in the patient’s family was a hint that she had a BAP1 mutation, Dr. Tsao said. The proband had melanoma starting at age 31 years, a squamous cell carcinoma at 35 years, and basal cell carcinoma at age 40 years. “She had nine ‘nevoid melanomas’ over the years. Nevoid melanomas are rare, and with nine in a row, you know something odd is going on.” Dr. Tsao and his team performed a series of sentinel lymph node biopsies that ruled out metastasis. “What is also interesting is the father had ocular melanoma, which is what got us to thinking about BAP1 mutations in this family.” A sister who developed melanoma and a brother who also was diagnosed with melanoma plus kidney cancer at age 45 years were further clues to the germline mutation.
No longer ‘condemned proteins’
Under normal circumstances, BAP1 is a tumor suppressor protein involved in cellular process called “ubiquitination.” Often, ubiquitination serves to identify proteins “condemned” for destruction by the proteasome system. The BAP1 protein acts through a molecular relay and removes ubiquitin polypeptide groups on the protein. “In the absence of BAP1, proteins often linger longer because they accumulate ubiquitin groups, or alternatively, the protein’s function is somehow altered by mechanisms we don’t quite understand yet,” Dr. Tsao explained.
Once a dermatologist suspects a BAP1 mutation–associated cancer, they can order a BAP1 nuclear stain to confirm diagnosis. Formal documentation of a germline mutation, however, requires genetic testing of blood DNA.
A family history lesson
Ask patients not only about history of melanoma in their family, including if any close relative was diagnosed with eye melanoma, Dr. Tsao suggested. “We had an opportunity to look at cutaneous and ocular melanoma families. Overall, if your family has an ocular melanoma along with cutaneous melanoma, the risk of being a BAP1 mutation–bearing family is greater.” In addition, he and his colleagues did a case control study with Ivana K. Kim, MD, at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, and found people with metastatic ocular melanoma were more likely to have BAP1 mutations, compared with those with nonmetastatic ocular melanoma.
“The fear is, of course, patient who are BAP1 mutation carriers might be predisposed to more lethal variants of uveal melanoma.”
Although taking a family history is essential, some patients may be unfamiliar with mesothelioma. “So ask about any unusual lung cancers or eye cancers,” Dr. Tsao suggested. “And if it looks like there is an aggregation of rare tumors, get them to a nearby cancer center [for further work-up]. Mesothelioma is difficult to treat and a horrible disease,” he added. “So if there is any chance you can [catch] the mesothelioma early, that’s good.”
He also cautioned against over interpretation of patient reports about family malignancies, in part because lung and breast cancers are relatively common. “Sometimes, when you see a family with lung or breast cancers, it could just be a chance association since these are quite common in the general population.” In other words, determining if a lung cancer in a family with melanoma is an association beyond chance can take some “pretty large numbers to prove.”
In contrast, “the number of kidney cancers among BAP1 families I do believe are out of proportion with normal population expectations,” Dr. Tsao added.
Follow-up and genetic counseling
There is no standard protocol for follow-up once a patient is identified with a BAP1 mutation. “I refer them for uveal, kidney, and/or lung cancer evaluation and see them back two to four times a year for skin checks.”
A meeting attendee suggested that management of a patient with melanoma might not differ based on genetic-testing results. “I agree with you that I don’t need to know the genetic status within these families to help with their cutaneous melanomas,” Dr. Tsao replied. “But the question becomes, are there other internal malignancies you’re not screening for appropriately?”
Another attendee asked about genetic counseling. “I encourage genetic counseling since dermatologists often don’t have time to take at detailed family history of all cancers and ages of onset,” Dr. Tsao said. “Genetic counselors can help sort out the strength of the genetic pedigree in a family. My residents usually ask if someone has a history of melanoma in their family, and that’s it. But there is a big difference between having a cousin with melanoma and three brothers with melanoma.”
REPORTING FROM ODAC 2018
Want to expand aesthetic dermatology business? Appeal to men
MIAMI – Bringing more men into an aesthetic dermatology practice can expand the patient population, increase business revenue, and pay long-term dividends in terms of patient loyalty and repeat business.
But men aren’t like women when it comes to aesthetic concerns, so the strategies used to market your aesthetic offerings to female patients might miss the mark with men, cautioned Terrence Keaney, MD.
“I spend more time explaining therapies and what might be best for them,” he noted. “I explain the scientific rationale and treatment mechanisms so they will be more comfortable.” Making sure they understand is important, because “men often nod and don’t ask questions.”
The extra effort up front can pay off.
“The beauty of men is when they get a great result and are happy with you, men are very physician loyal. Once they get a great result, they’re yours forever,” said Dr. Keaney, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at George Washington University, Washington, and a private practice dermatologist in Arlington, Va.
Cost is the leading deterrent for men to embrace aesthetic procedures, a factor that also ranks first among women. Men are also concerned that results will not look natural and want information about safety and side effects, Dr. Keaney said. “These deterrents can be overcome with proper education and counseling.”
Marketing to men is different
Although growing a male anesthetic patient base is more difficult, Dr. Keaney recommends it, especially for dermatology practices in a competitive market.
This tactic of targeting untapped markets to grow a business, rather than competing on the same level as everyone else, is outlined in a book he recommends, “Blue Ocean Strategy,” by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne. “It’s about unlocking new demand, and I will argue that, in aesthetic medicine, it’s those male patients.”
“The male aesthetic market is truly untapped and shows tremendous growth potential,” Dr. Keaney said. “Particularly as millennials age, the demand for cosmetic procedures in men will only increase.”
A first step is to make male aesthetic patients feel welcome and comfortable. “Think about a reluctant male patient walking into your office; it can be intimidating if the staff and everyone in the waiting room is female,” Dr. Keaney said. “But you don’t need to put a keg in the corner, either.” He added more wood and changed the colors of his office, for example.
Don’t go overboard
Marketing aesthetic services to men is also different, a lesson Dr. Keaney learned from the outset.
“When I first started a practice, I wanted to attract more male cosmetic patients, and I decided to throw a male cosmetics seminar,” he recalled. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to educate them.”
He partnered with a plastic surgeon, rented a ballroom, sent out an e-blast, and mailed flyers. “We had zero RSVPs. We canceled it.”
He added, “Men are not sitting at the computer thinking, ‘I wish someone would throw a seminar on aesthetics.’”
A better strategy came the following year as a men’s health event with a broader scope. A urologist, internist, dermatologist, and plastic surgeon talked about a variety of health issues. “They were blown away by the options from the dermatologist and the plastic surgeon.”
A growing market
An American Society for Dermatologic Surgery annual survey reveals dermatologic surgeons performed nearly 10.5 million medically necessary and cosmetic procedures in 2016, the latest year for which results are available. The rate is up 5% from the year before, and up by more than 30%, compared with 2012.
“Within the growth of procedures performed, the male and millennial demographics’ interest in cosmetic treatments also continues to rise,” the survey authors noted. “In the last 5 years, men receiving wrinkle relaxers has increased 9%, and men using soft-tissue fillers grew from 2% to 9%.” The survey also reveals that patients younger than 30 years are seeking more cosmetic treatments. In fact, millennials’ use of wrinkle relaxers increased 20% from 2015, and 50% since 2012.
Address the top male aesthetic concerns
Men are interested in looking healthy, young, and staying fit, Dr. Keaney said, but there is often a disconnect in the male market. “I would argue the real rate limiter is education,” he explained, “and that both the industry and physicians are at fault.”
Most messages about aesthetic procedures have not been targeted toward men. For example, only 39% of 600 aesthetically inclined men knew about dermal fillers in a study Dr. Keaney co-authored (Dermatol Surg. 2016 Oct;42[10]:1155-63).
“I talk to men in my practice about dermal fillers, and most think they’re only for injection in the lips,” he said. The results of the online survey came from men “cosmetically on the cusp,” as he described them – men familiar with neuromodulators for facial rejuvenation, but who had never tried such a therapy.
Tear troughs, double chin, crow’s feet, and forehead lines were the most common concerns, in order, reported by study participants. Dr. Keaney said. “You’ll notice what is missing here: the cheeks, the nasolabial folds, and the lips. And what are those? The FDA-approved indications for dermal fillers.”
Even though it doesn’t top the list of men’s concerns in this study, overall, “if you’re looking to grow your male aesthetic patient population, the number one cosmetic concern among men remains hair loss,” noted Dr. Keaney. “You cannot ignore hair loss. It has a large psychosocial impact.”
During a full-body exam, Dr. Keaney recommends using a scalp exam as an opportunity to ask about any hair-loss concerns.
Encouraging signs from other industries
Other industries are showing a rise in the appearance-conscious male consumer, Dr. Keaney said. Men’s skin care, grooming, and luxury fashion industries are all growing, for example.
Worldwide, the personal care market for men is forecast to grow to $166 billion globally by 2022, according to a report from Allied Market Research. The compound average growth rate is expected to grow more than 5% each year between now and then.
“Men are spending money on their hair and skin,” Dr. Keaney said. “The question is, Why aren’t they spending money on their face? It’s how we interact with the world.”
Dr. Keaney has served on the advisory board of, consulted for, and was a speaker for Allergan. He was also a speaker for Eclipse, Sciton, and Syneron Candela, and served on the advisory boards for Aclaris and Merz.
MIAMI – Bringing more men into an aesthetic dermatology practice can expand the patient population, increase business revenue, and pay long-term dividends in terms of patient loyalty and repeat business.
But men aren’t like women when it comes to aesthetic concerns, so the strategies used to market your aesthetic offerings to female patients might miss the mark with men, cautioned Terrence Keaney, MD.
“I spend more time explaining therapies and what might be best for them,” he noted. “I explain the scientific rationale and treatment mechanisms so they will be more comfortable.” Making sure they understand is important, because “men often nod and don’t ask questions.”
The extra effort up front can pay off.
“The beauty of men is when they get a great result and are happy with you, men are very physician loyal. Once they get a great result, they’re yours forever,” said Dr. Keaney, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at George Washington University, Washington, and a private practice dermatologist in Arlington, Va.
Cost is the leading deterrent for men to embrace aesthetic procedures, a factor that also ranks first among women. Men are also concerned that results will not look natural and want information about safety and side effects, Dr. Keaney said. “These deterrents can be overcome with proper education and counseling.”
Marketing to men is different
Although growing a male anesthetic patient base is more difficult, Dr. Keaney recommends it, especially for dermatology practices in a competitive market.
This tactic of targeting untapped markets to grow a business, rather than competing on the same level as everyone else, is outlined in a book he recommends, “Blue Ocean Strategy,” by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne. “It’s about unlocking new demand, and I will argue that, in aesthetic medicine, it’s those male patients.”
“The male aesthetic market is truly untapped and shows tremendous growth potential,” Dr. Keaney said. “Particularly as millennials age, the demand for cosmetic procedures in men will only increase.”
A first step is to make male aesthetic patients feel welcome and comfortable. “Think about a reluctant male patient walking into your office; it can be intimidating if the staff and everyone in the waiting room is female,” Dr. Keaney said. “But you don’t need to put a keg in the corner, either.” He added more wood and changed the colors of his office, for example.
Don’t go overboard
Marketing aesthetic services to men is also different, a lesson Dr. Keaney learned from the outset.
“When I first started a practice, I wanted to attract more male cosmetic patients, and I decided to throw a male cosmetics seminar,” he recalled. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to educate them.”
He partnered with a plastic surgeon, rented a ballroom, sent out an e-blast, and mailed flyers. “We had zero RSVPs. We canceled it.”
He added, “Men are not sitting at the computer thinking, ‘I wish someone would throw a seminar on aesthetics.’”
A better strategy came the following year as a men’s health event with a broader scope. A urologist, internist, dermatologist, and plastic surgeon talked about a variety of health issues. “They were blown away by the options from the dermatologist and the plastic surgeon.”
A growing market
An American Society for Dermatologic Surgery annual survey reveals dermatologic surgeons performed nearly 10.5 million medically necessary and cosmetic procedures in 2016, the latest year for which results are available. The rate is up 5% from the year before, and up by more than 30%, compared with 2012.
“Within the growth of procedures performed, the male and millennial demographics’ interest in cosmetic treatments also continues to rise,” the survey authors noted. “In the last 5 years, men receiving wrinkle relaxers has increased 9%, and men using soft-tissue fillers grew from 2% to 9%.” The survey also reveals that patients younger than 30 years are seeking more cosmetic treatments. In fact, millennials’ use of wrinkle relaxers increased 20% from 2015, and 50% since 2012.
Address the top male aesthetic concerns
Men are interested in looking healthy, young, and staying fit, Dr. Keaney said, but there is often a disconnect in the male market. “I would argue the real rate limiter is education,” he explained, “and that both the industry and physicians are at fault.”
Most messages about aesthetic procedures have not been targeted toward men. For example, only 39% of 600 aesthetically inclined men knew about dermal fillers in a study Dr. Keaney co-authored (Dermatol Surg. 2016 Oct;42[10]:1155-63).
“I talk to men in my practice about dermal fillers, and most think they’re only for injection in the lips,” he said. The results of the online survey came from men “cosmetically on the cusp,” as he described them – men familiar with neuromodulators for facial rejuvenation, but who had never tried such a therapy.
Tear troughs, double chin, crow’s feet, and forehead lines were the most common concerns, in order, reported by study participants. Dr. Keaney said. “You’ll notice what is missing here: the cheeks, the nasolabial folds, and the lips. And what are those? The FDA-approved indications for dermal fillers.”
Even though it doesn’t top the list of men’s concerns in this study, overall, “if you’re looking to grow your male aesthetic patient population, the number one cosmetic concern among men remains hair loss,” noted Dr. Keaney. “You cannot ignore hair loss. It has a large psychosocial impact.”
During a full-body exam, Dr. Keaney recommends using a scalp exam as an opportunity to ask about any hair-loss concerns.
Encouraging signs from other industries
Other industries are showing a rise in the appearance-conscious male consumer, Dr. Keaney said. Men’s skin care, grooming, and luxury fashion industries are all growing, for example.
Worldwide, the personal care market for men is forecast to grow to $166 billion globally by 2022, according to a report from Allied Market Research. The compound average growth rate is expected to grow more than 5% each year between now and then.
“Men are spending money on their hair and skin,” Dr. Keaney said. “The question is, Why aren’t they spending money on their face? It’s how we interact with the world.”
Dr. Keaney has served on the advisory board of, consulted for, and was a speaker for Allergan. He was also a speaker for Eclipse, Sciton, and Syneron Candela, and served on the advisory boards for Aclaris and Merz.
MIAMI – Bringing more men into an aesthetic dermatology practice can expand the patient population, increase business revenue, and pay long-term dividends in terms of patient loyalty and repeat business.
But men aren’t like women when it comes to aesthetic concerns, so the strategies used to market your aesthetic offerings to female patients might miss the mark with men, cautioned Terrence Keaney, MD.
“I spend more time explaining therapies and what might be best for them,” he noted. “I explain the scientific rationale and treatment mechanisms so they will be more comfortable.” Making sure they understand is important, because “men often nod and don’t ask questions.”
The extra effort up front can pay off.
“The beauty of men is when they get a great result and are happy with you, men are very physician loyal. Once they get a great result, they’re yours forever,” said Dr. Keaney, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at George Washington University, Washington, and a private practice dermatologist in Arlington, Va.
Cost is the leading deterrent for men to embrace aesthetic procedures, a factor that also ranks first among women. Men are also concerned that results will not look natural and want information about safety and side effects, Dr. Keaney said. “These deterrents can be overcome with proper education and counseling.”
Marketing to men is different
Although growing a male anesthetic patient base is more difficult, Dr. Keaney recommends it, especially for dermatology practices in a competitive market.
This tactic of targeting untapped markets to grow a business, rather than competing on the same level as everyone else, is outlined in a book he recommends, “Blue Ocean Strategy,” by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne. “It’s about unlocking new demand, and I will argue that, in aesthetic medicine, it’s those male patients.”
“The male aesthetic market is truly untapped and shows tremendous growth potential,” Dr. Keaney said. “Particularly as millennials age, the demand for cosmetic procedures in men will only increase.”
A first step is to make male aesthetic patients feel welcome and comfortable. “Think about a reluctant male patient walking into your office; it can be intimidating if the staff and everyone in the waiting room is female,” Dr. Keaney said. “But you don’t need to put a keg in the corner, either.” He added more wood and changed the colors of his office, for example.
Don’t go overboard
Marketing aesthetic services to men is also different, a lesson Dr. Keaney learned from the outset.
“When I first started a practice, I wanted to attract more male cosmetic patients, and I decided to throw a male cosmetics seminar,” he recalled. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to educate them.”
He partnered with a plastic surgeon, rented a ballroom, sent out an e-blast, and mailed flyers. “We had zero RSVPs. We canceled it.”
He added, “Men are not sitting at the computer thinking, ‘I wish someone would throw a seminar on aesthetics.’”
A better strategy came the following year as a men’s health event with a broader scope. A urologist, internist, dermatologist, and plastic surgeon talked about a variety of health issues. “They were blown away by the options from the dermatologist and the plastic surgeon.”
A growing market
An American Society for Dermatologic Surgery annual survey reveals dermatologic surgeons performed nearly 10.5 million medically necessary and cosmetic procedures in 2016, the latest year for which results are available. The rate is up 5% from the year before, and up by more than 30%, compared with 2012.
“Within the growth of procedures performed, the male and millennial demographics’ interest in cosmetic treatments also continues to rise,” the survey authors noted. “In the last 5 years, men receiving wrinkle relaxers has increased 9%, and men using soft-tissue fillers grew from 2% to 9%.” The survey also reveals that patients younger than 30 years are seeking more cosmetic treatments. In fact, millennials’ use of wrinkle relaxers increased 20% from 2015, and 50% since 2012.
Address the top male aesthetic concerns
Men are interested in looking healthy, young, and staying fit, Dr. Keaney said, but there is often a disconnect in the male market. “I would argue the real rate limiter is education,” he explained, “and that both the industry and physicians are at fault.”
Most messages about aesthetic procedures have not been targeted toward men. For example, only 39% of 600 aesthetically inclined men knew about dermal fillers in a study Dr. Keaney co-authored (Dermatol Surg. 2016 Oct;42[10]:1155-63).
“I talk to men in my practice about dermal fillers, and most think they’re only for injection in the lips,” he said. The results of the online survey came from men “cosmetically on the cusp,” as he described them – men familiar with neuromodulators for facial rejuvenation, but who had never tried such a therapy.
Tear troughs, double chin, crow’s feet, and forehead lines were the most common concerns, in order, reported by study participants. Dr. Keaney said. “You’ll notice what is missing here: the cheeks, the nasolabial folds, and the lips. And what are those? The FDA-approved indications for dermal fillers.”
Even though it doesn’t top the list of men’s concerns in this study, overall, “if you’re looking to grow your male aesthetic patient population, the number one cosmetic concern among men remains hair loss,” noted Dr. Keaney. “You cannot ignore hair loss. It has a large psychosocial impact.”
During a full-body exam, Dr. Keaney recommends using a scalp exam as an opportunity to ask about any hair-loss concerns.
Encouraging signs from other industries
Other industries are showing a rise in the appearance-conscious male consumer, Dr. Keaney said. Men’s skin care, grooming, and luxury fashion industries are all growing, for example.
Worldwide, the personal care market for men is forecast to grow to $166 billion globally by 2022, according to a report from Allied Market Research. The compound average growth rate is expected to grow more than 5% each year between now and then.
“Men are spending money on their hair and skin,” Dr. Keaney said. “The question is, Why aren’t they spending money on their face? It’s how we interact with the world.”
Dr. Keaney has served on the advisory board of, consulted for, and was a speaker for Allergan. He was also a speaker for Eclipse, Sciton, and Syneron Candela, and served on the advisory boards for Aclaris and Merz.
REPORTING FROM ODAC 2018
Best practices address latest trends in PDT, skin cancer treatment
MIAMI – Pearls for providers of photodynamic therapy (PDT) include tips on skin preparation, eye protection, and use of three new codes to maximize reimbursement. Also trending in medical dermatology are best practices for intralesional injections of 5-FU to treat the often challenging isomorphic squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) or keratoacanthomas on the lower leg, as well as use of neoadjuvant hedgehog inhibitors to shrink large skin cancer lesions, according to Glenn David Goldman, MD.
“This talk is about what you can do medically as a dermatologic surgeon,” Dr. Goldman said at the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference.
Use new billing codes for photodynamic therapy
There are now three new PDT billing codes. “Make sure your coders are using these properly. They are active now, and if you don’t use them, you won’t get paid properly,” said Dr. Goldman, professor and medical director of dermatology at the University of Vermont, Burlington. Specifically, 96567 is for standard PDT applied by staff; 96573 is for PDT applied by a physician; and 96574 is for PDT and curettage performed by a physician.
“Be involved, don’t delegate,” Dr. Goldman added. “If you do, you will get paid half as much as you used to, which means you will lose money on every single patient you treat.”
What type of PDT physicians choose to use in their practice remains controversial. “Do you do short-contact PDT, do you do daylight PDT? We’ve gone back and forth in our practice,” Dr. Goldman said. “I’m not impressed with daylight PDT. I know this is at odds with some of the people here, but at least in Vermont, it doesn’t work very well.”
The way PDT was described in the original trials (a photosensitizer applied in the office followed by PDT) “works the best, with one caveat,” Dr. Goldman said. The caveat is that dermatologists should aim for a PDT clearance that approaches the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). “If you can get to that – which is difficult by the way – I think your patients will really appreciate this.”
An additional PDT pearl Dr. Goldman shared involves skin preparation: the use of acetone to defat the skin, even in patients with very thick lesions. Apply acetone with gauze to the site for 5 minutes and “all of that hyperkeratosis just wipes away,” curette off any residual hyperkeratosis – and consider a ring anesthetic block to control pain for the patient with severe disease, he advised.
Another tip is to forgo the goggles that come with most PDT kits. Instead, purchase smaller, disposable laser eye shields for PDT patients, Dr. Goldman said. “They work better. You can get closer to the eye … and they are more comfortable for the patient.”
Dr. Goldman’s practice is providing more PDT and much less 5-FU for patient convenience. “I believe if someone is willing to go through 3 weeks of 5-FU or 12-16 weeks of imiquimod, they get the best results. However, most people don’t want to do that if they can sit in front of a light for 15 minutes.”
Consider intralesional injections for SCCs and KAs on the legs
An ongoing challenge in medical dermatology is preventing rapid recurrence of SCCs and/or keratoacanthomas (KAs) near sites of previous excision on the legs. “We all see this quite a bit. Often you get lesions on the leg, you cut them out, and they come right back” close to the excision site, Dr. Goldman said.
He does not recommend methotrexate injections for these lesions. “Methotrexate does not work. It doesn’t hurt, but I’ve injected methotrexate into squamous cell carcinomas many times and they’ve never gone away.” In contrast, 5-FU “works incredibly well. They go away, I’ve had tremendous success. This has changed the way we treat these lesions.” 5-FU is inexpensive and can be obtained from oncology pharmacies. One caveat is 5-FU injections can be painful and patients require anesthesia prior to injection.
Using a 25-gauge or 27-gauge needle, Dr. Goldman injects 5-FU “exactly as I would a hypertrophic scar. I inject a squamous cell carcinoma carefully and ‘expand’ the tumor.” He typically injects a lesion every 2 weeks until it resolves completely, which typically takes two or three sessions.
“I want to emphasize that that’s really true about intralesional 5-FU for those KAs and scars on the legs,” said session moderator James Spencer, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in St. Petersburg, Florida. “Otherwise, you’re just chasing your tail trying to cut them out. You’ll do much better with the intralesional 5-FU; it’s easy to get, it’s affordable, it comes as 50 mg/mL … just keep it in the office.”
A recommended role for hedgehog inhibitors
Hedgehog inhibitors work best as neoadjuvant therapy to shrink large skin cancer tumors prior to excision, Dr. Goldman said. “Hedgehog inhibitors don’t cure anything … except for rare cases of small basal cell carcinomas.” For most lesions, however, the strategy is not curative.
“I don’t believe in hedgehog inhibitors for things that are readily resectable. We use them to shrink things down,” he added.
Dr. Goldman recommended treating patients with neoadjuvant hedgehog inhibitors to achieve the maximum tumor shrinking effect. Adverse effects tend to develop slowly over time, typically after a 6-week “grace period.” Nighttime leg muscle cramps, loss of taste, hair loss, and weight loss can occur. Also, electrolyte imbalances can occur, particularly in older patients with renal clearance issues. When the patient can no longer reasonably tolerate the adverse effects, which is usually the case, “then you do the surgery,” Dr. Goldman said.
“The benefits of neoadjuvant hedgehog inhibitors include predictable shrinkage of tumors,” and manufacturers have been helpful with financial issues, he noted.
Dr. Goldman had no relevant financial disclosures. Dr. Spencer has served on the speakers bureau for Genentech and Leo Pharma.
MIAMI – Pearls for providers of photodynamic therapy (PDT) include tips on skin preparation, eye protection, and use of three new codes to maximize reimbursement. Also trending in medical dermatology are best practices for intralesional injections of 5-FU to treat the often challenging isomorphic squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) or keratoacanthomas on the lower leg, as well as use of neoadjuvant hedgehog inhibitors to shrink large skin cancer lesions, according to Glenn David Goldman, MD.
“This talk is about what you can do medically as a dermatologic surgeon,” Dr. Goldman said at the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference.
Use new billing codes for photodynamic therapy
There are now three new PDT billing codes. “Make sure your coders are using these properly. They are active now, and if you don’t use them, you won’t get paid properly,” said Dr. Goldman, professor and medical director of dermatology at the University of Vermont, Burlington. Specifically, 96567 is for standard PDT applied by staff; 96573 is for PDT applied by a physician; and 96574 is for PDT and curettage performed by a physician.
“Be involved, don’t delegate,” Dr. Goldman added. “If you do, you will get paid half as much as you used to, which means you will lose money on every single patient you treat.”
What type of PDT physicians choose to use in their practice remains controversial. “Do you do short-contact PDT, do you do daylight PDT? We’ve gone back and forth in our practice,” Dr. Goldman said. “I’m not impressed with daylight PDT. I know this is at odds with some of the people here, but at least in Vermont, it doesn’t work very well.”
The way PDT was described in the original trials (a photosensitizer applied in the office followed by PDT) “works the best, with one caveat,” Dr. Goldman said. The caveat is that dermatologists should aim for a PDT clearance that approaches the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). “If you can get to that – which is difficult by the way – I think your patients will really appreciate this.”
An additional PDT pearl Dr. Goldman shared involves skin preparation: the use of acetone to defat the skin, even in patients with very thick lesions. Apply acetone with gauze to the site for 5 minutes and “all of that hyperkeratosis just wipes away,” curette off any residual hyperkeratosis – and consider a ring anesthetic block to control pain for the patient with severe disease, he advised.
Another tip is to forgo the goggles that come with most PDT kits. Instead, purchase smaller, disposable laser eye shields for PDT patients, Dr. Goldman said. “They work better. You can get closer to the eye … and they are more comfortable for the patient.”
Dr. Goldman’s practice is providing more PDT and much less 5-FU for patient convenience. “I believe if someone is willing to go through 3 weeks of 5-FU or 12-16 weeks of imiquimod, they get the best results. However, most people don’t want to do that if they can sit in front of a light for 15 minutes.”
Consider intralesional injections for SCCs and KAs on the legs
An ongoing challenge in medical dermatology is preventing rapid recurrence of SCCs and/or keratoacanthomas (KAs) near sites of previous excision on the legs. “We all see this quite a bit. Often you get lesions on the leg, you cut them out, and they come right back” close to the excision site, Dr. Goldman said.
He does not recommend methotrexate injections for these lesions. “Methotrexate does not work. It doesn’t hurt, but I’ve injected methotrexate into squamous cell carcinomas many times and they’ve never gone away.” In contrast, 5-FU “works incredibly well. They go away, I’ve had tremendous success. This has changed the way we treat these lesions.” 5-FU is inexpensive and can be obtained from oncology pharmacies. One caveat is 5-FU injections can be painful and patients require anesthesia prior to injection.
Using a 25-gauge or 27-gauge needle, Dr. Goldman injects 5-FU “exactly as I would a hypertrophic scar. I inject a squamous cell carcinoma carefully and ‘expand’ the tumor.” He typically injects a lesion every 2 weeks until it resolves completely, which typically takes two or three sessions.
“I want to emphasize that that’s really true about intralesional 5-FU for those KAs and scars on the legs,” said session moderator James Spencer, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in St. Petersburg, Florida. “Otherwise, you’re just chasing your tail trying to cut them out. You’ll do much better with the intralesional 5-FU; it’s easy to get, it’s affordable, it comes as 50 mg/mL … just keep it in the office.”
A recommended role for hedgehog inhibitors
Hedgehog inhibitors work best as neoadjuvant therapy to shrink large skin cancer tumors prior to excision, Dr. Goldman said. “Hedgehog inhibitors don’t cure anything … except for rare cases of small basal cell carcinomas.” For most lesions, however, the strategy is not curative.
“I don’t believe in hedgehog inhibitors for things that are readily resectable. We use them to shrink things down,” he added.
Dr. Goldman recommended treating patients with neoadjuvant hedgehog inhibitors to achieve the maximum tumor shrinking effect. Adverse effects tend to develop slowly over time, typically after a 6-week “grace period.” Nighttime leg muscle cramps, loss of taste, hair loss, and weight loss can occur. Also, electrolyte imbalances can occur, particularly in older patients with renal clearance issues. When the patient can no longer reasonably tolerate the adverse effects, which is usually the case, “then you do the surgery,” Dr. Goldman said.
“The benefits of neoadjuvant hedgehog inhibitors include predictable shrinkage of tumors,” and manufacturers have been helpful with financial issues, he noted.
Dr. Goldman had no relevant financial disclosures. Dr. Spencer has served on the speakers bureau for Genentech and Leo Pharma.
MIAMI – Pearls for providers of photodynamic therapy (PDT) include tips on skin preparation, eye protection, and use of three new codes to maximize reimbursement. Also trending in medical dermatology are best practices for intralesional injections of 5-FU to treat the often challenging isomorphic squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) or keratoacanthomas on the lower leg, as well as use of neoadjuvant hedgehog inhibitors to shrink large skin cancer lesions, according to Glenn David Goldman, MD.
“This talk is about what you can do medically as a dermatologic surgeon,” Dr. Goldman said at the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference.
Use new billing codes for photodynamic therapy
There are now three new PDT billing codes. “Make sure your coders are using these properly. They are active now, and if you don’t use them, you won’t get paid properly,” said Dr. Goldman, professor and medical director of dermatology at the University of Vermont, Burlington. Specifically, 96567 is for standard PDT applied by staff; 96573 is for PDT applied by a physician; and 96574 is for PDT and curettage performed by a physician.
“Be involved, don’t delegate,” Dr. Goldman added. “If you do, you will get paid half as much as you used to, which means you will lose money on every single patient you treat.”
What type of PDT physicians choose to use in their practice remains controversial. “Do you do short-contact PDT, do you do daylight PDT? We’ve gone back and forth in our practice,” Dr. Goldman said. “I’m not impressed with daylight PDT. I know this is at odds with some of the people here, but at least in Vermont, it doesn’t work very well.”
The way PDT was described in the original trials (a photosensitizer applied in the office followed by PDT) “works the best, with one caveat,” Dr. Goldman said. The caveat is that dermatologists should aim for a PDT clearance that approaches the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). “If you can get to that – which is difficult by the way – I think your patients will really appreciate this.”
An additional PDT pearl Dr. Goldman shared involves skin preparation: the use of acetone to defat the skin, even in patients with very thick lesions. Apply acetone with gauze to the site for 5 minutes and “all of that hyperkeratosis just wipes away,” curette off any residual hyperkeratosis – and consider a ring anesthetic block to control pain for the patient with severe disease, he advised.
Another tip is to forgo the goggles that come with most PDT kits. Instead, purchase smaller, disposable laser eye shields for PDT patients, Dr. Goldman said. “They work better. You can get closer to the eye … and they are more comfortable for the patient.”
Dr. Goldman’s practice is providing more PDT and much less 5-FU for patient convenience. “I believe if someone is willing to go through 3 weeks of 5-FU or 12-16 weeks of imiquimod, they get the best results. However, most people don’t want to do that if they can sit in front of a light for 15 minutes.”
Consider intralesional injections for SCCs and KAs on the legs
An ongoing challenge in medical dermatology is preventing rapid recurrence of SCCs and/or keratoacanthomas (KAs) near sites of previous excision on the legs. “We all see this quite a bit. Often you get lesions on the leg, you cut them out, and they come right back” close to the excision site, Dr. Goldman said.
He does not recommend methotrexate injections for these lesions. “Methotrexate does not work. It doesn’t hurt, but I’ve injected methotrexate into squamous cell carcinomas many times and they’ve never gone away.” In contrast, 5-FU “works incredibly well. They go away, I’ve had tremendous success. This has changed the way we treat these lesions.” 5-FU is inexpensive and can be obtained from oncology pharmacies. One caveat is 5-FU injections can be painful and patients require anesthesia prior to injection.
Using a 25-gauge or 27-gauge needle, Dr. Goldman injects 5-FU “exactly as I would a hypertrophic scar. I inject a squamous cell carcinoma carefully and ‘expand’ the tumor.” He typically injects a lesion every 2 weeks until it resolves completely, which typically takes two or three sessions.
“I want to emphasize that that’s really true about intralesional 5-FU for those KAs and scars on the legs,” said session moderator James Spencer, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in St. Petersburg, Florida. “Otherwise, you’re just chasing your tail trying to cut them out. You’ll do much better with the intralesional 5-FU; it’s easy to get, it’s affordable, it comes as 50 mg/mL … just keep it in the office.”
A recommended role for hedgehog inhibitors
Hedgehog inhibitors work best as neoadjuvant therapy to shrink large skin cancer tumors prior to excision, Dr. Goldman said. “Hedgehog inhibitors don’t cure anything … except for rare cases of small basal cell carcinomas.” For most lesions, however, the strategy is not curative.
“I don’t believe in hedgehog inhibitors for things that are readily resectable. We use them to shrink things down,” he added.
Dr. Goldman recommended treating patients with neoadjuvant hedgehog inhibitors to achieve the maximum tumor shrinking effect. Adverse effects tend to develop slowly over time, typically after a 6-week “grace period.” Nighttime leg muscle cramps, loss of taste, hair loss, and weight loss can occur. Also, electrolyte imbalances can occur, particularly in older patients with renal clearance issues. When the patient can no longer reasonably tolerate the adverse effects, which is usually the case, “then you do the surgery,” Dr. Goldman said.
“The benefits of neoadjuvant hedgehog inhibitors include predictable shrinkage of tumors,” and manufacturers have been helpful with financial issues, he noted.
Dr. Goldman had no relevant financial disclosures. Dr. Spencer has served on the speakers bureau for Genentech and Leo Pharma.
REPORTING FROM ODAC 2018
Five pearls target wound healing
MIAMI – Another reason not to prescribe opioids for postoperative pain – besides potentially adding to the epidemic the nation – comes from evidence showing these agents can impair wound healing.
In addition, epidermal sutures to close dermatologic surgery sites may be unnecessary if deep suturing is done proficiently. These and other pearls to optimize wound closure were suggested by Robert S. Kirsner, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the department of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami.
Avoid opioids for postoperative pain
“We know the opioid epidemic is a big problem. An estimated 5-8 million Americans use them for chronic pain,” Dr. Kirsner said at the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference. “And there has been a steady increase in the use of illicit and prescription opioids.”
“The take-home message is that for the first time we have patient-oriented data that suggests that opioids impair healing,” Dr. Kirsner said. “So avoid opioids if at all possible.”
The precise mechanism remains unknown. The most likely explanation, he said, is that opioids inhibit substance P, a peptide that promotes healing in animal models. Interestingly, he added, adding the opioid antagonist naltrexone in animal studies improves healing.
Consider skipping epidermal sutures in some cases
Dermatologists who place really good deep sutures when closing a wound might be able to forgo traditional epidural suturing, Dr. Kirsner said. “If you believe the literature, you can actually forget epidermal sutures. That’s hard for us. We’re trained to put epidermal sutures in, and changing habits can be difficult.”
A prospective, randomized study demonstrated no difference in cosmesis at 6 months, for example, in a split scar study where half of each wound was closed with epidural suturing and half was not (Dermatol. Surg. 2015;41:1257-63). In another randomized study, researchers found something similar when comparing buried interrupted subcuticular suturing of wounds with and without adhesive strips to close the epidermis (JAMA Dermatol. 2015;15:862-7). “When they looked at the scars, complications, and cosmesis at 6 months, there was no difference,” Dr. Kirsner said.
“Forget epidermal sutures if you’re brave enough,” he said.
Dr. Kirsner acknowledged that some dermatologists might point out a requirement to evert wound edges with epidermal stitches. “It turns out you don’t need to, again, if you believe the literature.” He cited a randomized, controlled, split scar trial that revealed no difference in cosmetic outcomes according to blinded physician ratings or patient reports at 3 months (J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015;72;668-73). “So maybe the concept of wound eversion is not as important as we were originally taught.”
And speaking of wound edges …
When debriding a nonhealing wound ...
There may be something highly abnormal about a nonhealing wound edge, Dr. Kirsner said. In fact, they can be phenotypically and genotypically different from surrounding tissue, including characteristic overexpression of c-Myc and beta catenin. These two factors in higher amounts can inhibit the migration of keratinocytes into a wound to promote healing.
“Sometimes we debride the wound because it’s necrotic,” Dr. Kirsner said. But in the case of a nonhealing wound, it can be more effective to debride the edges to remove the abnormal tissue. “You can change the fortune of a wound by debriding the edge. You want to remove all the abnormal tissue, and give it a chance to heal.” Pathology supports the elevated presence of the c-Myc and beta catenin factors in the “healing incompetent” tissue around the edges of nonhealing wounds, he added.
If a patient is unusually anxious or stressed
Stress can impair wound healing by 40%, Dr. Kirsner said (Psychosom Med. 1998;60:362-5). Some anxiety before a dermatologic surgery procedure is normal for many patients, but there also are unusual circumstances. For example, “if a patient comes for cyst excision but learns while in the waiting room that his dog just died,” he said. It’s often better to reschedule the procedure than to proceed.
“What you can do on a daily basis is create a stress-free environment” as well, Dr. Kirsner said.
“From a practical standpoint, things that can impair healing include patient depression, negativism, isolation, and postoperative pain,” he added. The mechanism between elevated stress and impaired wound healing includes release of catecholamines that induce the action of endogenous steroids. This, in turn, can cause a cascade of events that reduce inflammatory cells and their pro-healing cytokines, thereby leading to poor healing.
“All of this is mediated through the love hormone, oxytocin. Maybe someday we will be able to give oxytocin to speed healing.”
Two technologies still look good for scarless donor sites
Epidermal grafting and technology based on fractional laser treatments continue to show promise for achieving a scarless donor site for patients who need grafting to promote wound healing, Dr. Kirsner said.
With epidermal grafting, dermatologists can apply a device to lift up on the epidermis from a donor site. The CelluTome Epidermal Harvesting System, for example, achieves this feat by applying both a little heat and some suction. “It creates little domes [of epidermis] in this Easy Bake oven looking device,” Dr. Kirsner said. Without any anesthetic, you place this device on the skin and you get these epidermal grafts in 30 minutes. Then you can transfer them to a sterile dressing and place them on the wound.”
As pointed out in a previous report in Dermatology News, avoiding the need for donor site anesthesia is one advantage of the epidermal grafting technique. In addition, the procedure is generally bloodless because the device does not go deep enough to reach the blood vessels, Dr. Kirsner said. In addition, healing of the donor site can be seen on histology in as little as 2 days.
Transferring the epidermis can promote healing because it also transfers keratinocytes and melanocytes to the wound.
“This technique is also excellent to add skin or cells to someone with pyoderma gangrenosum,” Dr. Kirsner said. “Because of the simplicity and the lack of trauma, you don’t get the pathergy you normally see on someone with pyoderma gangrenosum.”
An Autologous Regeneration of Tissue or ART device that transfers columns of healthy skin to a wound to help regenerate tissue and promote healing is a second technology with a lot of potential, Dr. Kirsner said. “With a fractional laser, you create a hole, and that hole heals without scarring. Instead of making holes, R. Rox Anderson, MD, professor of dermatology at Harvard University, Boston, created a device that picks out the microcolumns of skin.” When these full skin thickness columns of skin are transferred to a wound, Dr. Kirsner noted, “in 3 weeks you can pretty much have no visible or a much improved cosmetic scar. Histologically you don’t see a scar either.”
Dr. Kirsner said he had no relevant financial disclosures.
MIAMI – Another reason not to prescribe opioids for postoperative pain – besides potentially adding to the epidemic the nation – comes from evidence showing these agents can impair wound healing.
In addition, epidermal sutures to close dermatologic surgery sites may be unnecessary if deep suturing is done proficiently. These and other pearls to optimize wound closure were suggested by Robert S. Kirsner, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the department of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami.
Avoid opioids for postoperative pain
“We know the opioid epidemic is a big problem. An estimated 5-8 million Americans use them for chronic pain,” Dr. Kirsner said at the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference. “And there has been a steady increase in the use of illicit and prescription opioids.”
“The take-home message is that for the first time we have patient-oriented data that suggests that opioids impair healing,” Dr. Kirsner said. “So avoid opioids if at all possible.”
The precise mechanism remains unknown. The most likely explanation, he said, is that opioids inhibit substance P, a peptide that promotes healing in animal models. Interestingly, he added, adding the opioid antagonist naltrexone in animal studies improves healing.
Consider skipping epidermal sutures in some cases
Dermatologists who place really good deep sutures when closing a wound might be able to forgo traditional epidural suturing, Dr. Kirsner said. “If you believe the literature, you can actually forget epidermal sutures. That’s hard for us. We’re trained to put epidermal sutures in, and changing habits can be difficult.”
A prospective, randomized study demonstrated no difference in cosmesis at 6 months, for example, in a split scar study where half of each wound was closed with epidural suturing and half was not (Dermatol. Surg. 2015;41:1257-63). In another randomized study, researchers found something similar when comparing buried interrupted subcuticular suturing of wounds with and without adhesive strips to close the epidermis (JAMA Dermatol. 2015;15:862-7). “When they looked at the scars, complications, and cosmesis at 6 months, there was no difference,” Dr. Kirsner said.
“Forget epidermal sutures if you’re brave enough,” he said.
Dr. Kirsner acknowledged that some dermatologists might point out a requirement to evert wound edges with epidermal stitches. “It turns out you don’t need to, again, if you believe the literature.” He cited a randomized, controlled, split scar trial that revealed no difference in cosmetic outcomes according to blinded physician ratings or patient reports at 3 months (J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015;72;668-73). “So maybe the concept of wound eversion is not as important as we were originally taught.”
And speaking of wound edges …
When debriding a nonhealing wound ...
There may be something highly abnormal about a nonhealing wound edge, Dr. Kirsner said. In fact, they can be phenotypically and genotypically different from surrounding tissue, including characteristic overexpression of c-Myc and beta catenin. These two factors in higher amounts can inhibit the migration of keratinocytes into a wound to promote healing.
“Sometimes we debride the wound because it’s necrotic,” Dr. Kirsner said. But in the case of a nonhealing wound, it can be more effective to debride the edges to remove the abnormal tissue. “You can change the fortune of a wound by debriding the edge. You want to remove all the abnormal tissue, and give it a chance to heal.” Pathology supports the elevated presence of the c-Myc and beta catenin factors in the “healing incompetent” tissue around the edges of nonhealing wounds, he added.
If a patient is unusually anxious or stressed
Stress can impair wound healing by 40%, Dr. Kirsner said (Psychosom Med. 1998;60:362-5). Some anxiety before a dermatologic surgery procedure is normal for many patients, but there also are unusual circumstances. For example, “if a patient comes for cyst excision but learns while in the waiting room that his dog just died,” he said. It’s often better to reschedule the procedure than to proceed.
“What you can do on a daily basis is create a stress-free environment” as well, Dr. Kirsner said.
“From a practical standpoint, things that can impair healing include patient depression, negativism, isolation, and postoperative pain,” he added. The mechanism between elevated stress and impaired wound healing includes release of catecholamines that induce the action of endogenous steroids. This, in turn, can cause a cascade of events that reduce inflammatory cells and their pro-healing cytokines, thereby leading to poor healing.
“All of this is mediated through the love hormone, oxytocin. Maybe someday we will be able to give oxytocin to speed healing.”
Two technologies still look good for scarless donor sites
Epidermal grafting and technology based on fractional laser treatments continue to show promise for achieving a scarless donor site for patients who need grafting to promote wound healing, Dr. Kirsner said.
With epidermal grafting, dermatologists can apply a device to lift up on the epidermis from a donor site. The CelluTome Epidermal Harvesting System, for example, achieves this feat by applying both a little heat and some suction. “It creates little domes [of epidermis] in this Easy Bake oven looking device,” Dr. Kirsner said. Without any anesthetic, you place this device on the skin and you get these epidermal grafts in 30 minutes. Then you can transfer them to a sterile dressing and place them on the wound.”
As pointed out in a previous report in Dermatology News, avoiding the need for donor site anesthesia is one advantage of the epidermal grafting technique. In addition, the procedure is generally bloodless because the device does not go deep enough to reach the blood vessels, Dr. Kirsner said. In addition, healing of the donor site can be seen on histology in as little as 2 days.
Transferring the epidermis can promote healing because it also transfers keratinocytes and melanocytes to the wound.
“This technique is also excellent to add skin or cells to someone with pyoderma gangrenosum,” Dr. Kirsner said. “Because of the simplicity and the lack of trauma, you don’t get the pathergy you normally see on someone with pyoderma gangrenosum.”
An Autologous Regeneration of Tissue or ART device that transfers columns of healthy skin to a wound to help regenerate tissue and promote healing is a second technology with a lot of potential, Dr. Kirsner said. “With a fractional laser, you create a hole, and that hole heals without scarring. Instead of making holes, R. Rox Anderson, MD, professor of dermatology at Harvard University, Boston, created a device that picks out the microcolumns of skin.” When these full skin thickness columns of skin are transferred to a wound, Dr. Kirsner noted, “in 3 weeks you can pretty much have no visible or a much improved cosmetic scar. Histologically you don’t see a scar either.”
Dr. Kirsner said he had no relevant financial disclosures.
MIAMI – Another reason not to prescribe opioids for postoperative pain – besides potentially adding to the epidemic the nation – comes from evidence showing these agents can impair wound healing.
In addition, epidermal sutures to close dermatologic surgery sites may be unnecessary if deep suturing is done proficiently. These and other pearls to optimize wound closure were suggested by Robert S. Kirsner, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the department of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami.
Avoid opioids for postoperative pain
“We know the opioid epidemic is a big problem. An estimated 5-8 million Americans use them for chronic pain,” Dr. Kirsner said at the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference. “And there has been a steady increase in the use of illicit and prescription opioids.”
“The take-home message is that for the first time we have patient-oriented data that suggests that opioids impair healing,” Dr. Kirsner said. “So avoid opioids if at all possible.”
The precise mechanism remains unknown. The most likely explanation, he said, is that opioids inhibit substance P, a peptide that promotes healing in animal models. Interestingly, he added, adding the opioid antagonist naltrexone in animal studies improves healing.
Consider skipping epidermal sutures in some cases
Dermatologists who place really good deep sutures when closing a wound might be able to forgo traditional epidural suturing, Dr. Kirsner said. “If you believe the literature, you can actually forget epidermal sutures. That’s hard for us. We’re trained to put epidermal sutures in, and changing habits can be difficult.”
A prospective, randomized study demonstrated no difference in cosmesis at 6 months, for example, in a split scar study where half of each wound was closed with epidural suturing and half was not (Dermatol. Surg. 2015;41:1257-63). In another randomized study, researchers found something similar when comparing buried interrupted subcuticular suturing of wounds with and without adhesive strips to close the epidermis (JAMA Dermatol. 2015;15:862-7). “When they looked at the scars, complications, and cosmesis at 6 months, there was no difference,” Dr. Kirsner said.
“Forget epidermal sutures if you’re brave enough,” he said.
Dr. Kirsner acknowledged that some dermatologists might point out a requirement to evert wound edges with epidermal stitches. “It turns out you don’t need to, again, if you believe the literature.” He cited a randomized, controlled, split scar trial that revealed no difference in cosmetic outcomes according to blinded physician ratings or patient reports at 3 months (J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015;72;668-73). “So maybe the concept of wound eversion is not as important as we were originally taught.”
And speaking of wound edges …
When debriding a nonhealing wound ...
There may be something highly abnormal about a nonhealing wound edge, Dr. Kirsner said. In fact, they can be phenotypically and genotypically different from surrounding tissue, including characteristic overexpression of c-Myc and beta catenin. These two factors in higher amounts can inhibit the migration of keratinocytes into a wound to promote healing.
“Sometimes we debride the wound because it’s necrotic,” Dr. Kirsner said. But in the case of a nonhealing wound, it can be more effective to debride the edges to remove the abnormal tissue. “You can change the fortune of a wound by debriding the edge. You want to remove all the abnormal tissue, and give it a chance to heal.” Pathology supports the elevated presence of the c-Myc and beta catenin factors in the “healing incompetent” tissue around the edges of nonhealing wounds, he added.
If a patient is unusually anxious or stressed
Stress can impair wound healing by 40%, Dr. Kirsner said (Psychosom Med. 1998;60:362-5). Some anxiety before a dermatologic surgery procedure is normal for many patients, but there also are unusual circumstances. For example, “if a patient comes for cyst excision but learns while in the waiting room that his dog just died,” he said. It’s often better to reschedule the procedure than to proceed.
“What you can do on a daily basis is create a stress-free environment” as well, Dr. Kirsner said.
“From a practical standpoint, things that can impair healing include patient depression, negativism, isolation, and postoperative pain,” he added. The mechanism between elevated stress and impaired wound healing includes release of catecholamines that induce the action of endogenous steroids. This, in turn, can cause a cascade of events that reduce inflammatory cells and their pro-healing cytokines, thereby leading to poor healing.
“All of this is mediated through the love hormone, oxytocin. Maybe someday we will be able to give oxytocin to speed healing.”
Two technologies still look good for scarless donor sites
Epidermal grafting and technology based on fractional laser treatments continue to show promise for achieving a scarless donor site for patients who need grafting to promote wound healing, Dr. Kirsner said.
With epidermal grafting, dermatologists can apply a device to lift up on the epidermis from a donor site. The CelluTome Epidermal Harvesting System, for example, achieves this feat by applying both a little heat and some suction. “It creates little domes [of epidermis] in this Easy Bake oven looking device,” Dr. Kirsner said. Without any anesthetic, you place this device on the skin and you get these epidermal grafts in 30 minutes. Then you can transfer them to a sterile dressing and place them on the wound.”
As pointed out in a previous report in Dermatology News, avoiding the need for donor site anesthesia is one advantage of the epidermal grafting technique. In addition, the procedure is generally bloodless because the device does not go deep enough to reach the blood vessels, Dr. Kirsner said. In addition, healing of the donor site can be seen on histology in as little as 2 days.
Transferring the epidermis can promote healing because it also transfers keratinocytes and melanocytes to the wound.
“This technique is also excellent to add skin or cells to someone with pyoderma gangrenosum,” Dr. Kirsner said. “Because of the simplicity and the lack of trauma, you don’t get the pathergy you normally see on someone with pyoderma gangrenosum.”
An Autologous Regeneration of Tissue or ART device that transfers columns of healthy skin to a wound to help regenerate tissue and promote healing is a second technology with a lot of potential, Dr. Kirsner said. “With a fractional laser, you create a hole, and that hole heals without scarring. Instead of making holes, R. Rox Anderson, MD, professor of dermatology at Harvard University, Boston, created a device that picks out the microcolumns of skin.” When these full skin thickness columns of skin are transferred to a wound, Dr. Kirsner noted, “in 3 weeks you can pretty much have no visible or a much improved cosmetic scar. Histologically you don’t see a scar either.”
Dr. Kirsner said he had no relevant financial disclosures.
EXPERT ANALYSIS FROM ODAC 2018