Psoriasis, melanoma studies top dermatology reads for week

Research showing that nail findings distinguished patients with psoriatic arthritis from those with psoriasis without arthritis was among the top read articles of the past week on Healio.com/Dermatology.

Other widely-read articles included an explanation of how private equity is growing in the field of dermatology, and study findings identifying risk factors for tumor upstaging of melanoma:

Nail findings distinguish between psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis

Nail findings distinguished patients with psoriatic arthritis from those with psoriasis without arthritis, with transverse grooves being a significant factor, according to published study results in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis between July 2003 and February 2015 at the dermatology department of St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo of 118 patients with psoriatic arthritis and 974 patients with psoriasis and without arthritis. Read more

How to look at private equity investment in physician groups: Dermatology

In this first of six articles from the lawyers from Epstein Becker & Green and the analysts from Provident Healthcare Partners, LLC, Steven Grassa and Gary W. Herschman, Esq., delve into the hot sector of dermatology, explaining how private equity investment is growing in this field. Read more

Risk factors identified for tumor upstaging of melanoma

Anatomic location and subtotal diagnostic biopsies were the greatest risk factor for upstaging of melanoma, according to recently published study results in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

“When residual melanoma remains after the diagnostic biopsy, upstaging (defined as an increase in the T stage designated by the American Joint Committee on Cancer) might be detected after wide local excision in 5% to 22% of cases,” researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote. Read more

Platelet-rich plasma shows efficacy in combination treatment for androgenetic alopecia

Platelet-rich plasma in combination with 5% minoxidil solution showed efficacy in hair regrowth for patients with androgenetic alopecia compared with the combination with oral finasteride, according to study results recently published in Dermatologic Surgery.

Researchers studied 25 patients with androgenetic alopecia (13 females; mean age, 39.9 years). Read more

National Psoriasis Foundation contest encourages patients to #FlauntYourFlares

The National Psoriasis Foundation recently launched an Instagram hashtag contest encouraging patients with psoriasis to post images of themselves during a flare and to include a positive message about their body with the hashtag #FlauntYourFlares.

The contest is designed to show that even when psoriasis is treated with medications, flares are a reality during the warmer months of the year, and should not mean that patients with psoriasis must cover up with excessive clothing or skip outdoor activities, according to a release from the National Psoriasis Foundation. Read more