Derm In The News: February 18-24

The Washington Post: More dermatologists are offering skin-care services for people of color

Susan Taylor, MD, recognized the need for specialized care for patients of color due to unique skin and hair conditions often overlooked by mainstream medicine. In response, she co-founded the first Skin of Color Center in the United States in 1999, aiming to address racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Since then, 16 such clinics have emerged nationwide, offering tailored treatments for conditions like hyperpigmentation and keloids.

Optician Online: Insights into isotretinoin’s ocular impact: Bridging dermatology and ophthalmology care

A recent study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the ocular side effects associated with systemic isotretinoin use. The findings revealed dry eye as the most common adverse effect, with a reported incidence of 27%, followed by complaints of ocular discomfort like photophobia and hyperemia. Less common side effects included inflammation of the eyelid and conjunctival inflammation, while visual acuity changes were reported at a lower incidence.

Pharmaceutical Technology: Almirall licenses IL-21 antibody from Novo Nordisk

Almirall has secured exclusive licensing rights from Novo Nordisk for the interleukin-21 (IL-21)-hindering monoclonal antibody, NN-8828, aiming to target immune-inflammatory dermatological conditions. This agreement enables Almirall to lead the development and commercialization efforts for NN-8828, with Novo Nordisk receiving upfront and milestone payments, along with tiered royalty payments based on future global product sales. NN-8828, a first-in-class asset in dermatology, acts on the cytokine IL-21 and has shown potential in inhibiting IL-21 downstream signaling pathway activation, making it a promising candidate for treating various inflammatory and autoimmune skin ailments.

Read Dermatology Times' coverage here.

Live Science: The skin microbiome could be harnessed as mosquito repellent, study hints

A recent study suggests that manipulating the microbial communities on our skin could be an effective strategy to repel mosquitoes and prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Researchers identified specific chemicals produced by the skin microbiome that repel Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit diseases like chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika. By targeting these microbial compounds, it may be possible to develop safer and longer-lasting alternatives to synthetic mosquito repellents. The study also explores genetically engineering skin bacteria to reduce lactic acid production, a key attractant for mosquitoes, showing promising results in reducing mosquito landings on lab mice.

Have you seen any dermatology headlines this week that we may have missed? Share with us by emailing our team at DTEditor@mmhgroup.com.