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Derm In The News: July 28-August 3
Keep up with the latest headlines in dermatology from the past week, including the FDA's warning to retailers to remove unapproved skin peel products, research into skin cells and their connection to Alzheimer's, and more.
Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society: FDA warns Walmart, Amazon, and other retailers over unapproved skin peel products
The FDA has issued warnings to online retailers, including Walmart and Amazon, for selling unapproved chemical peel products. These products, containing high concentrations of corrosive chemicals such as trichloroacetic acid and glycolic acid, pose significant risks when used without medical supervision. On July 25, the FDA warned six companies to stop marketing these unsafe products and followed up with a consumer alert on July 30. The agency emphasized that chemical peels should only be used under the guidance of a dermatologist to avoid severe skin injuries such as chemical burns and scarring. Retailers have been given 15 working days to respond.
Neuroscience News: Skin Cells Turned Neurons Reveal Alzheimer’s Aging Effects
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have developed a method to transform skin cells into neurons, enabling the study of aging effects in late-onset Alzheimer's disease without brain biopsies. This technique accurately replicates Alzheimer's features, including amyloid beta buildup and tau protein deposits. Key findings include the identification of retrotransposable elements—genomic elements that change with age—as influential in Alzheimer’s progression. The study demonstrated that early treatment with drugs targeting these elements, such as lamivudine, could reduce Alzheimer’s effects in lab-grown neurons.
UChicago Medicine: ‘A one-and-done treatment’: UChicago Medicine among the first in the U.S. to use TIL therapy for advanced skin cancer
An Illinois woman recently became the first patient in the state to receive commercially approved tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy at the University of Chicago Medicine. Her response to the therapy has been dramatic, with tumors shrinking significantly. TIL therapy works by extracting T cells from the patient’s tumor, expanding them in the lab, and then reinfusing them into the patient. While it shows promise, only about 30% to 50% of patients benefit, and long-term remission is not guaranteed.
STAT: Rising rates of skin cancer: The cost of FDA’s inaction on novel sunscreen products
In an opinion piece, Darrell Rigel, MD, writes that a decade after the Sunscreen Innovation Act was signed into law in 2014, the FDA has yet to approve any new sunscreen ingredients. Despite bipartisan support and promises of improved sun protection, the FDA's regulatory delays mean Americans still lack access to advanced sunscreens available in other countries. These delays contribute to high skin cancer rates in the US, the most common cancer in the country, with 1 American dying from melanoma every hour. The FDA's outdated approach, including excessive testing and reliance on unrealistic models, contrasts with the more effective and innovative sunscreen options used abroad, Rigel wrote. He argues that the FDA should prioritize real-world evidence and align with global standards to enhance sun protection and reduce skin cancer rates.
Fast Company: An octopus could hold the secret to protecting your skin from the sun
Researchers at Northeastern University have developed a new sunscreen ingredient inspired by octopuses, which improves UV protection and avoids the white cast typical of zinc oxide-based sunscreens. The new ingredient, Xanthochrome, is photostable, enhances UV protection by 28%, and provides additional benefits such as hydration and increased collagen production. Lab tests show it does not damage coral or act as an endocrine disruptor.
Technology Networks: Genetically Engineered Skin Microbes Could Fuel Future Mosquito Repellents
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, and Stanford University have developed genetically engineered human skin bacteria that reduce mosquito attraction. By modifying Staphylococcus epidermidis and Corynebacterium amycolatum to eliminate L-(+)-lactic acid production—an odor that attracts mosquitoes—the engineered bacteria significantly reduced mosquito attraction and feeding behavior in mice for up to 11 days. The next phase of research will involve testing these bacteria on human skin to assess their practical application and effectiveness in preventing mosquito bites and the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
Have you seen any dermatology headlines this week that we may have missed? Share with us by emailing our team at DTEditor@mmhgroup.com.
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