Craig A. Elmets

Long-Term Topical Tretinoin and Excess Mortality in Older Patients

The possibility that nonmelanoma skin cancers might be prevented by use of topical and systemic retinoids has long been of interest, although few data are available on use in patients with extensive actinic damage. Recently, investigators conducted a placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 0.1% tretinoin cream in subjects at risk for nonmelanoma skin cancers. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the study enrolled 1131 veterans at six sites …

Tanning Beds Are Human Carcinogens: Report from the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is a section of the World Health Organization whose mission is to develop strategies for cancer

UVA Radiation: More Serious Than Previously Thought

For decades, solar radiation in the UVB spectrum (290 nm–320 nm) has been recognized as the primary etiologic agent of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) develop in skin exposed to UVB and produce genetic alterations in DNA that cause cutaneous squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas. The increasing use of UVA tanning beds and the unclear role of specific UV wavelengths in the development …

Baricitinib, a New Oral JAK1/JAK2 Inhibitor for Psoriasis

When interleukin (IL)-12, IL-23, IL-22, IL-17, IL-6, IFN-γ, and type I interferons bind to their receptors, JAK1 and JAK2 proteins are activated,

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Recommendation on Visual Screening Examinations for Skin Cancer

Sponsoring Organization: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Target Audience: Dermatologists, primary clinicians Background and Objective In an effort to limit the number of new melanomas, adults are encouraged to undergo periodic visual screenings by physicians, as part of their preventive healthcare regimen. The USPSTF has examined the available evidence and prepared this draft evidence review, with a focus on asymptomatic adults without history of skin cancer. Limitations Only two studies were identified, neither of which was a randomized, controlled trial. One examined the effects of regular screening exams on the reduction in melanoma deaths, and the other …

Combinatorial Therapy for Segmental Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a depigmenting condition that affects 0.5% to 1.0% of individuals. It can have devastating emotional effects on afflicted patients. The

Methotrexate vs. Adalimumab for Psoriasis: Which Is More Effective?

Treatment options for moderate to severe psoriasis usually require systemic medications. Although a number of reports evaluate the safety, efficacy,

Emergency Department Visits for Indoor Tanning Bed Injuries

The FDA recently reclassified indoor tanning devices that emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation from low risk (class I) to moderate risk (class II). This action was prompted primarily by data showing that indoor tanning bed use is linked to both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers. Tanning bed use can also result in acute adverse effects, but little information has been published on such incidence. In …

Risk for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Associated with Immunosuppressive Treatment of Autoimmune Disease

Recipients of some (e.g., cyclosporine, azathioprine) but not all (systemic corticosteroids) forms of immunosuppression increase risk for developing

Vitamin B3 Helps Prevent Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers in High-Risk Adults

Nicotinamide (a form of vitamin B3) reduces the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) in high-risk adults, according to study results released