Editor’s Note - August 2014
August is Psoriasis Awareness Month. About 7.5 million Americans suffer from psoriasis;1 of which, 80% have a condition known as plaque psoriasis—characterized by patches of raised, reddish skin covered with silvery-white scales. In 2004, the treatment for psoriasis in the United States was calculated at $1.2 billion.1
Research suggests that comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and high body mass index all increase the cardiovascular risk for individuals who have mild-to-severe psoriasis.2
Due to these serious health associations, primary care practitioners should stay vigilant in recognizing the typical appearance of psoriasis and consult with a dermatologist for diagnosis to begin immediate treatment.
Consultant360 recently highlighted several other dermatology studies:
• Many skin infections do not require antibiotics. Updated guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America find that most skin and soft tissue infections are mild and will heal on their own without the use of antibiotics.3
• Soap and alcohol-based hand rubs should be used for routine hand hygiene. The Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America released new guidelines for hand hygiene in healthcare facilities including recommendations for 62% alcohol content in soaps, glove protection, and avoiding triclosan.4
• Sunscreen alone is not enough to prevent melanoma. Sunscreen is used to reduce the amount of DNA damage by ultraviolet (UV), which delays melanoma, but researchers found that sunscreen alone cannot protect against UV light.5
• Sunburn in early life raises skin cancer risk by 80%. Experiencing 5 or more blistering sunburns between the age of 15 and 20 translates to a 68% greater risk of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and an 80% increased risk
of melanoma.6
Sincerely,
Pooja Shah
Managing Editor, Consultant and Consultant360
References:
1.American Academy of Dermatology. Psoriasis. www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/conditions/psoriasis. Accessed July 28, 2014.
2.Neimann AL, Shin DB, Wang X, et al. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with psoriasis. J Am Acad of Dermatol. 2006;55(5):829-835.
3.Potts M. Guidelines: many skin infections do not require antibiotics. Consultant360. 2014. www.consultant360.com/exclusives/guidelines-many-skin-infections-do-not-require-antibiotics. Accessed July 28, 2014.
4.Canales M. New guidelines issued on hand hygiene in healthcare settings. Consultant360. 2014. www.consultant360.com/exclusives/new-guidelines-issued-hand-hygiene-healthcare-settings. Accessed July 28, 2014.
5.Canales M. Sunscreen alone is not enough to prevent melanoma. Consultant360. 2014. www.consultant360.com/exclusives/sunscreen-alone-not-enough-prevent-melanoma. Accessed July 28, 2014.
6.Potts M. Sunburn in early life raises skin cancer risk by 80%. Consultant360. 2014. www.consultant360.com/exclusives/sunburn-early-life-raises-skin-cancer-risk-80. Accessed July 28, 2014.