The status of treatment for plantar warts in 2021: No definitive advancements in decades for a common dermatology disease.

Plantar warts are among the most common skin conditions and are classically resistant to treatment. To perform an evidence-based evaluation of the efficacy and safety of available treatment options for plantar warts, we conducted a systematic review of PubMed and Cochrane databases to identify large interventional and observational studies involving more than 100 patients who were treated for plantar warts from inception to October 2020. We identified only nine contributions meeting our inclusion criteria (N ≥ 100), representing 1,657 adult and pediatric patients with plantar warts.

Attention all anti-vaccinators: The cutaneous adverse events from the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are not an excuse to avoid them!

Despite the growing availability of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in the general population, a significant proportion of individuals demonstrate vaccine hesitancy. We sought to consolidate and update current evidence on cutaneous adverse events from COVID-19 vaccines to aid in the education and counseling of patients concerned about potential cutaneous side effects. We conducted a literature review of PubMed in May 2021 to identify reports of cutaneous events after vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines (postauthorization clinical reports pertaining to the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines were limited).

Reflectance confocal microscopy: Melanocytic and nonmelanocytic.

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a noninvasive imaging tool that has the potential to revolutionize dermatology. Extensive research in this area in conjunction with the recent assignment of reimbursement codes has made the clinical use of this technology a practical reality. Though there is awareness and use of this technology at large academic centers, a knowledge gap still remains in interpreting RCM images among the dermatology community.

Effects of tobacco and vaping on the skin.

Cigarette and electronic cigarette use are significant public health concerns across the United States. Tobacco use remains the single most preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Electronic cigarettes initially emerged as a better alternative to conventional cigarettes and for promoting smoking cessation; however, current evidence reveals similar deleterious health implications caused by both products on almost all organ systems, including the skin.

Nutrition and Water.

Water has numerous functions necessary for survival including cellular homeostasis, solvent properties for dissolving ions and solutes, thermoregulation, and transport of waste and nutrients. Despite the established beneficial role of water in skin physiology, the optimal methods for skin hydration and requirements for daily water consumption remain elusive. This review summarizes the cellular and molecular biology of skin hydration, the debate and current recommendations of daily water requirements, and the latest research on interventions to improve skin hydration by both internal and external means of water exposure.

The impact of gender in mentor-mentee success: Results from the Women's Dermatologic Society Mentorship Survey.

Background: Mentorship can have a profound impact on the success and happiness of a mentee while also providing a sense of fulfillment and enrichment for the mentor. Both officially designated and spontaneously chosen mentors can be useful for protégés as they navigate through their training and professional work environment while striving to obtain the optimal work-life balance. Different genders can have variable experiences, in both their personal lives managing family obligations and their professional lives as dermatologists, which may affect the advice and guidance offered.

Updates on the diagnosis, current and future therapeutic options in Merkel-cell carcinoma.

Merkel-cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and extremely aggressive nonmelanocytic cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. Historically, it has been associated with limited therapy options and poor prognosis. While its incidence has been rising over the last two decades, recent discoveries and a better understanding of its pathogenesis, viral association and immunologic features have allowed for the emergence of new therapies.