Impact of Persistent Alopecia on Quality of Life in Childhood Cancer and Transplant Survivors.

Background: While alopecia associated with chemotherapy, radiation, or hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (C/R/HSCT) is transient in most children, prior reports indicate nearly one in seven childhood cancer survivors suffer from persistent alopecia after their treatment is completed. The objective of our study was to better characterize the impact of C/R/HSCT-associated persistent alopecia on patient quality of life.

Procedure: A cross-sectional cohort study of patients with a history of C/R/HSCT who were seen at Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Hospital Dermatology from August 2023 to February 2024 for any indication was conducted.

Examining racial and ethnic disparities in diagnosis and access to care in infantile atopic dermatitis in the USA: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disorder that is common in children and associated with medical and psychosocial comorbidities. Previous studies have shown that there are significant racial disparities in healthcare utilization in children with AD; however, the literature on disparities in dermatology access is limited.

Objectives: To identify differences in the diagnosis of AD and access to dermatological care by race and ethnicity in infants with AD.

Urticaria in infants: A single-institution retrospective study.

Urticaria in infants can cause significant anxiety in parents, especially if a trigger cannot be identified. In a retrospective study of 246 infants seen for urticaria of unknown etiology at Boston Children's Hospital, 88.2% had resolution of urticaria within 6 weeks.

Applications of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Skin Organoids in Dermatology.

Pluripotent stem cells have the potential to become any cell type, and recently, they have been used to create organoids that can recapitulate several pertinent features of human organs. Skin organoids have been developed that possess many of the crucial accessory organs, including hair follicles, sebaceous glands, nerves, fat, and melanocytes. These skin organoids present the opportunity to study skin development and disease as well as perform screens to identify new drug candidates.

Pearls and updates: cutaneous signs of systemic malignancy.

Purpose Of Review: Children with systemic malignancies can present with concomitant dermatological manifestations. Cutaneous findings can occur before, during or after diagnosis. Recognizing these features can aid in diagnosis, inform prognosis, and help determine appropriate treatment.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis-like acute graft-versus-host disease in pediatric bone marrow transplant patients: Case series and review of the literature.

Background/objectives: Complications of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) include acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). Severe cutaneous aGVHD can present with generalized erythroderma, desquamation, and bullae which can mimic toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). TEN occurs in response to a culprit medication.

Reimagining the Clinical Competency Committee to Enhance Education and Prepare for Competency-Based Time-Variable Advancement.

Assessing residents and clinical fellows is a high-stakes activity. Effective assessment is important throughout training so that identified areas of strength and weakness can guide educational planning to optimize outcomes. Assessment has historically been underemphasized although medical education oversight organizations have strengthened requirements in recent years.

Supportive Oncodermatology in Pediatric Patients.

Cutaneous reactions to targeted therapies are varied and common. Pediatric dermatology literature is emerging on the specific types and prevalence of cutaneous reactions to targeted therapies that hone in on membrane-bound receptors, intracellular signaling targets, and antiangiogenesis agents, as well as targeted immunotherapies. Data regarding the timing, severity, and treatment algorithms are most plentiful for BRAF, MEK, and EGFR inhibitors.

Cutaneous Manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, affecting people worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 infection is a multisystem disease with potential for detrimental effects on various systemic organs. It affects people of all ages with varying degrees of disease severity.

Expanding the palette of pediatric playthings: A call to action for pediatric dermatologists.

Children recognize race and skin color from a young age. Given the important role of play in the development of children's understanding of social norms and cultural values, it is essential to incorporate toys and other educational materials with diverse skin tones to teach children about race and skin color. Analyses of children's books and toys have shown a lack of diversity in representation of races and skin types.

Diversity in pediatric dermatology: A report from the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance and a call to action.

Background/objectives: The Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA) connects pediatric dermatologists, trainees, basic scientists, allied health professionals, and patient advocates to improve the lives of children with skin disease through research. As a training pipeline for future pediatric dermatologists and steward of research in the field, PeDRA has a responsibility to examine its history and take actionable steps to diversify its membership, grant recipients, study leads, research priorities, and leadership.

Methods: In 2020, PeDRA formed an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force to address this need.

Achieving equity and inclusion in pediatric dermatology research: Priorities and considerations.

As we increase our focus and energy on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)-relevant research, we must consider the "what, why, and how" of our work. The goals of this paper are to highlight unique issues pediatric dermatologists face in providing equitable care, pose considerations when reporting data on race and ethnicity, and advocate for standardized classification of race and ethnicity in research.

Supporting Underrepresented in Medicine (UIM) and non-UIM Trainees Applying into Dermatology: A Qualitative Analysis.

Background: Recently, there have been calls to improve diversity among the dermatology workforce, with emphasis placed on the resident selection process and trainee pipeline. However, there is limited data on the perspectives of dermatology applicants, especially among UIM trainees, and the support that they need and want to successfully apply in dermatology.

Methods: To assess trainee perspectives, we disseminated a survey to medical students, interns (matched into dermatology), and dermatology residents asking how dermatology residency programs can best support trainees through the dermatology application process.

Characterizing Dermatology Interest Groups (DIGs) in US Medical Schools: A Nationwide Survey of Student Leaders.

Background: Dermatology is among the least racially/ethnically diverse medical specialties in the US Dermatology Interest Groups (DIGs). DIGs may play a critical role in addressing these disparities by facilitating early exposure and mentorship, both associated with higher rates of medical students pursuing specific fields.

Objective: This study sought to characterize the activities, goals, and challenges of DIGs in medical schools nationwide.

Covid-19 skin manifestations: an update.

Purpose Of Review: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or COVID-19 is a multisystemic disease manifesting mainly with dry cough, fever, and pneumonia and can present with a myriad of cutaneous manifestations. This chapter will review SARS-CoV-2 associated cutaneous findings, including incidence and relevance to the pediatric population.

Recent Findings: The most commonly reported cutaneous findings described for COVID-19 in adults and children were chilblains-like lesions, followed by maculopapular eruption, urticarial lesions, vesicular lesions, and livedoid lesions.

Continuing patient care to underserved communities and medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic through a teledermatology student-run clinic.

A virtual pediatric dermatology student-run clinic was initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person educational opportunities were limited. The clinic's aim is to provide high-quality dermatologic care to a diverse, underserved pediatric patient population while teaching trainees how to diagnose and manage common skin conditions. In our initial eight sessions, we served 37 patients, predominantly those with skin of color, and had a low no-show rate of 9.