On the Basis of Sex: Impact and Treatment of Toenail Onychomycosis in Female Patients.

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail unit affecting approximately five percent of the global population and representing 50 percent of all nail dystrophies seen in clinical practice. Patients with onychomycosis can suffer significant pain in addition to physical and psychological distress, which may seriously impair their quality of life (QoL). It is well established that onychomycosis prevalence is impacted by patient characteristics, including age and systemic comorbidities.

Risk Factors and Treatment Trends for Onychomycosis: A Case-Control Study of Onychomycosis Patients in the All of Us Research Program.

: Onychomycosis is the most common nail disorder seen in clinical practice, and it may have significant impact on patient quality of life. Understanding risk factors for onychomycosis may help to devise screening and treatment guidelines for populations that are more susceptible to this infection. Using a national database, we aimed to explore associations between onychomycosis and age, sex, and underlying medical conditions, as well as to examine current onychomycosis treatment trends.

Polyurethane Tubing to Minimize Pain During Nail Injections.

Nail matrix and nail bed injections are painful and can cause considerable patient anxiety. Because most patients receive injections in both hands, some methods to decrease periprocedural anxiety, such as squeezing a stress ball, cannot be utilized. Clenching a length of polyurethane tubing with the teeth during nail injections is a safe and cost-effective strategy that may decrease anxiety and increase the likelihood that patients will return for follow-up injections, thereby leading to better clinical outcomes.

Poor Antifungal Coverage for Onychomycosis in a Cross-Sectional Analysis of Medicaid Formularies.

Background: Onychomycosis is the most common nail disease seen in clinical practice. Medication safety, severity of disease, comorbidities, concomitant medications, patient age, and cost are all important considerations when treating onychomycosis. Because cost may affect treatment decisions, we sought to analyze Medicaid formulary coverage of onychomycosis antifungals.

Updated Perspectives on the Diagnosis and Management of Onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis is the most common nail disease encountered in clinical practice and can cause pain, difficulty with ambulation, and psycho-social problems. A thorough history and physical examination, including dermoscopy, should be performed for each patient presenting with nail findings suggestive of onychomycosis. Several approaches are available for definitive diagnostic testing, including potassium hydroxide and microscopy, fungal culture, histopathology, polymerase chain reaction, or a combination of techniques.

Post-Residency Training Instead of Medical Student Research Fellowships Will Improve Dermatology Patient Care and Excellence.

Research fellowships among prospective dermatology residency applicants are becoming increasingly popular. These fellowships provide opportunities for mentorship, publications, and clinical experience, but unpaid positions impose a significant financial burden. We advocate for a more holistic analysis of dermatology applicants, with less emphasis on publication quantity, and propose allocating funds for post-residency fellowships in underserved areas of dermatology.

The pharmacotherapeutic management of nail unit and acral melanomas.

Introduction: Acral and nail unit melanomas are rare subtypes of melanoma, which have poor prognoses. Current guidelines for optimal treatment are lacking. Recent clinical trials have evaluated new pharmacotherapeutic agents for melanoma treatment, with dramatically improved survival rates; however, studies on acral and nail unit melanomas are limited in comparison to trials on cutaneous melanoma.