In this episode of Derms and Conditions, our host, James Q. Del Rosso, DO, interviews pediatric dermatologist Lisa Swanson, MD, live at Winter Clinical Miami 2024 to review conference highlights and discuss diagnosing and treating molluscum contagiosum, herpes labialis in the adolescent population, and newer and emerging therapies for chronic skin diseases like atopic dermatitis and acne.
Dr Swanson discusses the recent FDA approval of cantharidin and berdazimer gel for molluscum contagiosum and the challenges of diagnosing single lesions. She highlights the importance of providing accurate information to schools and daycares about the contagiousness of the virus and the unnecessary quarantine measures that are often enforced.
The pair share their excitement about the ability to profoundly impact patients' lives with newer therapies for chronic conditions, particularly bimekizumab, an anti-IL17A and anti-IL17F for plaque psoriasis, and oral deucravacitinib, a TYK2 inhibitor for plaque psoriasis that now has 3-year efficacy and safety data.
They also discuss the presentation of herpes labialis in adolescents, with Dr Swanson emphasizing the marked severity of the primary outbreak, the importance of counseling these patients on managing outbreaks, and making efforts to destigmatize this condition among this population.
Dr Swanson also looks forward several anticipated FDA approvals which include lebrikizumab for atopic dermatitis, both topical tapinarof and topical roflumilast also for atopic dermatitis including young children, and the approval of topical ruxolitinib extended to younger children. She also emphasizes that emerging access to acne medications in children of younger ages is important as puberty develops earlier. She discusses the effectiveness of clindamycin, benzoyl peroxide, and adapalene as a once daily combination treatment for acne and the availability of topical clascoterone, an androgen receptor inhibitor, which can be used twice daily for both adolescent girls and boys with acne.
They conclude with a discussion on the importance of character and kindness in the field of dermatology based on a presentation at the meeting by special guest speaker Lori Greiner, which Dr Swanson demonstrates through her expressed willingness to help those without access to a pediatric dermatologist and an open-door policy for clinical consultation.