Browsing by Subject "General dermatology"

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    Hydrocolloid dressing versus conventional wound care after dermatologic surgery
    (Elsevier, 2021-12-21) Holmes, Samantha P.; Rivera, Sydney; Hooper, Perry B.; Slaven, James E.; Que, Syril Keena T.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: Hydrocolloid dressings (HCD) are helpful in chronic wound care, but research is limited in acute postoperative wounds. HCD can potentially be incorporated into a simplified wound care regimen after excisional surgeries. Objective: To examine whether a one-time HCD application after dermatologic surgery results in greater patient satisfaction and improved postoperative outcomes compared with conventional daily dressings (CDD). Methods: We examined patients who underwent Mohs or standard surgical excision with linear closure followed by HCD. The patients additionally had a history of excisional surgery with CDD in the past 5 years. A modified version of the validated Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire was administered. Results: The survey response rate was 74.4% (64/86). Compared with CDD, HCD rated higher in comfort, convenience, scar appearance, and simplicity of wound care instructions (P < .0001). Nearly all patients (96.8%) preferred HCD over CDD. Limitations: Variability in time from prior dermatologic surgery may introduce recall bias. Prior surgeries involving CDD were sometimes performed by a different surgeon, which could introduce other confounding factors. Conclusions: A simplified wound care regimen involving HCD can potentially lead to increased comfort, convenience, simplicity, and a subjective improvement in scar appearance, though additional studies are needed.
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    Smoke Evacuation in Dermatology: A National Cross-Sectional Analysis Examining the Behaviors and Perceptions of Dermatologists and Dermatologic Surgeons
    (National Society for Cutaneous Medicine, 2021) Hooper, Perry; Holmes, Samantha; Que, Syril Keena T.; Dermatology, School of Medicine
    Background: Despite associated hazards of surgical smoke, there is limited data regarding smoke evacuation practices among dermatologists. Such information is especially relevant at this time as dermatologic procedures often involve exposure to aerosolized particles and known carcinogens. Objective: To examine the barriers underlying historically low utilization of smoke protection among dermatologists Methods: A survey was sent to dermatologists through the Association of Professors of Dermatology (APD) list-serv and a cross-sectional analysis of responses was performed. Results: A total of 85 dermatologists responded. Twenty-four (28.2%) reported use of smoke evacuators during > 50% of dermatologic procedures. The odds of using smoke evacuation was 2.8 times higher in dermatologists with 10 or more years of experience (95% CI, 1.1-7.5; p=0.0358). The most commonly reported barriers to smoke evacuation were limited staffing (63.5%) and set-up time (61.2%). Sixty-seven (78.8%) respondents reported that a hands-free evacuator could potentially increase the use of smoke evacuation in their practices. Limitations: Survey sent on academic listserv with relatively small sample size and limited generalizability. Conclusions: Smoke evacuation remains low among dermatologists despite the risks. Identifying reasons for low utilization and receptiveness to potential solutions is necessary to improve safety practices relating to smoke evacuation.
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    Vaccine considerations for adult dermatology patients on immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies: a clinical review
    (University of California, 2021-09-09) Tan, Alice J.; Streicher, Jenna L.; Merola, Joseph F.; Noe, Megan H.; Dermatology, School of Medicine
    Adults with chronic inflammatory skin disease are at increased risk of vaccine-preventable illnesses and infections, likely because of the underlying disease itself and also their treatment with immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory medications. Despite the association between these agents and increased susceptibility to infection, vaccination rates in dermatology patients remain low. Although preventative care such as vaccinations is typically managed by primary care providers, dermatologists serve a critical role in spreading awareness of the specific risks of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory agents and promoting understanding of individualized vaccine recommendations. In this review, we provide evidence-based information on vaccine recommendations for adult dermatology patients, specific to age and medication use.