Dear Physician Assistant:
Biologic therapies for psoriasis are once again in the news, as speculation swirls around the withdrawal of the biologic license application for an investigational IL-12/23 inhibitor. The availability of biologic agents has unquestionably been a boon for many psoriasis patients, but these very effective agents also pose systemic safety risks for which clinicians must always be on guard. Perhaps, to some extent, the dermatology field has taken for granted the relative safety of the topical therapies that we most frequently prescribe to treat the most common dermatoses.
It’s not, of course, that the commonly prescribed topical therapies are without risks. The beauty of topical therapy, though, is that it delivers active drugs to the site of involvement and thereby reduces systemic exposure and associated risks. Plus, the evidence continues to show that through thoughtful formulation drug developers can minimize or counteract local reactions. Finally, as explored in this month’s cover article, optimized formulations can even facilitate the safe and effective co-administration of therapies previously thought to be incompatible.
The dermatology specialty has never had more tools available to manage skin diseases. Hopefully, DermPerspectives provides information you can use in clinical practice to harness those tools. I wish you much happiness and success in your endeavors.
Best wishes,
Coyle S. Connolly, DO
Medical Editor
TOP 5 ARTICLES FROM 2011
- Exploring the Versatility of Topical Tretinoin
New findings question commonly held perceptions about tretinoin and suggest that, in the right formulation, the drug can be more patient-friendly than previously thought.
By Coyle S. Connolly, DO
- SDPA Membership Benefits
Whether you’re already a member or thinking of joining, you should consider all that the SDPA has to offer.
By A Q&A with Jacki Kment, MPAS, PA-C
- Education and Skin Care: Key Components in Management of Mild to Moderate Acne Vulgaris
By Joseph Bikowski, MD, FAAD
- Exam Prep: Vacation Vaccination for a 24-year-old Honeymooner
To help PAs stay sharp for the certification exam, this new feature of DermPerspectives tests your knowledge of medical and/or surgical subjects.
- Letter From The Editor
Sides Media