FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 28, 2006
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Dermatology Nursing News Briefs
Patient education is increasingly important in treating allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and mycosis fungoides. These topics and others are covered in the December 2006 issue of the journal.
With New Allergens Emerging, Patch Testing, Patient Education Needed
Patch testing is necessary to determine specific allergens causing a patient’s allergic contact dermatitis. As new chemicals are introduced into the environment, additional patch testing is needed to diagnose patient sensitivity to these potential allergens. In the December 2006 issue of Dermatology Nursing, Christen M. Mowad, MD, describes common and emerging allergens that cause allergic contact dermatitis. These include fragrances, botanicals, bacitracin (an over-the-counter topical antibiotic), corticosteroids and cocamidopropyl betaine (a thickening or foaming agent found in cosmetics, shampoos, and other personal care products).
Mowad says educating patients on possible sources of allergen exposure, synonyms for the allergens and common uses for the allergens is critical to managing patients and resolving their dermatitis. (Allergens of New and Emerging Significance; Christen M. Mowad, MD; Dermatology Nursing; December 2006; www.dermatologynursing.net)
Patient Education Key to Managing Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, itching, inflammatory skin disease that affects infants, children and adults. In the December 2006 issue of Dermatology Nursing, Jennifer D. Peterson, MD, and Lawrence S. Chan, MD, discuss the latest knowledge for detecting AD and common triggers, prognosis, treatment, prevention and patient education.
Peterson and Chan note it is crucial to ask patients about possible AD triggers as this will help determine the type of AD and course of treatment. Topical steroids remain the first line of therapy for AD; this treatment is low-cost with proven clinical effectiveness, with a variety of options including creams, lotions, ointments, solutions, gels and foams. Peterson and Chan recommend tailoring steroid treatment to each patient based on potency, age and location of disease. Topical inhibitors, which have anti-inflammatory effects but do not contain steroids, are also available.
Health care providers should work with patients to prevent AD from occurring in individuals at risk for the disease and also intervene to decrease the likelihood of recurrence. The authors say patient and family education is an integral part of managing AD and is vital for patient compliance and overall clinical improvement. (A Comprehensive Management Guide For Atopic Dermatitis; Jennifer D. Peterson, MD; Lawrence S. Chan, MD; Dermatology Nursing; December 2006; www.dermatologynursing.net)
Ongoing Therapy and Education Needed for Mycosis Fungoides Patients
Mycosis fungoides, a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma in which T-cell malignancies develop in the skin, causes great physical and psychological stress for patients. In addition to treating the lesions and tumors that appear, patients must also deal with the highly visible nature of the disease. Sareeta R.S. Parker, MD, and Bridget Bradley, RN, FNP, discuss the disease, therapeutic options and expectations of therapy in the December issue of Dermatology Nursing.
Therapies include topical treatments, phototherapy, retinoids, radiation and photopheresis, and clinical trials are being conducted throughout the country to investigate new therapies, say the authors. Parker and Bradley also recommend patients join support groups to share experiences and concerns.
The authors note the cause of mycosis fungoides is unknown and there is no cure; however, with the many therapeutic options available, patients often experience partial or complete remissions. Parker and Bradley encourage dermatology nurses to continue educating these patients about the disease and treatment options, as lifelong therapy and monitoring are needed. (Treatment of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma/Mycosis Fungoides; Sareeta R.S. Parker, MD; Bridget Bradley, RN, FNP; Dermatology Nursing; December 2006; www.dermatologynursing.net)
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Members of the media: Feel free to use these news briefs as filler in your publications. For more information, or if you would like to interview one of the authors, contact Linda Alexander at linda@ajj.com or 856-256-2300, ext. 2411.
Dermatology Nursing is the official journal of the Dermatology Nurses' Association (DNA). The journal is nursing's premier skin care resource and contains state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed articles on all aspects of skin and wound care.