Dermatology
Dermatology is the specialty that deals with the treatment of all diseases related to the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes. The most common dermatologic conditions are acne and eczema; there are also many other common skin disorders such as psoriasis, rosacea, warts and rashes. Other dermatologic conditions include those of the mouth or oral cavity (i.e., gingivitis and herpes), which fall under a subspecialty known as oral medicine.
There are several types of dermatology:
- Clinical Dermatology- This is where most patients will visit to be diagnosed and treated for their condition by a physician or nurse practitioner who specializes in this field.
- Cosmetic Dermatology- While this is still considered medical care, it’s main focus is on aesthetics rather than just treating an illness/condition with medication like clinical would do.* Pediatric Dermatology- As its name implies this treats children’s skin issues including rashes from food allergies (such as milk) or eczema flare ups due to teething among other things. There are also many rarer conditions in pediatric patients too, like hemangiomas which can be removed surgically.
Dermatology Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that test new medications or treatments. These trials help doctors decide whether a new medication or treatment is safe, effective, and better than current ones. Clinical trials also help researchers determine the right doses of new medications and how often they should be taken.
If you choose to enroll in a clinical trial, you must give your written permission first. You may ask your doctor to explain all of the details before you make your decision, or ask for time to think about it before making your decision.
Even after you have enrolled in a study, you may leave at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. If there are payments (to compensate for travel costs, for example), an individual cannot be paid simply for being in a trial; however, some patients might argue that the treatment itself is valuable enough that payment is warranted.
What is Dermatology?
Dermatology is the study of skin, hair, and nails.
The cause of a dermatological condition depends on each case. Some conditions are due to genetics, while others are caused by environmental factors.
There are many possible treatments for dermatological conditions. A doctor will typically start with one treatment and then move on to another if needed. These treatments can involve medications or minor surgeries.
Most people have had some form of dermatological condition in their lifetime — including acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes and hives.
Dermatology Symptoms
- Symptoms of dermatology conditions vary depending on what type of condition it is.
- Some skin conditions, such as eczema, may cause itchiness and redness. Others may result in the formation of blisters or swelling.
Dermatology Treatments
There are a wide variety of treatments available. These depend on the type of dermatological problem you have, and your current health.
- Acne: This can be treated with topical creams and ointments, or medication taken by mouth in the form of tablets.
- Psoriasis: This is usually treated with creams. Some people may get ultraviolet (UV) light treatment from a special UV lamp called a phototherapy unit.
- Eczema: This is usually treated with creams, but sometimes can be treated with tablets as well. Most often it is treated by keeping the skin moisturized with lotions or oils and by avoiding any triggers that may cause an outbreak.
Is there a cure for Dermatology conditions?
While there’s currently no cure for Dermatology conditions, there are treatment options available. Medical interventions include both prescription and non-prescription medications. The following medications have been shown to be effective in treating Dermatology conditions:
- Mupirocin topical
- Bactroban topical
- Polysporin topical
- Polymyxin B-bacitracin topical
Clinical trials are another potential treatment option. While not all clinical trials lead to medical breakthroughs, they’re a great way to get access to the latest treatments while also contributing to science and medicine. Because of the possibility that one day these trials may lead to treatments that benefit you or those you love, it’s crucial that people with Dermatology conditions participate in clinical trials whenever possible.
Why participate in a clinical trial for a Dermatology condition?
For some people, the thought of going on a clinical trial can be intimidating. While it’s true that clinical trials have a reputation for being risky, they are an established part of modern medicine and tend to be safe and effective. Many patients who participate in clinical trials do not experience any negative side effects.
One of the most common reasons we hear from dermatology patients is access to experimental treatments that are not yet available to the general public. In many cases, these treatments may help alleviate or prevent life-threatening skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, or acne—conditions for which there are few approved treatments and which disproportionately affect young adults. Analyses have shown that access to these clinical trials results in an added 2 years of life expectancy among participants!
What are some of the most common dermatological conditions?
Acne is the most common skin condition. It is caused by a hormone called androgens, and it affects many teenagers and young adults. The main cause of both acne vulgaris (acne on the face) and acne rosacea which causes pimples in the nose or on the cheeks but not on the forehead. It is one of the most common forms of skin cancer but needs an expert to detect early.
The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis where there are many dry red patches on the skin with a feeling of tightness, itching and burning sensations. Eczema can also affect other areas like hands, elbows, thighs as well as eyelids, lips or genitals.
Psoriasis affects about 1% of people over 50 and results from an overactive immune system attacking healthy cells causing raised red scaly patches on the skin that may be covered with silvery scales especially in folds such as behind ears or underarms and around nails or genitals.
Rosacea occurs when vessels inside blood vessels dilate due to a build up of fats called triglycerides under pressure causing redness, flushing, blushing and headaches that last for months at a time or even years in some cases although it should clear up after 2-3 years in 80% cases. Warts are also known as verruca vulgaris because they are very common warts found on hands feet arms legs lips mouth genitals etc…The cause is unknown however they are very contagious being passed from person to person via touch or by close contact with infected areas
You can find out if a clinical trial is right for you by using our screening tool.
Whether you’ve participated in previous studies, or you’re a first-timer, using our screening tool is a simple way to find out if there’s a clinical trial that’s right for you.
Our screening tool may be able to confirm if you are likely to qualify for one of our current skin disease trials—or to receive alerts when new studies become available. You’ll be able to see the qualifications criteria and general information about each clinical trial.
You can also screen your location and see which dermatology research trials are being conducted near you.