Publications by authors named "Seemal R Desai"
Importance: Data and educational gaps in populations with skin of color contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in psoriasis treatment. Cohort A of the VISIBLE study includes participants with psoriasis who self-identify as belonging to a racial or ethnic category other than White, across the entire skin-tone spectrum.
Objective: To evaluate efficacy, quality of life, and adverse event outcomes among participants with moderate to severe psoriasis and skin of color who received guselkumab, 100 mg, for up to 48 weeks.
Importance: Varying hair textures and hair care practices contribute to nuances in clinical presentation and management of scalp psoriasis across diverse patient populations. Cohort B of the VISIBLE trial enrolled participants with moderate to severe scalp psoriasis and skin of color, across the skin-tone spectrum.
Objective: To evaluate efficacy, quality of life, and adverse event outcomes of guselkumab, 100 mg, among participants with moderate to severe scalp psoriasis and skin of color over 48 weeks.
Thiamidol: A Breakthrough Innovation in the Treatment of Hyperpigmentation.
J Drugs Dermatol
June 2025
Cutaneous hyperpigmentation, including melasma, solar lentigines, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), results in a significant impact on patients’ quality of life. Unfortunately, many currently available over-the-counter (OTC) options have been limited by efficacy, safety, and tolerability concerns. Additionally, limited patient awareness and education on disease manifestation and root causes of hyperpigmentation often leave patients undiagnosed and untreated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Race and ethnicity as population descriptors in research and clinical practice have often been a subject of debate, drawing heightened scrutiny in recent years. Criticism focuses on their oversimplification and misapplication, which fail to capture the complexity of human health and genetic diversity. There is growing recognition that these categories, rooted in outdated social constructs, do not accurately reflect biological differences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Two phase 3 trials (TRuE-V1 and TRuE-V2) demonstrated that a topical formulation of the Janus kinase (JAK) 1/JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib significantly improved repigmentation versus vehicle cream in adolescent and adult patients with vitiligo. This post hoc analysis of pooled TRuE-V1/TRuE-V2 data evaluated efficacy and safety by baseline demographics and clinical characteristics.
Methods: Patients aged ≥ 12 years with nonsegmental vitiligo were randomized to vehicle cream or 1.
Importance: Diverse racial and ethnic representation in clinical trials has been limited, not representative of the US population, and the subject of pending US Food and Drug Administration guidance. Psoriasis presentation and disease burden can vary by skin pigmentation, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic differences. Overall, there are limited primary data on clinical response, genetics, and quality of life in populations with psoriasis and skin of color (SoC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdvances in Technology for Melanoma Diagnosis and Prognosis: An Expert Consensus Panel.
J Drugs Dermatol
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- - The expert panel focused on advancing the diagnosis and prognosis of cutaneous melanoma (CM) due to its high mortality rate, reviewing new tech advancements like gene expression profiling (GEP) and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).
- - A thorough literature search resulted in 200 articles, but only 19 were selected for review, leading to 7 consensus statements on testing approaches, categorized by varying levels of recommendation strength.
- - Key findings suggest that specific GEP tests can help accurately diagnose unclear cases and enhance prognostic evaluations, ultimately supporting better clinical decisions for CM patients.
Article Synopsis
- Oral isotretinoin is a key treatment for severe nodular acne, with newer formulations like lidose and micronized isotretinoin developed to improve effectiveness.
- A group of expert dermatologists created five consensus statements on these novel formulations, focusing on their efficacy, tolerability, and side effects, all of which received strong agreement.
- Micronized isotretinoin is noted for its increased bioavailability, potentially requiring lower doses and no need for cumulative dosing calculations, making it a flexible option in acne treatment.
Importance of treating acne sequelae in skin of color: 6-month phase IV study of trifarotene with an appropriate skincare routine including UV protection in acne-induced post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Int J Dermatol
June 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the effects of trifarotene, a medication with skin-lightening properties, on acne-induced hyperpigmentation (AIH) in patients aged 13-35 suffering from moderate acne vulgaris (AV), alongside a skincare regimen for a duration of 24 weeks.
- Results showed that trifarotene significantly improved overall disease severity (ODS) and hyperpigmentation reduction compared to a control vehicle, particularly noticeable by Week 24.
- Patients reported increased satisfaction with treatment adherence due to a skincare routine that minimized irritation, and trifarotene exhibited a better safety profile than the vehicle.
Article Synopsis
- There is a need for evidence-based treatment guidelines for vitiligo specifically tailored for pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients in the US.
- A literature review involving consensus-building among experts led to the formation of 42 recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of vitiligo in young patients.
- Key findings included strong recommendations for treatments such as topical calcineurin inhibitors and topical corticosteroids, with specific guidance on duration and patient age considerations for effective management.
Article Synopsis
- Rosacea is a common chronic skin condition in the USA that causes social and professional stigma, making effective management important for improving patients' quality of life.
- Encapsulated benzoyl peroxide 5% (E-BPO 5%) is a new FDA-approved topical treatment that enhances therapeutic response and reduces skin irritation, though it isn't yet in clinical guidelines.
- A review of various FDA-approved treatments, including E-BPO 5%, highlights its rapid efficacy, good tolerability, and potential long-term benefits for managing rosacea-related symptoms.
Article Synopsis
- Skin color classification plays a key role in skin health, assessing diseases, and tailoring treatment, especially in clinical research.
- A review by dermatologists identified 17 different skin classification systems in use, with the Fitzpatrick scale being the most popular yet flawed.
- Current classification tools have significant limitations and validation issues, highlighting the need for consensus-based efforts to create better, standardized systems.
Vaccination recommendations for adults receiving biologics and oral therapies for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: Delphi consensus from the medical board of the National Psoriasis Foundation.
J Am Acad Dermatol
June 2024
Article Synopsis
- Psoriatic patients receiving vaccines need clear guidelines on whether to pause or maintain their systemic medications, especially for live and nonlive vaccines.
- The National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board and experts developed 22 consensus statements recommending that most patients can continue oral and biologic therapies for nonlive vaccines, but should consider stopping methotrexate.
- For live vaccines, most therapies should be interrupted before and after vaccination, except for abatacept, and timing adjustments for vaccine administration are crucial.
Article Synopsis
- Cysteamine isobionic-amide, a new depigmenting agent, was tested against the gold standard treatment, Modified Kligman's formula (mKF), for melasma in a clinical trial involving 80 patients.
- Both treatments demonstrated equivalent effectiveness in reducing melasma severity at weeks 4 and 16, but cysteamine showed significantly higher patient satisfaction and quality of life improvements.
- The study suggests that cysteamine isobionic-amide is a promising alternative to mKF for long-term melasma treatment, offering a faster onset of action and fewer side effects.
Article Synopsis
- Acne vulgaris affects a wide range of people, including adults and adolescents aged 9 and older, prompting a study to develop management guidelines.
- The study resulted in 18 evidence-based recommendations emphasizing strong treatments like benzoyl peroxide and oral isotretinoin for severe cases, along with conditional recommendations for other medications.
- Good practice suggestions include combining therapies and minimizing systemic antibiotic use to enhance treatment effectiveness.
Abrocitinib efficacy and safety in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis by race, ethnicity, and Fitzpatrick skin type.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol
March 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the effectiveness and safety of the medication abrocitinib for treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, focusing on different racial and ethnic groups.
- Data from three trials included self-reported race and ethnicity, as well as Fitzpatrick skin type, to compare responses to the treatment.
- Results showed that abrocitinib significantly improved skin conditions for all racial groups, with the most pronounced effects in White patients; however, Black patients had similar responses to both doses tested and reported more treatment-related side effects compared to Asian patients.
The Psychosocial Burden of Skin Disease and Dermatology Care Insights Among Skin of Color Consumers.
J Drugs Dermatol
October 2023
Article Synopsis
- Skin of color (SoC) individuals often face psychological distress linked to skin conditions and may be discouraged from seeking dermatology care due to a lack of representation in the field.
- A survey conducted in August 2022 found that a significant majority of SoC respondents reported their skin conditions were bothersome, with many indicating these issues also impacted their mental health.
- The results highlighted a strong belief among respondents that dermatologists are not adequately trained to address the skincare needs of darker skin tones, emphasizing the need for more tailored dermatology products and education.
Best practices in the treatment of melasma with a focus on patients with skin of color.
J Am Acad Dermatol
February 2024
Article Synopsis
- * The study outlines current topical treatment options for melasma, emphasizing the need for dermatologists to consider the specific needs of patients with skin of color.
- * A proposed treatment algorithm based on clinical consensus aims to standardize care for melasma, although individual variations and biases may still influence treatment outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Tapinarof cream 1% is a non-steroidal topical treatment confirmed by the FDA for plaque psoriasis in adults and currently being explored for children and atopic dermatitis.
- The PSOARING phase 3 trials show that tapinarof cream improves psoriasis symptoms significantly with a high number of patients (40.9%) achieving complete clearance of the disease.
- The treatment is generally well tolerated, with mild side effects like folliculitis and contact dermatitis, and patients reported favorable quality of life improvements.