Sexually transmitted diseases are at a crisis state in patients with skin of color. That’s according to Dr. Theodore Rosen, professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine and chief of dermatology service at Michael DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Next Steps in Derm, in partnership with Skin of Color Update, interviewed Dr. Rosen, who shared about three diseases that are at sweeping levels and disproportionally affect people with skin of color. Find out why dermatologists who treat Native Americans should be aware of an alarming increase in syphilis. Plus learn what additional factors contribute to these elevated levels, and how a government website can help.
Further Reading
If you want to read more about sexually transmitted diseases, check out the following articles published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology:
Managing Monkeypox Virus: Characterizing Common Cutaneous Manifestations and Antiviral Efficacy
ABSTRACT
Background: The Monkeypox virus (MPX) has been detected in multiple non-endemic countries since May 2022. The cutaneous manifestations of MPX can have multiple distinct presentations, including pustular and vesicular. Although there are no approved treatments, three antivirals (brincidofovir, cidofovir, tecovirimat) have been utilized. The objective of our study was to conduct a systematic review to evaluate antiviral efficacy (first aim) and cutaneous manifestations of MPX (second aim).
Methods: Utilizing PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed and SCOPUS databases to identify studies utilizing antiviral treatment in human subjects for MPX and studies reporting cutaneous characteristics of MPX lesions.
Results: For our first aim, six articles met inclusion criteria. For our second aim, 27 met inclusion criteria. Eighty-eight percent had complete resolution with tecovirimat (n=28) which was well tolerated, and decreased hospitalization time (10 days) compared to brincidofovir (29 days). Forty-four percent of patients had <10 cutaneous lesions and 36% had 10-100 lesions. The most common lesion type was pustular (32%, n=380).
Conclusion: This limited sample of studies suggests that tecovirimat is well tolerated and may be an effective antiviral for MPX treatment. Further studies are required to better understand the role of antivirals for MPX treatment among human patients.
Mpox “Monkeypox” Virus: The Importance of Inclusive Imagery to Prevent Disease Stigma
ABSTRACT
Since the initial coverage of the monkeypox virus, there has been debate among physicians over how to responsibly communicate public health information without harming historically marginalized communities. On November 28, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced its plan to rename monkeypox “mpox” following growing concern regarding the stigmatizing nature of the disease’s original name. We believe providers, and especially dermatologists, have an opportunity to further shape conversations about the virus to mitigate the same stigmas that were perpetuated by media coverage surrounding the HIV epidemic and contributed to the rise of anti-LGBTQ and HIV+ violence. Specifically, dermatologists have an opportunity to engage in conversations about the psychosocial impact of visible skin disease, advocating for healthcare equity by using both inclusive imagery and non-discriminatory language.
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