Artificial Intelligence reveals differences in facial skin aging
Today’s report also covers research into pregnancy and chronic urticaria, the impact of psychosexual counselling in women with lichen sclerosus, and more (1350 words, 6 minutes 45 seconds)
The Women in Dermatology e-newsletter is supported by an unrestricted grant from Galderma Canada
Good morning and welcome to the Women in Dermatology e-newsletter from Chronicle Companies. We are pleased to have you join us. Every two weeks, this bulletin will provide you with updates on new findings regarding dermatologic issues that affect women and the female dermatologists who care for them. We welcome your feedback and opinions, so let us know if you have any comments, observations or suggestions. You can email them to us at health@chronicle.org
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has changed the way the world works. Many tasks have been automated, and most industries and fields benefit from this technological advance. Medicine is no exception. AI is increasingly being used in dermatology for clinical skin examinations, especially following the emergence of powerful smartphones with high-resolution cameras.
A recent study published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (March 2022) used an AI-based algorithm approved by dermatologists to compare the skin aging process among Chinese and European women.
For this trial, self-photography (selfies) were taken by 465,587 European and 79,016 Chinese adult women aged 18 to 85 and 18 to 69 years. All selfies were taken with a smartphone with a high-resolution camera (≥4 megapixels), and none of the women had any facial skin diseases. The selfies were later analyzed with a non-specified smartphone application. This application was used to rate the severity of nine facial aging signs, including wrinkles, sagging, vascular signs, pigmentation and pore size.
The researchers found that, in European women, wrinkles/texture, ptosis, and sagging increased linearly with age. On the other hand, Chinese women had lower scores and a more gradual increase in the younger age groups. Additionally, in European women, vascularization signals increased progressively with age. There was no significant change in these signals in Chinese women.
Finally, the study's authors also found that pigmentation signs increased regularly between 18 and 40 years, plateaued between 40 and 60 years, then increased again in Chinese women older than 60 years. In contrast, European women had lower scores and a slower, more regular increase with age for the same signs of aging.
Bottom line
The authors found significant differences in the skin aging process between European and Chinese women, both in terms of the prevalence and kinetics of each face aging sign. They also concluded that automatic rating performed on selfies and analyzed by AI is a quick and confidential tool for assessing signs of facial aging and identifying the key difficulties for each demographic and age group. This is of practical interest, they say, because it will allow the development of tailored preventative and treatment methods.
The impact of psychosexual counselling in women with lichen sclerosus
A recent study published in the Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease evaluated the impact of psychosexual counselling in women with lichen sclerosus (LS). This condition can often affect sexuality and quality of life (QoL). The researchers found that psychosexual counselling has a significant positive impact on sexual functioning and QoL in women living with LS.
For this study, 158 adult women diagnosed with LS were recruited. Each had been referred to North Denmark Regional Hospital between January 2018 and November 2019. The women were randomized into either a usual care group or to a treatment group. The treatment group received usual care in addition to at least eight individual sessions with a sexual counselling specialist. While after six months both groups experienced improved sexual functioning, the increase for the treatment group was more significant. The treatment group also reached a much higher rise in QoL than the control group.
A study published in the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology analyzed the course and features of chronic urticaria (CU) during and after pregnancy. The researchers found that CU exacerbations were most common during the first or third trimester. They also found that pregnancy, in general, has a complex impact on the course of CU.
For this study, 288 pregnant women from 13 countries diagnosed with CU were selected, and their pregnancies were analyzed. During pregnancy, 51.1% of patients reported that their CU improved, 28.9% said that it worsened, and 20.0% reported that it remained unchanged. Additionally, 43.8% of CU patients expressed that urticaria disease activity remained unchanged post-partum, while 37.4% and 18.1% experienced worsening and improvement, respectively.
The authors concluded that the results of this study could help better counsel patients diagnosed with CU who want to become pregnant and help them manage this condition during pregnancy.
Gluteal subcutaneous adipose tissue in women observed by magnetic resonance imaging
A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology assessed the different characteristics of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of women of different ages and body mass index (BMI) using MRI. The researchers found that BMI has an impact on the thickness of SAT throughout life and that SAT varies with age. They also found that the average thickness of the total fat layer increases according to BMI and that the thickness of SAT remains stable in patients with a moderate BMI.
For this retrospective, observational study, the pelvic-MRI exams of 133 women aged between 15 and 80 years were assessed. Overall, there was a moderate positive correlation between total fat thickness and BMI. There was a strong positive association between age groups 15 to 30 years and 46 to 60 years within each age group. There was a moderate positive correlation for the others. No link between age and fat layer thickness was observed. The correlation between the thickness of the deep fat layer and BMI followed a similar pattern to that of the total fat layer. SAT thickness tends to decrease with age in individuals with low BMI within the different BMI groups.
Efficacy of finasteride for female pattern hair loss
A recent study published in the Pakistan Journal of Medical & Health Sciences examined the clinical efficacy of 2.5 mg/day of oral finasteride in women diagnosed with female pattern hair loss (FPHL). The researchers found that oral finasteride showed symptom improvement in over half of the cases studied and can be an effective way to treat FPHL.
For this study, 137 cases of women between 40 and 70 years of age diagnosed with FPHL were analyzed. Trichoscopy was performed at enrollment and after five months. Additionally, the terminal to vellus hair ratio was measured at two sites of the scalp. After five months, 62% of the women enrolled in the study showed signs of improvement.
Valsartan-induced chronic erythema nodosum migrans in a patient with hypertension
A report published in the Journal of International Medical Research presented the case of a 72-year-old woman with painful, infiltrated, centrifugally spreading, slightly morpheaform, erythematous plaques on the side of her left leg. The patient had a history of high blood pressure and took valsartan capsules (80 mg, once daily) to treat this condition. The edematous purple-red plaques appeared after 15 days of starting the valsartan regimen. The patient underwent multiple examinations that showed no abnormalities except for an increased white blood cell count, lymphocyte absolute value, hemoglobin concentration and platelet count.
After physical examination, laboratory examination, histopathological examination, and close observation of the clinical symptoms, valsartan-induced erythema nodosum migrans (ENM) was highly suspected. The doctors discontinued the valsartan because of its possible adverse reaction. Instead, she was prescribed an increased nifedipine dosage once daily and oral prednisone once daily. The patient’s symptoms were alleviated after 14 days of treatment.
“When I first bought my practice, we had maybe five employees. Now I have four offices and 52 employees. The majority of employees are women, and the majority of those women are the primary wage-earners in their families. I think that is one of my biggest professional accomplishments, being able to employ so many women who work so hard.”
— Dr. Ava Shamban, a Southern California-based dermatologist
You are receiving this newsletter because you are a subscriber to Women in Dermatology or other Chronicle journal, have attended a Skin Spectrum Summit live event or webinar, or have previously requested a subscription to one of our newsletters. If you no longer wish to subscribe to this newsletter, please send an email with the subject line “Unsubscribe Women in Dermatology” to health@chronicle.org
Women in Dermatology is published by Chronicle Companies: 555 Burnhamthorpe Road, Suite 306, Toronto, Ont. M9C 2Y3
