Can alcohol and smoking cessation reduce the risk of psoriasis in postmenopausal women?
Today’s report also covers the dermatologic toxicities of chemotherapy, the benefits of a disease-specific questionnaire for severity of frontal fibrosing alopecia, and more (1,210 words, 6 minutes)
The Women in Dermatology e-newsletter is supported without restriction by Galderma Canada
Good morning and welcome to the Women in Dermatology e-newsletter from Chronicle Companies. We’re pleased to have you join us. This biweekly bulletin will update you 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
According to research, the association between alcohol consumption and psoriasis is not fully clear. The relationship is controversial, with some studies concluding alcohol use increases the risk of developing the skin condition and others reporting alcohol use does not have any effect. However, smoking has often been associated with an increased risk of developing psoriasis, more severe disease, and a lack of response to treatment. This recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology (Jan. 2023) evaluated the effect of alcohol and smoking cessation on psoriasis risk in postmenopausal women.
For this prospective cohort study, the authors analyzed data from 106,844 postmenopausal women who enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative between 1993 and 1998. During that time, the women answered questionnaires regarding demographics, medical histories, and lifestyle habits, such as smoking status and drinking patterns. The authors noted that none of the subjects had psoriasis at baseline and conducted a follow-up interview in Dec. 2014 to see if this had changed. Over the 21-year follow-up period, 2,837 women had new diagnoses of psoriasis.
In the initial statistical model, past and current alcohol drinkers had a higher risk of psoriasis than those who had never consumed alcohol. However, this association was no longer observed in the full model after adjusting for cigarette smoking. According to the authors, this resulted from alcohol consumption and smoking habits being associated with each other. To isolate the effects of alcohol consumption on psoriasis, they divided the patient data by smoking habit.
The new data showed that alcohol consumption, past or current, has no significant effect on psoriasis or psoriasis risk. In contrast, smoking was significantly associated with psoriasis and correlated with an increased risk of developing the condition. Former smokers had a lower risk of psoriasis than current smokers.
Finally, the authors found that smoking cessation was linked to a lower risk of developing psoriasis. They suggest that smokers with other risk factors for psoriasis may benefit from smoking abstinence or cessation.
Bottom line
The authors concluded that alcohol consumption does not significantly affect psoriasis or psoriasis risk in postmenopausal women. In contrast, cigarette smoking increases the risk of developing psoriasis in the same group. They add that an emphasis on smoking cessation may benefit postmenopausal patients.
Maternal human papillomavirus infection during pregnancy and preterm delivery
A study published in Gynecology & Obstetrics explored if human papillomavirus (HPV) infection during pregnancy increased the risk of preterm delivery, preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PROM), PROM at term, and inflammation of the fetal membranes. The researchers found that HPV infection during pregnancy was not significantly associated with these risks.
Dermatologic toxicities of chemotherapy: an educational intervention for skin of colour women with breast cancer
A study in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology designed an educational pamphlet to assess its effectiveness in teaching skin of colour (SoC) patients the potential dermatologic toxicities of chemotherapy relevant to their skin type. The researchers found that the pamphlet is an effective educational tool that successfully emphasizes the dermatologic toxicities of chemotherapy pertinent to SoC patients.
For this study, 26 SoC patients receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer at a chemotherapy infusion center voluntarily read an educational pamphlet. The participants also answered a series of questions about the dermatological effects of chemotherapy before and after reading the pamphlet. The responses showed a significant increase in knowledge regarding the potential dermatologic issues associated with cancer treatments.
Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Quality of Life Index: a validated disease-specific questionnaire for women
An article published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine designed and validated a specific questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life impairment in female patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). The authors found having a validated disease-specific questionnaire that assesses the quality of life in FFA patients allows physicians to identify better severe cases of FFA, especially compared to more general questionnaires such as the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).
For this study, the researchers recruited 101 women with FFA. Patients with severe disease scored higher on the Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Quality of Life Index (FFA-QLI) than those with milder disease. The authors conclude that the impact of FFA on quality of life might be higher than previously reported using non-specific questionnaires.
Do similar levels of disease severity lead to different disease burden outcomes in women and men with hidradenitis suppurativa?
A study in Acta Dermato-Venerologica evaluated whether or not similar clinical severity in men and women with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) corresponded to different disease burdens. The authors found that women with HS experience a significantly greater disease burden than men with similar levels of disease severity.
For this cross-sectional, observational study, the researchers collected clinical data from 452 HS patients between Dec. 2015 and Dec. 2020. Women reported higher rates of disease-related distress, with the main issues being sexual difficulties, embarrassment, pain, and depression.
VIDEO: How eczema and other skin conditions can impact pregnancy success
Dr. Ana-Maria Temple, a Charlotte, N.C.-based pediatrician, discusses how eczema affects pregnancy success. She also talks about why eczema in babies can be linked to the health of the mother, methods of AD prevention and more.
A case of orange palpebral spots
A case study published in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology described a 53-year-old woman with yellowish-orange, asymptomatic spots on the upper eyelids. The lesions had been present for two years, and the patient had a medical history of gastroesophageal reflux disease and depression treated with omeprazole and escitalopram, respectively. The patient denied the use of makeup, glasses, or contact lenses. A skin examination revealed no abnormalities other than the spots on the eyelids, and her lipid panel was within a normal range. The patient was diagnosed with orange palpebral spots (OPS).
According to the case study, research correlates OPS with elevated vitamin E, total carotenoids, or β-cryptoxanthin due to frequent citrus consumption. However, the patient followed a low citrus diet due to gastroesophageal issues. The study also mentions OPS has been reported in patients taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but the patient was prescribed escitalopram a year after the first appearance of the lesions. The authors concluded that since OPS is a benign condition, the patient wasn’t distressed, and no treatment is known, the best course of action was to monitor the woman clinically and provide patient reassurance.
“Healthy skin mimics a healthy lifestyle. So, getting up in the morning and maybe exercising, getting a good night’s sleep … [eating] a nutritious diet — all of these things are wise to do! The best things in life don’t come in a bottle or a syringe or a tube or a jar.”
— Dr. Fayne Frey, a West Nyack, N.Y.-based dermatologist, in an interview with the New York Post.
You are receiving this newsletter because you are a subscriber to Women in Dermatology or another 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 email 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
Mitchell Shannon, Publisher; R. Allan Ryan, Editorial Director; Cristela Tello Ruiz, Client Services; John Evans, Managing Editor; Kylie Rebernik, Jeremy Visser, Editors. Content is copyright (c) 2023, Chronicle LifeSci America Corp, except as indicated. Are you interested in contributing to this newsletter or learning more about Chronicle’s services? Please write to us at health@chronicle.org.
