Innovations in Dermatology in 2021
Dermatology is a branch of medicine that involves the study, research, diagnosis, and treatment of a broad spectrum of skin disorders, hair, mucous membrane, and nails. Here’s a quick fun fact- Skin is the largest organ of the body! But did you know 900 million people are affected by skin diseases across the globe? The global dermatological market has a tremendous potential to bring relief to patients suffering from skin conditions and is expected to rise by $36,205 million by 2026 which marks a CAGR growth of 10.9% between 2019-2026. And hence, the Dermatology field has witnessed a monumental transformation in its technology and drugs.
Three key areas of Dermatology treatment
1. Diagnosis
Dermatology focuses on making accurate diagnoses through visual inspection and lab results which then help with the further course of treatment. Skin conditions can also point towards the other underlying health issues which may lie dormant until their symptoms erupt on the surface of the skin. For instance, eczema can sometimes be due to insomnia, arthritis, etc.
2. Cosmetic
Cosmetic procedures are meant to enhance beauty by restructuring the skin. It is especially dedicated to areas like hair loss, signs of aging, facial hair, marks, and lesions on the body. Common cosmetic procedures are chemical peels and the removal of excessive facial hair with laser therapy.
3.Surgery
Surgeries can address minor skin conditions like removal of skin tags, skin biopsy, repairing skin wounds to even more serious skin cancer.
Common procedures in Dermatology
1. Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are a treatment that aim to enhance the beauty of the skin by treating wrinkles, discolored skin, and scars. Skin is exposed to a chemical solution that peels off the surface of the skin making way for new and rejuvenated skin.
2. Cosmetic injections
Botox and fillers like collagen are commonly known injections in dermatology used for treating wrinkles, lesions, and spots, etc.
3. Cryotherapy
This therapy aims to treat superficial skin disorders like moles and warts which are removed with the help of liquid nitrogen which has extremely low temperature.
4. Dermabrasion
Unhappy with the tattoo or scar mark? Dermabrasion will help you get rid of it. With the help of the specialized brush, the surface of the skin is peeled to remove the spots.
5. Hair Treatment
Myriad hair treatments are available for both hair loss and unwanted facial hair. The common treatments are hair transplant and laser treatments.
6. Mohs Surgery
A common treatment for skin cancer is Mohs Surgery which is performed by removing the surface of the skin, layer by layer, and examining each layer for cancerous cells until the skin affected by the cancer is completely removed.
7. Tumescent liposuction
This is a cosmetic procedure and not an obesity treatment although it aims to remove the excess fat. The procedure aims to administer the anesthesia and then extract the excessive fat from the body.
Recent breakthroughs in Dermatology
1.Almirall’s Klisyri (Tirbanibulin)
It is an ointment that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for application on the surface of the skin to treat Actinic Keratosis (AK). AK is a skin condition that develops rough and scaly skin due to exposure to the harsh sun. After positive results from the clinical study of the drug, it will be launched in the next three months.
2. Abbvie’s Rinvoq
Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is one of the most common skin conditions that make the skin dry, red, and itchy. Abbvie’s Rinvoq is a drug that will bring major relief to those suffering from Eczema. It is 75% more effective than the previous drugs available in the market to treat Eczema.
3. Merger between two Pharma giants
The HydraFacial Company, the leader in advanced aesthetics technologies, and Veser Healthcare, merger and acquisition specialists dedicated to the healthcare sector are set to join forces to transform the dermatology sector through the power of technology. This will bring many breakthroughs in skincare, personal care, and hair care segments.
4. Ultra-deep DNA sequencing
This method brings a major breakthrough in the treatment of skin cancer which helps in the early detection of changes to the skin tissue before they appear on the skin. This method helps to find the difference in colonel mutations due to sun exposure and or absence of sun exposure.
5. Daxibotulinumtoxina
This injection is used to treat upper facial wrinkles and clinical research shows that participants highly benefited from the treatment. Revance Therapeutics INC had applied for approval to begin the production which was put on hold due to Pandemic.
6. Aerolase Forum
Aerolase will soon introduce a Skin of color forum which aims to create awareness around the skin disorders related to skin of color like hyperpigmentation, psoriasis, etc. This helps to ease the stigma around the illnesses and encourages patients suffering from this segment of skin illness to seek treatment.
7. Superficial radiation therapy
This treatment is non-invasive and is meant to treat skin cancer by identifying and attacking only the cancer cells. The technology offers painless treatment which will help reduce the risk of infection post-surgery tremendously.
8. Online dermatology
Pandemic has opened a new world of digital services to us and dermatology is no exception. Companies like Dermatic and Skin+me have already entered this competitive space to provide dermatology services through digital platforms.
9. Algorithm
Artificial intelligence (AI) in dermatology using Algorithms will deliver accurate results in the diagnostics of skin cancer. This development will help quantify the damage done to the skin, pre-op, due to cancer. The advanced stage of the algorithms is still developed, however, it is established that algorithms can definitely be used for diagnosis.
Dermatology treats more than just acne, it encompasses several conditions related to skin, hair, and nail conditions that are currently on the rise. Apart from the serious skin conditions, the demand for aesthetic treatment like cosmetology is growing too. Hence, these advances are set to incredibly transform the dermatology space in 2021. If you want to read more about topics related to health and care click here.
