Patients with acne often develop several types of scars, wherein combination therapies have demonstrated superior success to single treatment modalities. Chemical reconstruction of skin scars (CROSS) has gained popularity as the treatment for icepick scars, and fractionated laser therapy for rolling and boxcar scars.

A new study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology evaluated the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with CROSS and fractionated non-ablative laser for atrophic acne scars.

This was a retrospective analysis of patients treated with CROSS followed by fractionated non-ablative laser treatment in the same visit for acne scars from 2016-2020. Treatment efficacy—defined as the percentage improvement in the appearance of acne scars—was assessed using a 5-point scale – score 0 (worsening or 0% improvement); score 1 (1-25% improvement); score 2 (26-50% improvement); score 3 (51-75% improvement); and score 4 (76-100% improvement).

Overall, 25 patients – 14 females and 11 males, Fitzpatrick Skin Type II -V, were enrolled. The average improvement score was 2.07 after 3 sessions and 2.78 after 5 sessions. All subjects reported satisfaction, while 24% were very satisfied. There were no permanent adverse effects and only one patient developed a temporary hypertrophic scar.

From the results, it was concluded that combination therapy with CROSS and fractionated non-ablative laser in the same visit is an effective and safe treatment modality for atrophic acne scars in patients with various skin types, including skin of color.

Source: Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2020 May 30. doi: 10.1111/jocd.13514. 

Candida Auris: A Fungus with Identity Crisis

A new article published in Pathogens and Disease reported that Candida auris is a fungal species that had emerged simultaneously, in five continents. Since its identification in 2009, the scientific community has witnessed an exponential emergence of infectious episodes and outbreaks in healthcare facilities world-wide.

The authors discussed that Candida auris exhibits several exclusive and concerning features compared to other related Candida species – including persistent colonization of skin and nosocomial surfaces, ability to resist common disinfectants and to spread rapidly among patients. Resistance to multiple drug classes and misidentification by available laboratory identification systems has complicated clinical management. Moreover, the outcomes of infection have generally been poor with mortality rates of about 68%.

This article elaborated that the origins of C. auris remain unclear; hence, it is impossible to determine whether environmental and climactic changes were contributing factors in its recent emergence as a pathogen. A magnanimous response involving rapid diagnostics, prompt interventions and implementation of precautions are essential in preventing the spread of this fungal infection. Therefore, it was stated that there exists a pressing need for the development of new antifungal drugs.

Source: Pathogens and Disease. 2020 Jul 9;ftaa034. doi: 10.1093/femspd/ftaa034.