What's New in Dermatology for 2021: Advances in Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema, Actinic Keratoses
by George Woodbury Jr. M.D. 02/04/2021

  2021 is an exciting time. Dermatologists like myself have more to offer our patients, with more effective therapies for many common skin conditions, including Psoriasis, Eczema, Acne, and Actinic Keratosis. Let’s take a look at key treatment advances, from my experience as a Board-certified Dermatologist for 28 years now, with Rheumatology and Dermatology (www.Rheumderm.com), in Cordova, TN.

  First, regarding psoriasis, a genetically often itchy or sore sensitive skin condition affecting up to 3% of Americans, of the elbows, knees, scalp, and neck, with childhood or young adulthood onset and association with arthritis (joint inflammation) in about 1/3 of patients:  
  Psoriasis, an autoimmune condition, traditionally managed with prescription topical (meaning “on top of the skin”) creams and ointments, like Clobetasol, and intralesional or injectable steroids, sometimes supplemented with courses of tablets: Otezla® (Apremilast), methotrexate, and Cyclosporine, or even light therapy, now has seen a true explosion in psoriasis treatment options, from injectable medications, for widespread or disabling disease, including adalimumab (Humira®), etanercept (Enbrel®), certolizumab (Cimzia®), infliximab (Remicade®), ustekizumab (Stelara®),  brodalumab (Siliq®), secukinumab (Cosentyx®), ixekizumab (Taltz®) and guselkumab (Tremfya), making disabling skin psoriasis less common.

  In 2021, Dermatologists have many new options for managing eczema (atopic dermatitis), or  ‘winter itch.”  Often starting in childhood, with dry scaly areas of the face, neck, arms, and legs, one new option is an injectable medication – Dupixent® (dupilumab) – to supplement traditional prescription steroid creams and ointments, and steroid-free medications such as Tacrolimus, Pimecrolimus, and Atopiclair®.
  Another advance in managing flares of eczema is better testing for underlieing trigger chemicals causing allergies or contact dermatitis. As a member of the American Contact Dermatitis Society, I offer Skin Allergy Patch Testing, at Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, Cordova, Tennessee (www.Rheumderm.com: 1-901-753-01680), looking at well-known culprit trigger chemicals, such as preservatives, fragrances, dyes, mixing agents (emulsifiers), and metals like nickel and cobalt.

  And then there’s acne, often an aggravating skin condition for teens and young adults and felt by many Dermatologists to be a type of inflammation in the skin due to clogging of the opens of the oil glands, i.e. clogged pores. In 2021, Dermatologists can offer several new treatment strategies, for simple blackheads and whiteheads (comedones) to more severe pustules and cysts, which can leave scars. Newer forms of Vitamin A have become available, including topical tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene, and trifarotene (AKLIEF®), and a new oral antibiotic – called Seysara®. We also have a new topical form of minocycline (Amzeeq®), and a promising new topical antiandrogen, called clascoterone cream (Winlevi®).
  Dermatologists also sometimes choose a 5 months’ course of oral isotretinoin (Accutane) – for people with severe acne or acne that keeps coming back (recurrent acne) – though this drug must not be used by people who may become pregnant during therapy – due to the risk of severe birth defects.


  There are also many new options for hidradenitis suppurativa – a painful underarms inflammation – including adalimumab injections – for acne rosacea – including brimonidine gel (Mirvaso®) – and ,for excess sweating – hyperhidrosis – including Qbrexa® (glycopyrrholate).
  For precancerous growths - solar keratoses (actinic keratoses) - we now offer four FDA-approved therapies to supplement liquid nitrogen treatments (cryotherapy): topical 5-fluoruracil (Fluoroplex® and Efudex®), Dicloenac (Solareze®), imiquimod (Aladara®), isoeugenol mebutate (Picato®), and now also (tirbanibulin) Klisyri® gel.
  And if you suffer from premature sun aging or wrinkles, we have options of Renova® and Retin A Micro Gel.

In 2016, after 25 years of practicing Dermatology, I became president of Big River Silk Skincare, manufacturing and distributing helpful organic and natural moisturizers: GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream and GlycoShea Hand&Body Cream.

The original production team were my grandparents, Louis and Janice Plzak, both pharmacists, the concept itself coming from my mother, Board-certified Dermatologist Linda Woodbury, and my father, Board-certified Ophthalmologist or eye doctor George Woodbury Sr., who have used the GlycoShea moisturizers for thousands of their patients in Tennessee and Arkansas since the 1980s.

Dr. George Woodbury Sr., and Dr. Linda Woodbury, Board-certified Eye Doctor and Dermatologist, the original production supervisors of Big River Silk Skincare's GlycoShea Creams. 

With Big River Silk Skincare Inc., we now ship GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream and GlycoShea Hand&Body Cream throughout the United States and Canada.

So what’s special about the GlycoShea Creams? How can they help your skin, especially in the Fall and Winter?

*First, they have the skin-nourishing benefits of Refined Shea Butter, a very helpful moisturizer derived from an African tree, the Shea Tree, matching the oils that our skin needs to stay healthy and resilient;

*They also incorporate a skin-smoothing Alpha-Hydroxy Acid, Glycolic Acid, originally discovered in pineapple and sugarcane, allowing improved skin tone and texture and making them into anti-wrinkle creams;

*GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream and GlycoShea Hand&Body Cream incorporate some of the purest natural water in the United States, from the Memphis Aquifer. They’re true emulsions, or blends, of these different ingredients.

*Remember that GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream and GlycoShea Hand&Body Cream were conceived by Dermatologists. So they’re hypoallergenic (unlikely to cause allergic reactions), with no fragrances, no dyes, no mixing chemicals like propylene glycol, no sulfates, and no parabens. They don’t even have any gluten, and they’re free of animal products.

So the GlycoShea formulas came from my experience treating thousands of people with real needs for well-designed moisturizing creams to smooth their skin and reduce wrinkling, skin fissuring, and cracking.

Check us out at www.Bigriversilkskincare.com. We offer free USPS shipping for orders over $40.00. You can also pick up the products at our internationalvheadquarters, at 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova, TN, Monday-Friday 7:30to 4:30 PM. Or call us at 1-901-753-0168.

And as a practicing Dermatologist, I look forward to your feedback about GlycoShea Hand&Body Cream/Standard Strength (1 oz: $19.95/3 oz: $29.95; 8 oz: $89.95), GlycoShea Hand&Body Cream/High Strength (1 oz: $29.95; 2 oz: $44.95; 8 oz: $139.95), and GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream (1 oz:,$39.95; 2 oz: $59.95; 8 oz: $179.95).

My own Dermatology practice is at Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova, TN 38018 (1-901-753-0168; Info@rheumderm.com).
You can also find a Dermatologist close to you by going to the American Academy of Dermatology web site, AAD.org, and then plugging your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab. Ongoing research in Dermatology has led to many advances in our ability to treat common skin conditions, including eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis. So never itch in silence! Get an updated evaluation today. 

George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (02/04/2021) )