Derm In The News: June 16-22

Yale School of Medicine: Dermatology and Mental Health: Study Links Psoriasis to OCD

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have discovered a connection between psoriasis and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in US adults. Using data from the All of Us Research Program, they found that individuals with psoriasis had a 1.5-fold increase in odds for an OCD diagnosis. Possible explanations include symptoms associated with psoriasis, such as chronic itching, which could predispose individuals to OCD, as well as shared inflammatory pathways between the 2 conditions. This study is the first of its kind in American adults.

The San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego biotech making melanoma skin patch files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

DermTech, a San Diego-based company known for its noninvasive skin cancer detection sticker, has filed for bankruptcy protection in order to restructure its debt and sell its assets. Despite efforts to stabilize its finances over the past year, including leadership changes and layoffs, the company faced challenges due to the tough financing environment. The bankruptcy filing aims to facilitate continued laboratory operations while pursuing asset sales.

ABC News: The European Union's top court rules that disinfectants can't be advertised as 'skin friendly'

The European Court of Justice ruled that products like disinfectants cannot be advertised as "skin friendly." This decision came after a German federal court sought clarification in a case against a drugstore chain that labeled its hand, skin, and surface disinfectant as "skin friendly." The court found that such labeling violates European Union regulations on biocidal products, which prohibit promoting them with terms like "low-risk," "nontoxic," "harmless," "natural," "environmentally friendly," or "animal friendly," or any similar indication. The EU court concluded that the term "skin friendly" implies positive connotations that could mislead consumers into believing the product is beneficial for the skin, thus justifying its prohibition in advertising.

Have you seen any dermatology headlines this week that we may have missed? Share with us by emailing our team at DTEditor@mmhgroup.com.