Faculty Bibliography

Alopecia, the loss of hair on the scalp and/or body, experienced by millions of people worldwide, can be a very debilitating condition. Specifically, androgenetic alopecia (AGA), commonly known as male or female pattern baldness, is the most common form of hair loss. In the African diaspora, oils have traditionally been used to promote hair growth and recently, the application of hair oils to the scalp for the treatment of alopecia has become increasingly popular. With the recent surge of hair oil usage in the Black community, more research is needed to determine the efficacy of hair oils, as most studies have primarily used mice subjects. This article reviews the existing literature to better understand the use of hair oils in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. Specifically, we investigate the popular carrier oils, castor oil, and pumpkin oil as well as the essential oils, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, and tea tree oil.

Linear lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) of the face is a rare variant of lichen planus, with only a few cases published in the literature.1 It is an inflammatory condition with unknown etiology, characterized by blue-gray hyperpigmented macules, and tends to affect sun-exposed areas of the head and neck.1-4 The pathophysiology of linear lichen pigmentosus is poorly understood, though it is postulated to be caused by T-lymphocyte autoimmunity against keratinocytes.5-7 LPP more frequently affects middle age woman and skin phototypes III-VI.1,3 Treatment for linear LPP is difficult and there is no established first-line therapy; however, tacrolimus ointment, topical corticosteroids, and various systemic agents have shown to be effective in improving the appearance.3,8,9 Prior reports have characterized linear LPP that follows the lines of Blashko as more commonly affecting the trunk.1 We present three cases of linear lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) of the forehead, a unique novel presentation of linear LPP of the face. One of our cases also provides supporting evidence for tacrolimus to be used as a preferred therapy to treat linear LPP of the face; however, more research is needed to support this claim. To our knowledge, this case series is the largest case series of linear lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) of the forehead to be reported. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22(1):94-97. doi:10.36849/JDD.7200.

Growing a cosmetic dermatology practice is an often complex and arduous task. Many different factors must be considered in order to build and maintain a successful clinical practice. Devices and injectables are both integral components to operating a comprehensive cosmetic dermatology practice. Aesthetic physicians seeking to grow their cosmetic practice in these areas must be aware of the numerous considerations-both more obvious and more subtle-that play a role in the decision-making process, including the local market, patient demand, clinic space, and physician experience and training. This contribution is focused on the factors that should be carefully considered when looking to grow a cosmetic dermatology practice with devices and injectables.