Latest news with #Accutane
NBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- NBC News
The best skin care products to use if you're on Accutane, according to experts
Accutane can be an effective solution for combating moderate to severe acne, but it comes with a unique set of instructions and some uncomfortable side effects. One reaction many Accutane users notice is dry, flaky skin, making the skin care products you use while taking Accutane important when it comes to keeping skin moisturized. I spoke to NBC Select staff and experts about what to look for when shopping for skin care products to use while on Accutane. Below, I put together a list of what to shop based on their recommendations and guidance. How I picked the best products for Accutane users Shortly after starting Accutane, most patients develop dry skin, which can persist throughout the treatment course, according to my experts. 'Accutane reduces sebum production, which can lead to dryness across the body,' says New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green. 'While this dryness can be very uncomfortable, it is harmless and can be managed with over-the-counter moisturizers.' When shopping for skin care products to use alongside Accutane, experts recommend considering the following factors: Ingredients: While on Accutane, the skin care ingredients you choose should address the inevitable dryness with moisture-rich ingredients. 'It is important to focus on skin care ingredients that support hydration and barrier repair,' says board-certified dermatologist Shoshana Marmon. Look for products that include a variety of moisturizers like humectants to draw water to the skin, occlusives to trap moisture in and emollients to soften and restore the skin barrier. Likewise, the skin care products you use should be gentle so as not to irritate the skin or cause further dryness. This means avoiding harsh formulas including those with acids, retinol and fragrances, as they can aggravate skin sensitivity and increase dryness, says Marmon. Product type: Accutane-related dryness can affect all parts of the body including the lips, hands and feet, scalp and face. Therefore, it's important to seek soothing, hydrating products for your entire routine, from head to toe. This includes cleansers, which are oftentimes stripping as well as serums, moisturizers, lip balms, scalp serums and hand and foot creams. The best products for Accutane users in 2025 I spoke to dermatologists about their favorite skin care products for Accutane users and put together their recommendations below. I also included a few products NBC Select editors love based on their guidance. This list includes products across skin care categories, including cleansers, sunscreens and lip balms. Sunscreen is a daily necessity, especially for Accutane users since the medication can lead to photosensitivity, says Green, who recommends this formula from Aveeno. It's a chemical sunscreen that converts UV rays into heat energy and releases them from the body and has SPF 60 along with a trio of oats — oat oil, oat extract and oat flour — to keep the skin soft and moisturized, according to the brand. I use this sunscreen and love the dewy finish it gives my extremely dry skin. It doesn't leave behind a white cast when blended, which makes it a great pick for days I'm not wearing makeup. Because it has a runny consistency, I recommend shaking the bottle thoroughly before squeezing out the product. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Barry Goldman, the most classic presentation of Accutane-related dryness is on the lips in the form of dry, peeling skin. Accutane causes the skin on the lips to shed so quickly that it can cause thick, chunky flakes to come off, which can worsen and become red if you pick the skin off, says Goldman. He recommends this repair balm from Aquaphor, which has two types of moisturizers: shea butter, an emollient, and panthenol, a humectant. It also has chamomile essence, which helps soothe skin and is particularly helpful if your lips feel chapped or raw from picking, according to Aquaphor. Green recommends this cleanser from CeraVe because it's gentle enough for those experiencing dryness and sensitivity as a result of Accutane. It has hyaluronic acid and ceramides in it that cleanse the skin without disrupting its natural moisture, she says. Rather than a foaming or gel consistency, which can feel dehydrating on those with dry skin, this has a creamy texture that may help keep the skin feeling moisturized for up to 24 hours, according to the brand. It'll also help cleanse away dirt, oil and makeup sitting on top of the skin, which can clog pores. You can also use it as a body or hand wash. Former NBC Select production coordinator Kelsey Fredricks is a fan of this cream from First Aid Beauty. It has colloidal oatmeal to calm itching, shea butter to maintain the skin's moisture barrier and allantoin to hydrate. 'My skin was severely dry during my time on Accutane and this was my go-to moisturizer since my skin was extra dry and sensitive while on it,' she says. 'I used this on my face and neck morning and night and couldn't go a day without it.' If you're experiencing dryness on your body, consider this Goldman-approved lotion from Cetaphil. As with most products in Cetaphil's line, this is fragrance-free and gentle enough for reactive skin types. This is one of my favorite body lotions as I'm transitioning my skin care from fall to winter. While it's not rich like a body butter, it has a lightweight, nonsticky consistency along with glycerin, panthenol and avocado oil to keep skin hydrated. I also appreciate the pump applicator because it makes things less messy to apply compared to body lotions housed in a tube you'd have to squeeze. Regularly using sunscreen is critical since Accutane can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, says Marmon, who recommends this facial sunscreen from EltaMD. This is a mineral sunscreen that won't clog your pores, so you can continue to use it after you've completed your treatment course to prevent future breakouts. It features a medley of nonproblematic ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and antioxidants, and because it's tinted, it won't leave a white cast after application, says Marmon. Serums deliver a higher concentration of active ingredients to the skin and are a good option if you're looking for potent products. For those struggling with dryness, Green is a fan of this serum from Kiehl's, which has hyaluronic acid. 'The serum is fragrance-free and formulated with minimal ingredients, making it excellent for those experiencing sensitivity,' says Green. To use, apply two to three drops after cleansing, using passing motions to press the formula into the skin. Marmon says this moisturizing gel from Clinique helps combat dryness and irritation during the treatment course. Though it has a gel consistency, which is more suited for those with oily skin or combination skin types, it's gentle, noncomedogenic and has moisture-attracting ingredients like hyaluronic acid, says Marmon. The formula is also free of any harsh ingredients like fragrance, acids or exfoliants. This scalp oil is primarily for those struggling with scalp conditions like eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis, but because it helps alleviate itchiness and dryness, it makes for a great treatment for Accutane-related dryness. It has tea tree leaf oil to clarify buildup on the scalp, and to keep the scalp moisturized, it has aloe vera juice as well as olive and jojoba oil, according to the brand. I love using this scalp oil on the day or two before I'm about to wash my hair, which is when my scalp tends to get dry, itchy and flaky. There are a few different ways to use this oil. You can apply one to three drops onto your fingers, work it into your scalp and style as needed. Or, you can use it as a pre-shampoo treatment by applying it to your scalp for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing out. NBC Select editorial intern Andriana Kourkoumelis experienced dry, flaky skin around her eyes when she was on Accutane, and this hydrating under-eye cream was a huge help. 'I normally have very dry skin and itchy eyes, so being on Accutane naturally made this worse. I used this hydrating eye cream twice daily and it kept the skin around my eyes from flaking,' she says. The eye cream hydrates, depuffs and brightens dark circles using key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, caffeine and green-tea extract, according to the brand. Plus, it's made for all skin types, especially sensitive and acne-prone skin. Chapped lips to the point of inflammation is a common side effect of Accutane. Dr. Dan's Cortibalm is one of our favorite lip balms because it not only hydrates lips, but it also helps heal cracks and irritation. It has hydrocortisone, which reduces inflammation, and hydrating ingredients like beeswax, petroleum jelly and mineral oil, according to the brand. NBC Select editorial operations associate Jem Alabi says that this product is highly recommended by her friends who have been on Accutane and suffer from severely cracked, dry lips. How to shop for skin care while on Accutane Experts note that Accutane-related dryness is common on all parts of the body, particularly for skin on the scalp, face, lips and body. Here are their suggestions to consider while shopping for the best products for Accutane users. Choose ingredients wisely While taking Accutane, it's important to seek gentle, hydrating formulas that are noncomedogenic or oil-free to avoid clogging pores, says Green. Some key hydrating ingredients to look for include hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and glycerin to help lock in moisture. Since Accutane disrupts the skin barrier while taking it and for several months after, you'll want to incorporate ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to help to reinforce the skin barrier and make it less prone to irritation during the treatment course, says Goldman. To minimize skin sensitivity, you should avoid certain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid, which can be extremely irritating while on Accutane, says Goldman. Finally, skip face scrubs, dermaplaning and at-home peels until the treatment course is completed. Rather than incorporating a single hydrating product like a serum or moisturizer into your skin care routine, consider your routine as a whole. 'A gentle, hydrating cleanser, a serum enriched with hyaluronic acid, a ceramide-based moisturizer and a broad-spectrum sunscreen will increase moisturization, strengthen the skin's barrier and protect against UV exposure while avoiding irritation,' says Marmon. Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Dr. Barry Goldman is a board-certified dermatologist in New York and founder of Goldman Dermatology. He is a clinical instructor at Cornell New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Shosana Marmon is a board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at New York Medical College. Dr. Michele Green is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. Her areas of research include noninvasive cosmetic dermatology and aesthetics. Why trust NBC Select? Michelle Rostamian has more than 10 years of experience covering beauty and skin care topics. For this story, Rostamian spoke to board-certified dermatologists and included their direct recommendations and products based on their guidance.
Medscape
14-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
An Elusive PCOS Diagnosis Could Explain Obesity Issues
As a teenager, Ali Chappell, PhD, CEO and founder of Lilli Health, hid food in her room. She said that while she had plenty of access to meals and snacks, she never felt satisfied. Chappell felt shame at the amount of food she consumed. 'I felt very out of control around certain types of food. The minute I woke up in the morning, it was, what was I going to eat and how much was I going to get to eat,' Chappell, now 38 years, said. 'I remember waking up in the middle of the night to go run on the treadmill because I was gaining weight and gaining weight and gaining weight.' She had a number of hormonal symptoms during the same time: Chappell battled acne that required treatment with Accutane twice while she was in high school; she only came off the drug because as a 15-year-old, her cholesterol 'got way out of control.' Ali Chappell, PhD It would be years before a doctor at her college said her symptoms, including disordered eating, very well could be polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Before that, however, Chappell said she had wild mood swings during her teenage years, with her mom describing her as 'an absolute mood disaster.' Also, Chappell didn't get her period until she was 16 years — or at least, that's what she thought. She struggled for years with extremely infrequent periods, often getting her menses only once every 12 months or so. 'My mom was concerned I wasn't having a period and took me to the family doctor — we didn't have a gynecologist in our small town. The doctor ordered an ultrasound, and I just remember them saying, oh, you have a lot of cysts on your ovaries, but that's okay, it's normal,' Chappell recalled. 'I had another two or three ultrasounds (between) ages 16-21, and they kept saying I had cysts on my ovaries, but it's okay.' Chappell's disordered eating continued to worsen as she completed her undergraduate studies in nutrition at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Finally, the summer before she turned 22 years, she went to the university hospital to get a prescription for contraceptives. The doctor there ordered bloodwork, which revealed that Chappell's thyroid was underactive, and her testosterone was high; she also ordered an ultrasound. At the conclusion of the tests, the doctor brought all of Chappell's symptoms together under one name, one she'd never heard before. 'She said, 'You've got a lot of cysts on your ovaries, you're not having a period, you're having acne. All of this lines up to be PCOS,'' Chappell said. 'So that was it. She said, 'You're going to need to watch your weight, and I'm going to put you on these birth control pills so we can get you a cycle started.' She gave me a pamphlet about polycystic ovary syndrome. I'd never heard of it. And that was the end of that.' Chappell was sent on her way with a lot of questions. As a nutrition major, and as someone who'd had an unhealthy relationship with food all her life, her thoughts immediately turned to a potential relationship between PCOS and diet — what could watching her weight possibly have to do with her ovaries? That question would define her scholarly career and her life's work. PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. It's characterized by a combination of symptoms, including all of those Chappell experienced: irregular or absent menstrual periods, higher-than-normal levels of androgens, and often, but not always, the development of many small fluid-filled sacs on the ovaries — though cysts don't have to be present. This hormonal imbalance can lead to additional symptoms such as excess hair growth, acne, weight gain, and thinning hair, and can also cause infertility. While the exact cause isn't fully understood, factors like genetics, insulin resistance, and low-grade inflammation are thought to play a role, and if left unmanaged, PCOS can increase the risk for long-term health issues like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. World Health Organization statistics show that PCOS affects as many as 1 in 8 women worldwide, but that up to 70% of women affected by this disorder may never receive a diagnosis. Additionally, Katherine Schafer, PhD, MEd, a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, said that the type of disordered eating Chappell experienced is common in women with PCOS. 'The best scientific research that we have shows that PCOS and disordered eating are closely linked,' she said. A recent meta-analysis showed that women who had PCOS were more likely than healthy controls to have disordered eating and meet criteria for eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa. 'In fact, when we look at the women who had PCOS, up to 12% of them met criteria for bulimia nervosa in their lifetime, which was much higher than in the general population, where we see only 3% of women meeting criteria for bulimia nervosa in their lifetime. 'This link between disordered eating and PCOS might be driven through hormones and neurotransmitters and create a self-amplifying cycle between eating pathology and PCOS symptoms,' Schafer said. Women who have PCOS often have disturbances in their levels of hormones and neurotransmitters including serotonin, leptin, and cortisol, which may leave them susceptible to developing eating disorders, which in turn might intensify and exacerbate hormonal disturbances, she said. Katherine Schafer, PhD, MEd Upon receiving the diagnosis of PCOS, Chappell vowed to get educated. She quickly found that all her research led her in one direction. 'I went to PubMed and I downloaded and printed out every single article that I could find that was about PCOS. Everything kept going back to one single point, and that was insulin,' she said. 'By that point, the only thing I'd learned about insulin was that you gave it to diabetics to lower their blood sugar. Never once (in school) did I learn anything about insulin resistance or what that meant.' Chappell earned both her master's and doctorate degrees at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas. She arrived at grad school on a mission — she wanted to research the connection between insulin and PCOS in a clinical setting. Before she even started her master's degree, Chappell had already written a 100-page proposal outlining this research. Chappell said that as she completed that degree, her PhD advisor suggested she try to get the funding for her own research and pointed her in the direction of The Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health. 'She said 'This is something they would love. You just have to find a fertility specialist who's willing to work with you so that they put a little bit more credibility to what you're doing,'' Chappell said. 'I think I'd already put in the grant application before I'd even finished my master's.' Chappell's advisors at Texas Tech were impressed with her thoroughness and tenacity. 'Ali was very knowledgeable about PCOS and enthusiastic about how her (low-insulin) nutritional approach had worked for her,' said Mallory Boylan, PhD, RD, LD, a member of the research faculty at Texas Tech's Center of Excellence in Obesity and Cardiometabolic Research. 'She had reviewed literature that related to the topic and found very little that directly related to her research topic. She worked tirelessly to find a clinician who would collaborate with her so she could get a grant for the research.' In 2011, The Laura W. Bush Foundation made a grant to Chappell in the amount of $25,000 to perform her doctoral research. Chappell's 8-week dissertation study 'Effect of a Low Insulinemic Diet on Clinical, Biochemical, and Metabolic Outcomes in Women with PCOS, enlisted 24 women with polycystic ovary syndrome.' Prior to the study, they discontinued insulin sensitizers, oral contraceptives, and cyclic progesterone. Ten of the participants underwent testing using a metabolic cart to analyze fasting and after-meal energy expenditure, respiratory exchange ratio, and macronutrient oxidation after consuming a high-saturated fat shake. The participants were placed on a low insulinemic diet, instructed to eat as much as they cared for of the following foods: lean animal protein; non-starchy vegetables; fruits, including fatty fruits; and nuts, seeds, and oils. Participants older than 21 years were allowed one 6-ounce glass of red wine per night, and all subjects were allowed up to 1 ounce of prepared or fresh, full-fat cheese each day. The diet excluded all grains, beans, and pulses; all dairy products except cheese and butter; and all forms of sugar and sweeteners because of their insulinotropic properties, although sugar substitutes were allowed. The individuals in the study were not advised to count calories or carbohydrates, and they were encouraged to eat until they were satisfied, but not to overeat. They were instructed to continue their normal exercise routine for the duration of the study. The study's participants realized significant improvements. They saw marked reductions in weight, BMI, fat mass, and waist/hip circumference, alongside significantly lower fasting and 2-hour insulin, triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein, and testosterone levels — with all the changes showing very high statistical significance ( P <.0001 for most). The diet also dramatically shifted metabolism toward increased fat oxidation and led to significant improvements in binge eating behaviors and overall quality of life. Chappell said one critical component of the low insulinemic lifestyle is that it is not about calories. She emphasized that individuals who adopt this way of eating can eat to satiety, and that just as in the clinical studies she has performed, it is about eating as many of the nontriggering foods as possible, while staying away from those that are insulinotropic. She said it is an approach that differs greatly from the traditional approach some clinicians take, telling patients with PCOS that they should lose weight. Sometimes the treatment for PCOS can actually precipitate disordered eating, as clinicians underestimate underlying causes of the disease. 'Many patients with PCOS are advised that their condition is related to their weight and the treatment is weight loss which for some individuals may actually precipitate the onset of an eating disorder,' Elizabeth Wassenaar, MD, DFAPA, CEDS-S, regional medical director with Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety in Denver. 'This is problematic for many reasons; it reinforces diet culture and disordered eating and distracts from understanding weight neutral interventions.' Kim Hopkins, PhD, WHNP-BC Chappell has been an investigator on nine published studies, five of which are specifically in the area of PCOS. She continues the research to this day — now, with the purpose of providing products and services to benefit other women with PCOS via her Galveston, Texas-based company, Lilli Health. Through Lilli, Chappell realized a very important moment in her personal and business lives recently: She made her first research grant in the company's name. 'I have so many plans for research studies in many different areas. That's where I want to go,' she said. 'I just started the first Lilli Health Research grant and I gave a grant award to an investigator at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. I felt like I'd made the full circle, now I can actually give back to the research. We're in a time when women's health research is dwindling, and getting to be the funder, to be able to give back, is amazing.' Kim Hopkins, PhD, WHNP-BC, a PCOS specialist who practices out of PCOS Paragon Health Services & Consulting in Waldorf, Maryland, said it's long overdue that the clinical community has the opportunity to move beyond one-size-fits-all advice for PCOS. 'Understanding that PCOS exists along a spectrum, has multiple varying symptoms, and impacts overweight, normal weight and lean persons (is important),' she said. 'The only way we're truly going to improve symptoms and long-term outcomes is by addressing the root cause, and that means making insulin-lowering strategies the foundation of treatment. I'm proud to see Lilli Health working behind the scenes to finally bring insulin-lowering strategies to the forefront of PCOS care where it belongs.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Glow-in-the-Dark Salamanders May Have Just Unlocked the Future of Regeneration
What if the key to human limb regeneration wasn't buried in sci-fi dreams—but already in your medicine cabinet? Scientists at Northeastern University have uncovered a breakthrough that's raising eyebrows in both the dermatology and regenerative biology worlds. The chemical at the center of it all? Retinoic acid—a form of vitamin A that's also the active ingredient in isotretinoin, better known as Accutane. In a new study, which was published in Nature Communications, researchers mapped how axolotls. The Mexican salamander has a freakish ability to regrow limbs using varying concentrations of retinoic acid to guide the regrowth of bones, joints, muscles and skin. When an axolotl loses a leg, it doesn't just grow back—it grows back perfectly. And scientists now understand more clearly how that biological GPS works. At the heart of the process is an enzyme called CYP26b1, which breaks down retinoic acid and dictates how much of the chemical floods a given area. Higher levels mean longer bone growth. Lower levels cue the development of feet and digits. The implications are massive: by controlling retinoic acid levels, scientists were able to create glow-in-the-dark salamanders with either perfectly formed limbs or comically misshapen ones. While these findings are still at the basic science stage, researchers believe they've taken a major step toward understanding how to activate dormant genetic mechanisms in humans. Because here's the kicker: the genes involved in limb regeneration already exist in our DNA. We just don't know how to switch them back on—yet. Retinoic acid has long been linked to fetal development, and now it's being eyed as a possible tool to coax adult tissues into reprogramming themselves post-injury. It's not a silver bullet, but it might be part of the recipe. 'We might just need to remind the body what it already knows how to do,' James Monaghan, the study's lead scientist, told Popular Science. If that's true, the path to real human regeneration might be shorter—and stranger—than we ever imagined. Glow-in-the-Dark Salamanders May Have Just Unlocked the Future of Regeneration first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 10, 2025
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
A chemical in acne medicine can help regenerate limbs
If an axolotl loses a leg, it gets a new one–complete with a functional foot and all four toes. Over just a few weeks or months, bone, muscle, skin, and nerves grow back in exactly the same formation as the lost limb. The endangered, aquatic, Mexican salamander are masters of regeneration, showcasing the best of an ability shared by many other amphibians, reptiles, and fish species. But how do these cold-blooded creatures do it? That some species can regrow limbs while others can't is one of the oldest mysteries in biology, says James Monaghan, a developmental biologist at Northeastern University. Aristotle noted that lizards can regenerate their tails more than 2,400 years ago, in one of the earliest known written observations of the phenomenon. And since the 18th century, a subset of biologists studying regeneration have been working to find a solution to the puzzle, in the hopes it will enable medical treatments that help human bodies behave more like axolotls. It may sound sci-fi, but Monaghan and others in his field firmly believe people might one day be able to grow back full arms and legs post-amputation. After all that time, the scientists are getting closer. Monaghan and a team of regeneration researchers have identified a critical molecular pathway that aids in limb mapping during regrowth, ensuring that axolotls' cells know how to piece themselves together in the same arrangement as before. Using gene-edited, glow-in-the-dark salamanders, the scientists parsed out the important role of a chemical called retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A and also the active ingredient in the acne medicine isotretinoin (commonly known as Accutane). The concentration of retinoic acid along the gradient of a developing replacement limb dictates where an axolotl's foot, joint, and leg segments go, according to the study published June 10 in the journal Nature Communications. Those concentrations are tightly controlled by just one protein also identified in the new work and, in turn, have a domino effect on a suite of other genes. 'This is really a question that has been fascinating developmental and regenerative biologists forever: How does the regenerating tissue know and make the blueprint of exactly what's missing?,' Catherine McCusker, a developmental biologist at the University of Massachusetts Boston who was uninvolved in the new research, tells Popular Science. The findings are 'exciting,' she says, because they show how even the low levels of retinoic acid naturally present in salamander tissues can have a major impact on limb formation. Previous work has examined the role of the vitamin A-adjacent molecule, but generally at artificially high dosages. The new study proves retinoic acid's relevance at normal concentrations. And, by identifying how retinoic acid is regulated as well as the subsequent effects of the compound in the molecular cascade, Monaghan and his colleagues have 'figured out something that's pretty far upstream' in the process of limb regeneration, says McCusker. Understanding these initial steps is a big part of decoding the rest of the process, she says. Once we know the complete chemical and genetic sequence that triggers regeneration, biomedical applications become more feasible. 'I really think that we'll be able to figure out how to regenerate human limbs,' McCusker says. 'I think it's a matter of time.' On the way there, she notes that findings could boost our ability to treat cancer, which can behave in similar ways to regenerating tissues, or enhance wound and burn healing. Monaghan and his colleagues started on their path to discovery by first assessing patterns of protein expression and retinoic acid concentration in salamander limbs. They used genetically modified axolotls that express proteins which fluoresce in the presence of the target compounds, so they could easily visualize where those molecules were present in the tissue under microscopes. Then, they used a drug to tamp down naturally occurring retinoic acid levels, and observed the effects on regenerating limbs. Finally, they produced a line of mutant salamanders lacking one of the genes in the chain, to pinpoint what alterations lead to which limb deformities. They found that higher concentrations of retinoic acid tell an Axolotl's body to keep growing leg length, while lower concentrations signal it's time to sprout a foot, according to the new research. Too much retinoic acid, and a limb can grow back deformed and extra-long, with segments and joints not present in a well-formed leg, hampering an axolotl's ability to easily move. One protein, in particular, is most important for setting the proper retinoic acid concentration. 'We discovered it's essentially a single enzyme called CYP26b1, that regulates the amount of tissue that regenerates,' Monaghan says. CYP26b1 breaks down retinoic acid, so when the gene that makes the protein is activated, retinoic acid concentrations drop, allowing the conditions for foot and digit formations. At least three additional genes vital to limb mapping and bone formation seem to be directly controlled by concentrations of retinoic acid. So, when retinoic acid concentrations are off, expression of these genes is also abnormal. Resulting limbs have shortened segments, repeat sections, limited bone development, and other deformations. Based on their observations, Monaghan posits that retinoic acid could be a tool for 'inducing regeneration.' There's 'probably not a silver bullet for regeneration,' he says, but adds that many pieces of the puzzle do seem to be wrapped up in the presence or absence of retinoic acid. 'It's shown promise before in the central nervous system and the spinal cord to induce regeneration. It's not out of the question to also [use it] to induce regeneration of a limb tissue.' Retinoic acid isn't just produced inside axolotls. It's a common biological compound made across animal species that plays many roles in the body. In human embryo development, retinoic acid pathways are what help map our bodily orientation, prompting a head to grow atop our shoulders instead of a tail. That's a big part of why isotretinoin can cause major birth defects if taken during pregnancy–because all that extra retinoic acid disrupts the normal developmental blueprint. Yet retinoic acid isn't the only notable factor shared by humans and amphibians alike. In fact, most of the genes identified as part of the axolotl limb regrowth process are also present in our own DNA. What's different seems to be how easily accessed those genetic mechanisms are after maturity. Axolotls, says Monaghan, have an uncanny ability to activate these developmental genes as needed. Much more research is needed to understand exactly how and why that is, and to get to the very root of regeneration ability, but the implication is that inducing human limbs to regrow could be easier than it sounds. 'We might not need to turn on thousands of genes or turn off thousands of genes or knock out genes. It might just be triggering the reprogramming of a cell into the proper state where it thinks it's an embryo,' he says. And lots of research is already underway. Other scientists, McCusker included, have also made big recent strides in attempting to unlock limb regeneration. Her lab published a study in April finding key mechanisms in the lateral mapping of limbs–how the top and bottom of a leg differentiate and grow. Another major study from scientists in Austria came out last month pinpointed genetic feedback loops involved in positional memory, which help axolotl tissues keep tabs on where lost limbs once were and how they should be structured. Still, it's likely to be decades more before human amputees can regain their limbs. Right now, the major findings fall in the realm of foundational science, says McCusker. Getting to the eventual goal of boosting human regenerative abilities will continue to take 'a huge investment and bit of trust.' But every medical treatment we have today was similarly built off of those fundamental building blocks, she says. 'We need to remember to continue to invest in these basic biology studies.' Otherwise, the vision of a more resilient future, where peoples' extremities can come back from severe injury, will remain out of reach.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Journey Medical Corp (DERM) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Amrosi Launch Boosts Margins ...
Net Revenue: $13.1 million for Q1 2025, compared to $13 million for Q1 2024. Amrosi Revenue: $2 million from the initial launch included in Q1 2025 net product sales. Gross Margin: Increased to 64% in Q1 2025 from 54% in Q1 2024. R&D Costs: Nil in Q1 2025, compared to $7.9 million in Q1 2024. SG&A Expenses: Increased to $10.6 million in Q1 2025 from $8.4 million in Q1 2024. Net Loss: $4.1 million or $0.18 per share for Q1 2025, compared to $10.4 million or $0.53 per share for Q1 2024. Cash Position: $21.1 million at the end of Q1 2025, compared to $20.3 million at December 31, 2024. Commercial Payer Access: Approximately 30% of covered commercial insured lives now have access to Amrosi. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with DERM. Release Date: May 14, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Journey Medical Corp (NASDAQ:DERM) successfully launched Amrosi, a new oral rosacea treatment, contributing $2 million to the first quarter 2025 net product sales. The company reported a gross margin increase to 64% in Q1 2025, up from 54% in the prior year, due to a favorable product sales mix and reduced product costs. Amrosi's market introduction has been well-received, with positive feedback from healthcare providers and strong initial prescription volumes. Approximately 30% of commercially insured lives now have access to Amrosi, up from 20% in the previous quarter, indicating progress in payer coverage. The inclusion of Amrosi in the National Rosacea Society's treatment algorithms and its publication in JAMA Dermatology are expected to drive further clinical adoption and market uptake. Net revenue for Q1 2025 was only slightly higher at $13.1 million compared to $13 million in Q1 2024, indicating limited overall revenue growth. Legacy products experienced a decline, with a noted decrease in prescriptions for Accutane due to increased competition and aggressive pricing by new market entrants. SG&A expenses increased by $2.1 million to $10.6 million in Q1 2025, reflecting higher investments in commercial infrastructure for the Amrosi launch. The company reported a net loss to common shareholders of $4.1 million for Q1 2025, although this was an improvement from the $10.4 million loss in Q1 2024. There is uncertainty regarding the sustainability of initial Amrosi sales, as the Q1 revenue included significant stocking, and future revenues will need to reflect actual demand. Q: Can you provide insights on the Q1 revenues for Amrosi and expectations for future quarters? A: Claude Maraoui, President and CEO, explained that the $2 million in Q1 revenues was largely due to stocking the distribution channel. The salesforce began actively promoting Amrosi in April, and while no specific revenue expectations for Q2 were provided, the company is optimistic about continued growth and will share updates at the end of Q2. Q: How is the legacy business performing, particularly with products like Cubrexa and Accutane? A: Claude Maraoui noted a decline in legacy brands due to generic competition. However, Cubrexa is performing well, with a 15% increase in prescriptions year-over-year, despite new competition. Accutane faced challenges from new competitors but showed a 10% growth from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, indicating stabilization. Q: What is the current inventory level in the distribution channel, and how do you anticipate it changing? A: Claude Maraoui stated that the inventory level is typically between 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the ramp-up. The company is focusing on specialty pharmacies that dermatologists frequently use, and the inventory level will adjust as demand grows. Q: What feedback have you received from prescribers about Amrosi, and who are the primary prescribers? A: Claude Maraoui shared that feedback has been positive, with prescribers impressed by Amrosi's efficacy and tolerability. The initial focus is on new patients, with expectations that prescribers will switch existing patients to Amrosi as they gain confidence in the product. Q: Is there any feedback from doctors regarding Amrosi's impact on erythema, even though it's not in the label? A: Claude Maraoui mentioned anecdotal feedback from doctors noting significant erythema reduction, which is supported by data published in JAMA Dermatology. The company plans to build on this data to inform providers about Amrosi's impact on erythema. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
