Interview
The Dermatologist View
La Roche-Posay International Scientific Director and Dermatologist Delphine Kerob talks about the brand’s strong links with the dermatological community, the role dermocosmetics can play in mitigating the skin side-effects of cancer, and why early detection and effective sun protection is key to preventing skin cancer.
She also discusses the dermatological significance of La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UVMune innovation as the brand continues its mission to help people all around the world save their skin from the harmful effects of the sun.
La Roche-Posay has always had strong links to the dermatological community. Could you tell us more about this relationship?
We want to better understand the needs of our patients, fill the gaps in our knowledge about skin conditions, design our product better and work on new studies to create new scientific knowledge, efficacy and safety data.
All this is thanks to the great partnerships we have built with dermatologists all over the world through our epidemiological and in-vitro studies, as well as our dermatologist partners’ commitment to scientific knowledge and their attentiveness to patient insights. Studies include those on reconstructed skin models such as Episkin as well as clinical and random controlled studies.
80% of patients suffering from cancer develop cutaneous side-effects linked to the different treatments. Could you tell us more about these side effects and how La Roche-Posay’s products can help ease them?
Most patients undergoing cancer treatments are bound to experience skin side-effects. These vary depending mainly on the oncology treatments that patients are receiving such as conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy.
For many years, La Roche-Posay has been working with dermatologists, oncologists, radiation therapists and oncology nurses to better understand all these skin side-effects and their consequences on quality of life and oncology treatment maintenance.
This is especially true as the most severe side-effects can lead to drug-dosing reduction or even interruption. The occurrence of new side-effects with new drugs – with so many having been approved in recent years – have led us to design clinical studies and build recommendations for supportive skincare including creating specific skincare regimens that can help prevent and mitigate some of these side effects.
From a dermatological perspective, why does the Anthelios UVMune represent such a significant milestone in the field of suncare?
The La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune is a true innovation in sun protection as it includes, for the first time, a UV filter able to cover long UVA from 380 to 400nm – these are the rays that have dangerous effects on our skin cells and physiology.
Ultra-long UVA rays are among the main causes of skin ageing and they also contribute to skin cancer. The UVMune formula has been reformulated to have broad spectrum protection against UVB and UVA, including these ultra-long UVA, providing our consumers with best-in-class sun protection.
La Roche-Posay’s #SaveYourSkin campaign has given 8,500 people free mole checks. How important are mole checks to preventing skin cancer and melanoma? What other detection methods can you recommend?
Prevention is the first and most important step to reducing the incidence of skin cancers, but this is not enough as people around the world still get too much sun on their skin. This is true even though they know that sun exposure may lead to skin cancers and accelerate photo ageing.
Last year, we did a large international survey which confirmed these paradoxical behaviours towards the sun. Our survey also showed that 57% of people regret not having better protected their skin against the sun in the past. It is really a big issue and we need to continue educating people about the harmful effects of prolonged sun exposure.
Then, early detection of skin cancer is very important in improving positive outcomes for patients and decreasing morbidity and mortality rates. Early diagnosis is the best prognostic factor for melanoma and other dangerous non-melanoma skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinomas and Merkel cell carcinomas.
One of the key self-detection methods for melanoma is the ABCDE method: A for Asymmetry, B for irregular borders, C for multiple colours, D for diameter > 5mm, E for evolution. E is very important because if a lesion evolves, especially in adults, it needs to be checked by a dermatologist right away.
La Roche-Posay has developed visual tools to help people understand the differences between a normal nevi and a melanoma. Even though melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers are much more frequent in people with fair skin, they can also occur in people with darker skin types where they mainly occur on palms, soles, nails and mucous membranes.
One of the biggest issues in these situations is the late diagnosis, which then leads to a poorer prognosis. This is why La Roche-Posay is leading an education drive on ways to recognise early melanoma in all skin types with visuals to help people recognise suspicious lesions so they manage them with a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Watch the video above to learn about the ABCDE Method from La Roche-Posay International Scientific Director and Dermatologist Dr Delphine Kerob
The dermocosmetics market is booming, growing triple the overall skincare market. As a dermatologist – what factors do you think are driving this growth?
More and more, people want to have healthy and beautiful skin. Simultaneously, there is also a rise in the incidence of certain skin conditions such as acne, rosacea and atopic dermatitis, which also require skincare.
This is why dermocosmetic products – which include active ingredients that improve different components of the skin such as skin barrier, microbiome, pigmentary disorders and inflammation – are becoming more and more important.
These types of skincare products can improve skin conditions by themselves or be used alongside prescribed medication for the more serious illnesses. Moreover, the studies behind these dermocosmetics are becoming more and more robust. They include randomised controlled trials, which are becoming more inclusive by including a wide range of skin phototypes and subjects from different countries and continents.
The studies show the benefits of dermocosmetics on their skin as well as on quality of life and mental wellness. This is probably why they are becoming more popular with both dermatology patients and everyday consumers.
Spotlight Series - September 2023