Morgan Petronelli is an associate editor for 

and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in December 2019. She graduated from Youngstown State University in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in political science. Prior to graduating, Morgan worked as the editor-in-chief of her college newspaper. She went on to work as an assignment editor at a broadcast news station in Youngstown, Ohio before joining 

She enjoys working out, listening to music, and playing with her dog Scout. You can reach her at 

Morgan Petronelli, Associate Editor

SkinCeuticals launches a brand-new scar gel aimed at improving the texture and tone of existing scars and preventing new ones from forming. This high-silicone scar gel consists of 95% silicones, 0.5% allantoin, 2% fatty acids, and 1% ultralight silica. Alcohol-, dye-, and fragrance-free, SkinCeuticals’ Advanced Scar Control improves the overall appearance of recent scars by 29% in 12 weeks as seen in clinical trials, with study subjects seeing an improvement in new/recent scar redness, texture, and discoloration.

Re:generative™ Super Power C Serum | I-N Beauty

This vitamin C serum is driven by I-N Beauty’s Intelli-Cell™ plant stem cell science to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, uneven skin tone, and redness. According to the company, Intelli-Cell™ is 1000x more potent and sustainable than conventional ingredients. Stem cells from rare plants such as edelweiss, coneflower, and pennywort are extracted to harness their anti-aging and antioxidant effects. Although vitamin C has a bad rap for having a short shelf life and being unstable, this vitamin C serum, however, is stabilized using I-N Beauty’s technology to remain resistant to discoloration during production, storage, and use. 

Elixir Firming Serum from Antedotum aids in collagen restoration, resulting is hydrated, firm skin free of any signs of hyperpigmentation and sagging. Formulated with a full-spectrum CBD, this firming serum contains 1 of the highest concentrations (500 mg) of cannabinoids, including CBD and CBG. These plant compounds are rich in anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties that aid in soothing skin irritation, reducing redness, oil control, and protecting against cell degradation due to their neuro-regenerative properties, according to Antedotum.

Zit Stopper | The A Method by Tina Alster MD

’ editorial advisory board member, comes Zit Stopper, a twice-daily topical acne treatment formulated with key ingredients adapalene 1%, trichloroacetic acid, hydrocortisone, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. A previously prescription-only medication for acne, adapalene has shown in numerous clinical studies to prevent and reduce acne break outs. 

Anti-Aging Facial Serum Concentrate | KERACELL MD

KERACELL MD’s Anti-Aging Facial Serum Concentrate features High Potency MHCsc (Multiple Human Cell Stem Cell) Technology, which is formulated with W3 Peptide (Hexapeptide-33), a 3rd generation skin care peptide that targets G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). This technology helps activate cell vitality, brightens, tones, and combats wrinkles. The serum is equipped with potent bio-active signaling peptides to target damaged sites to assist in restoration and repair. Also, Gatuline Renew works to smooth and hydrate the skin to improve overall skin texture and appearance.

Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Moisturizing Cream Fragrance-Free | Lubriderm

A new moisturizing cream has hit the market with the introduction of Lubriderm’s Advanced Therapy Moisturizing Cream. This cream aims to relieve extra-dry skin through vitamin E, pro-vitamin B5, and omega 3. Lubriderm’s new fragrance- and paraben-free cream is fast-absorbing and has shown to moisturize for 24 hours, leaving the skin intensely hydrated without that dreaded greasy feeling.

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Click here to find out what products are trending for the month of September.

What’s Trending in Skin Care? September 2021 

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In this exclusive video interview, David Prokupek, CEO, Ideal Image, sits down with Dermatology Times, Aesthetic Authority's sister publication, to discuss the company's new affiliate program aimed at expanding its national point of care network. 

Ideal Image CEO Discusses New Affiliate Program

Ideal Image has announced the launch of its affiliate program in an effort to expand its national point of care network.

This opportunity from Ideal Image allows over 20,000 independent physician-led medical spas, dermatology, and plastic surgery businesses “a turnkey, easy, affordable and opportunity to tap into the U.S. aesthetics industry,” according to a company press release.

This new initiative will be spearheaded by Ideal image’s new Head of Business Development, Thomas Dixon. Also, the affiliate program is backed by the company’s experience, scale, and national tele-aesthetics platform.

Those wishing to join the affiliate program will have access to Ideal Image’s team of over 500 aesthetic sales consultants who provide free consultations 7 days a week. Additionally, affiliates will have help in hiring and training of medical professionals, as well as access to a management team and technology platform.

The first 2 affiliate partners have agreed to open 5 aesthetic points of care over the next few years in Maryland, Virginia, and Houston. The first point of care is now open in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

“We continue to experience rapid growth driven by long-term secular tailwinds in the aesthetics category along with increasing adoption of technology. These factors have contributed to the success of our tele-aesthetics platform, which serves as a national sales funnel for the more than 150 locations in our network,” said David Prokupek, CEO, Ideal Image. “We are proud to welcome our affiliate partners to the Ideal Image network and offer a unique opportunity for other providers to join in our success as we continue to build the largest aesthetic point of care network in North America.”

More information on Ideal Image’s affiliate program can be found at 

Ideal Image has announced the launch of its new affiliate program to help expand its national point of care network. 

Ideal Image Launches Affiliate Program

Pfizer, an American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation, recently announced positive results from its phase 2b/3 clinical trial (ALLEGRO; NCT03732807) investigating once-daily oral ritlecitinib as a potential treatment of alopecia areata (AA), with ritlecitinib 30 mg and 50 mg achieving the study’s primary endpoint.

Ritlecitinib is the first drug in a new class of covalent kinase inhibitors that are highly selective for Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) and members of the tyrosine kinase expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (TEC) kinase family. Additionally, clinical studies have shown ritlecitinib to block the signaling of molecules and immune cells thought to contribute to hair loss in people with AA, according to a press release.

Most recently, ritlecitinib was granted the FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy designation in September 2018 for the treatment of AA. The drug is also currently being studied as a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, vitiligo, and ulcerative colitis.

The ALLEGRO study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial that enrolled 718 patients ages 12 years and older with AA. Study participants were required to have 50% or more hair loss of the scalp, including patients with alopecia universalis, alopecia totalis, and were currently experiencing an episode of AA that had lasted between 6 months to 10 years.

Patients were randomized to receive either ritlecitinib 50 mg or 30 mg—with or without 1 month of initial treatment with ritlecitinib 200 mg—ritlecitinib 10 mg, or placebo.

The primary endpoint was a proportion of patients with scalp hair regrowth in response to ritlecitinib treatment based on an absolute Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score of less than or equal to 20 at week 24.

The study met the primary endpoint with a statistically significantly greater proportion of ritlecitinib 30 mg or 50 mg patients who had 20% or less scalp hair loss at 24 weeks compared to those treated with placebo. 

In the 24-week extension period, all study participants who were initially randomized to receive ritlecitinib continued the same regimen, meanwhile participants who received placebo during the initial 24 weeks were given either 200 mg of the drug for 4 weeks followed by 50 mg for 20 weeks, or 50 mg for 24 weeks. 

A 10 mg dosing arm was also included in the study, which was not tested for statistically significant efficacy compared to placebo and was instead assessed for dose-ranging.

The safety profile for ritlecitinib was consistent with previous studies. The study found the percentage of patients with adverse events (AEs), serious AEs (SAEs), and those who discontinued due to AEs was similar across all treatment arms. The most common AEs included nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache. There were no major adverse cardiac events (MACE), deaths or opportunistic infections in the trial. 

Eight patients treated with ritlecitinib developed mild to moderate shingles (herpes zoster). There was also 1 case of pulmonary embolism in the ritlecitinib 50 mg group, which occurred on day 169. There were 2 cases of breast cancer reported in the ritlecitinib 50 mg group, which occurred on day 68 and day 195. Both participants were discontinued from the study, according to the release.

“We are pleased by these positive results for ritlecitinib in patients with alopecia areata, a devastating and complex autoimmune disease for which there are currently no FDA or European Medicines Agency approved treatments,” said Michael Corbo, PhD, chief development officer, Inflammation & Immunology, Pfizer Global Product Development. “We look forward to bringing this potential new treatment option to patients living with alopecia areata as soon as possible.”

1. Pfizer announces positive top-line results from phase 2b/3 trial of ritlecitinib in alopecia areata. BioSpace. Press release. August 4, 2021. Accessed August 4, 2021. 

https://www.biospace.com/article/pfizer-announces-positive-top-line-results-from-phase-2b-3-trial-of-ritlecitinib-in-alopecia-areata/

Ritlecitinib, an investigational covalent kinase inhibitor, achieved its primary endpoint and demonstrated statistically significant efficacy compared to placebo in treating alopecia areata. 