Ilya Petrou, M.D.

According to one expert, experience plays a major role in the mastery of laser surgery, especially for physicians who are just learning to use these devices.

A combination of three potent antioxidants proves to be very efficient in the treatment of wrinkles and other signs of aging and photoaging.

According to one expert, a gluten-free diet is the best approach to treating dermatitis herpetiformis.

Novel therapy appears to be a promising tool for hair growth promotion, an expert says.

Portland, Ore. - A recent study confirms that the numbers of follicular melanocytes are significantly decreased in patients suffering from alopecia areata.This new insight into the often severe and psychologically burdensome disease serves as a beacon of hope for patients, as researchers begin to home in on a more precise etiology that may open the door for more targeted treatments. Past research has implicated follicular melanocytes to be the target structure in at least a proportion of patients suffering from alopecia areata.

New York - Cosmetic patients today have a multitude of cosmeceuticals from which to choose, and each product claims to raise the bar in its effectiveness in skin rejuvenation. Many of these products do have some degree of effectiveness, and yet others may be the cause of hardship in terms of eliciting an irritant or allergic contact dermatitis in the unfortunate user. According to one expert, physicians need to scrutinize the ingredients of these cosmeceuticals and carefully pick and choose among the vast array of products for the benefit of their patients.

Edmonton, Alberta - Although several different theories exist with regard to the pathogenesis of vitiligo, an immune basis appears to be the most favored mechanism, with cytokines and other chemical mediators playing a center role in disease development and progression. As a result, immunomodulating therapies such as tacrolimus (Protopic, Astellas) are employed.

International report - Etanercept therapy helps to improve symptoms of depression and anxiety long-term in patients suffering from moderate-to severe psoriasis, according to the results of the Crystel study.

A combination therapy using stem cells and bioengineered skin has proven to be very effective in closing the digital ulcers occurring in scleroderma patients.

A new noninvasive skin rejuvenation modality shows great promise in achieving thicker, smoother, more elastic skin.

Multiple basal cell carcinomas of several different types can also occur in the same patient, as seen in a recent case study.

The evidence linking psoriasis to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease is overwhelming, classifying psoriasis as a systemic disease and not simply a disease of the skin.

Sheffield, England - New research data demonstrates that mild, moderate and potent strengths of topical corticosteroids (TCS) cause a thinning of the stratum corneum, particularly when applied for longer periods of time, whereas topical calcineurin inhibitors show no negative change in the integrity of the skin barrier.

Wonju, South Korea - While high-dose UVB is detrimental to the epidermal permeability barrier, low-dose UVB can be therapeutic in mending a defective epidermal barrier and antimicrobial function, such as in atopic dermatitis, according to one dermatologist.

New Haven, Conn. - The shortage of dermatologists in the United States is getting progressively worse, and patients and practicing dermatologists are being affected.

Making an accurate diagnosis of a given dermatosis can be easy when the clinical symptoms and the patient population are textbook presentations; however, exceptions make the rule.

In a recent case study, a patient receiving infliximab for the treatment of ulcerative colitis paradoxically developed widespread pyoderma gangrenosum lesions, a disease which normally responds well to this biologic therapy.

A recent study ushers in the era of molecular surgery as laser-assisted "nanosuturing" proves to be superior to traditional suture closing techniques not only in terms of cosmesis but also in the tensile strength and quality of wound closure. According to Dr. Sandy Tsao, who spearheaded the first human clinical trial, this novel technique is set to change the way physicians approach and manage surgical wounds in the future.

Both topical and systemic therapies are used in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus. According to one expert, the antimalarials are still the safest and often effective treatment approach. However, newer therapies may offer some hope in those especially challenging to treat recalcitrant cases of CLE.

The results of a recent population-based study confirms that the incidence of Cutaneous lupus erythematosus is not two to three times higher than the incidence of the more severe systemic lupus erythematosus form of the autoimmune disease, as anecdotally once thought.

Several noninvasive therapeutic approaches can be used to treat superficial basal cell carcinoma.

Recent research demonstrates the central role that signaling pathways have in achieving normal adult hair follicle cycling.

Automated robotic-assisted harvesting of follicular units can significantly reduce procedure time and costs of hair transplant surgery.

A recent study shows that nodal nevi do occur in the setting of Spitz nevi.

The modulation of hair follicle components through the activation of ATP and cAMP can positively impact the structures in hair follicles.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder is lymphocyte proliferation in patients following post-transplant immunosuppression and is the most common neoplasm in pediatric organ transplant recipients. Due to the increased frequency of organ transplantation, dermatologists should be aware of the cutaneous presentation, as a timely diagnosis and treatment is crucial for a favorable prognosis.

Organ transplant recipients (OTRs) have an increased risk of carcinogenesis most likely due to the immunosuppressive medication they need to take. Sebaceous carcinoma is a rare occurrence, however, as witnessed in two recent case studies, this highly aggressive malignant tumor can occur in immunosuppressed OTRs, making the thorough screening programs a high priority in these patients.

Ingenol mebutate is a novel approach for the treatment of actinic keratoses. This new topical approach successfully treats AKs in only two or three days, - a much shorter therapeutic regimen compared to the current readily used topical approaches, such as solaraze, 5-FU and imiquimod, and, therefore, also increases patient compliance.

Novel approach to atopic dermatitis therapy aims to repair the skin barrier by replenishing deficient lipids in individuals with atopic dermatitis and restoring the skin barrier to the physiologic status quo.

A novel peel is proving to be very effective in the treatment of comedonic as well as mild-to-moderate acne lesions. This approach could spare acne patients from repeated antibiotic therapies for considerably benign cosmetic lesions.