John Jesitus

National report - Since no laser or light source meets every patient's needs, experts say it's crucial to choose technologies that will provide the maximum utility in a given practice setting.

National Report - Children with allergic contact dermatitis frequently react to the same allergens as adults with this condition do, according to a recent multi-center study conducted at the University of Miami and the University of Pennsylvania that calls for increased patch testing in children, especially those with chronic dermatitis.

Las Vegas - Weight-based dosing with extended-release (ER) minocycline tablets allows patients with acne to achieve efficacy equivalent to that of 2 mg/kg or 3 mg/kg of body weight daily with just 1 mg/kg daily, says James Q. Del Rosso, D.O., dermatology residency director, Valley Hospital Medical Center, Las Vegas.

Dallas - Long-term use of a triple-combination cream for melasma (fluocinolone acetonide, hydroquinone, tretinoin; TriLuma, Galderma) is effective and unlikely to cause skin atrophy, according to a recent study.

Las Vegas - A skin barrier protection cream (Tetrix, Coria Laboratories) appears to reduce exposure to skin allergens and irritants and decrease symptoms of eczematous dermatitis, according to James Q. Del Rosso, D.O., dermatology residency director, Valley Hospital Medical Center, Las Vegas.

Houston - Recent research makes clear that the yeast genus Malassezia plays a role in the etiology of seborrheic dermatitis and several other common cutaneous disorders - and that ketoconazole is the most effective treatment for Malassezia overgrowth, an expert says.

Long before disaster strikes, experts say physicians should have an ermergency plan in place

While the H1N1 or swine flu virus pandemic hasn't proven particularly deadly to date, sources say it should remind dermatologists to remain vigilant and prepared for myriad threats, from infectious agents to natural disasters, bioterrorism and power outages

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared H1N1 a Phase 6 pandemic on June 11, 2009, but that doesn't mean the illness is severe - just new and widespread.

Because no single cosmeceutical agent is likely to satisfy a patient's entire wish list, an expert recommends combining cosmeceutical ingredients, particularly those backed by solid research.

Mohs surgery of the scalp requires careful excision, tissue processing and closures, keeping in mind the intricacies of scalp anatomy, an expert says.

Las Vegas - Although some recent animal research and human case reports have spurred concerns regarding the safety of Botox Cosmetic (botulinum toxin A, Allergan), one of the product's pioneers says that Botox remains safe when used as directed for cosmetic indications.

Mohs surgery of the scalp requires careful excision, tissue processing and closures, keeping in mind the intricacies of scalp anatomy, an expert says.

For treating difficult pigmentary disorders, an expert recommends combining the best of standard treatments with promising newer agents and modalities.

Washington - Over the next five years, fractionated lasers and combined-wavelength treatments will continue to lead growth in the dermatologic laser surgery segment, according to a leading dermatologic laser surgeon.

The complexities of facial and neck anatomy demand that dermatologic surgeons identify pertinent features in these areas preoperatively instead of after the fact, an expert says.

To address the U.S. healthcare crisis, some dermatologists suggest everything from overhauling the FDA to abandoning it - and Medicare as it's currently configured. However, not all dermatologists agree with these proposals.

Tips for an efficient, harmonious office range from staying on top of patients' deductibles to taking regular four-day weekends, an expert says.

The first documented case of cutaneous polyarteritis nodosum following HPV vaccine injection suggests dermatologists should consider it as a possible vaccine-related complication, says a pathologist who worked on this case.

Seven months postsurgery, Connie Culp, who received a near-total face transplant on Dec. 9 at the Cleveland Clinic, is doing well, according to published accounts.

Dermatologists' reactions to Hoffman-La Roche's decision to discontinue its once-popular acne drug Accutane (isotretinoin) run the gamut. Some express disappointment or surprise; others marvel that the drug survived as long as it did.

To prevent filler complications and treat them most effectively when they occur, an expert recommends thoroughly understanding facial anatomy.

A new study supports the use of intramatrix injections of triamcinolone acetonide - particularly at doses of 10 mg/ml - for treating nail psoriasis, a study co-author says.

National report - The American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery (ASCDAS) and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) will host a combined meeting Oct. 1-4, 2009, in Phoenix, the organizations announced in December.

Cleveland - Plastic surgeons are welcoming the news of the world's first near-total face transplant - and the first such operation in the United States - performed in late 2008 at the Cleveland Clinic.

Soeborg, Denmark - The financial failure of Artes Medical, maker of the permanent facial filler ArteFill (polymethylmethacrylate, purified bovine collagen) hasn't totally dampened the market for such products.

National report - The bankruptcy of Artes Medical, maker of the permanent facial filler ArteFill, will make it harder for permanent fillers to enter the U.S. market in the future, analysts say - although one such product, Contura's Aquamid, will likely seek Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2009.

The dramatic improvement of a psoriasis patient who had developed squamous cell carcinoma secondary to PUVA treatment illustrates that adalimumab and acitretin work synergistically, a physician familiar with the case says.

National report - When it comes to performing required semiannual evaluations of fellows, both dermatopathology fellowship programs and procedural dermatology fellowship programs fall short, according to a recent study.

National report - Recognition from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) brings structure and standardization to surgical dermatology training, says a Mohs surgeon who has pushed for procedural certification.