Nancy A. Melville

The new eyelash growth product Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03 percent, Allergan) is gaining a strong following among patients and their doctors.

Topical and phototherapy treatment options for vitiligo are increasing, and one expert says he combines modalities.

Vascular lasers remain the gold standard for treating more severe cases of rosacea, including acne rosacea.

When female patients present with a combination of hair loss, hirsutism and acne, physicians should check total testosterone levels.

Physicians have more options than ever available for wound dressings, and while many newer products come with a high price tag, their efficacy may make the cost worthwhile. One new product, honey, actually dates back to ancient times, and recent studies support some wound-healing benefits, specifically from manuka honey, produced in New Zealand.

In the beginning, there was only Botox, but after years of owning the U.S. market with no competition, Allergan's brand of botulinum toxin will inevitably soon share the stage with several new neurotoxins that are working their way towards FDA approval.

As fillers evolve to address an ever-expanding array of aging skin issues, the term filler, itself, is almost becoming obsolete as modern-day products do far more than fill wrinkles. Using them to just fill, in fact, is kind of like using a Ferrari for trips to the local convenience store, said Wm. Philip Werschler, M.D., F.A.A.D., F.A.A.C.S.

National report - New drug combinations and concentrations loom for teen acne treatment as researchers strive to address as many pathogenic targets as possible while upping the ante on treatment efficacy.

Dr. Witman has prescribed the agents as second-line therapy after a first-line therapy attempt with topical corticosteroids failed, or if potential side effects of topical steroids would make their use contraindicated.

National report - New topical steroids that have recently hit the market may not be for everyone, but for the right pediatric patients, the products represent exciting new developments in the treatment of pediatric dermatoses, says Joel Schlessinger, M.D., director of the Advanced Skin Research Center in Omaha, Neb., and president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery.

Omaha, Neb. - As laser resurfacing evolves, the persistent challenge remains how to somehow incorporate the dramatic benefits of ablative, CO2 resurfacing with the user-friendliness and higher safety profile of nonablative measures.

National report - Many in dermatology are anxiously anticipating the arrival of the latest addition to the hyaluronic acid filler market, Juvederm (Allergan Medical), as a new alternative to the long-held gold standard, Restylane (Medicis ?sthetics).

National report - The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recent approval of the soft tissue filler Artefill (Artes Medical) marks a big milestone as the first permanent filler ever approved in the United States for wrinkle correction, and that distinction, alone, should give Artefill a unique marketing advantage.

National report - The Food and Drug Administration's first approved prescription botanical in modern times is - not surprisingly - a green tea extract that happens to have a dermatologic indication.

As heightened regulations put greater limitations than ever on prescribing isotretinoin, photodynamic light therapy is gaining more attention as an effective alternative for acne treatment, says Arielle Kauvar, M.D., associate director at the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York, and clinical associate professor of dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York.

National report - As most dermatologists know, it's no accident that the skin on the most consistently covered-up parts of the body is typically in the best shape. External elements ranging from the sun and wind to temperature extremes can take their toll on even the healthiest of skin, but when conditions such as rosacea are present, the elements can wreak particular havoc.

Scottsdale, Ariz. - Lasers and light-based therapies are evolving with increasingly promising results for treatment of acne, but their place is still decidedly only as an adjunct therapy, according to doctors debating the topic at a recent meeting of the Skin Disease Education Foundation.

National report - Promising new temporary fillers will give dermatologists creative new options for combinations, but for some, semi-permanent fillers won't be among them, as many remain highly skittish over unresolved problems and safety issues.