Aesthetics

National report - A new four-year, $13 million initiative aims to give treatments for chronic wound healing a much-needed shot in the arm through a combination of envelope-pushing science and interdisciplinary teamwork.

Washington - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing Dermik Laboratories' supplemental pre-market approval application (s-PMA) for Sculptra, an injectable poly-L-lactic acid, for facial cosmetic use.

Philip Werschler, M.D., is as passionate about work as he is about play. The assistant clinical professor of medicine/dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, has managed to follow his calling to teach, while running a thriving practice and without sacrificing his commitment to family, his love of auto racing and more.

International report - Botulinum toxin has been used as a non-invasive facelifting procedure for some time now, establishing itself as a useful and safe tool for facial rejuvenation in patients worldwide.

Toronto - An expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) implant that offers two different pore sizes reduces problems with implant migration and shrinkage, an expert says.

Toronto - Listening to patients' desires in the lip area will help physicians choose the best products and injection techniques for each clinical situation, an expert says.

Q Is there such a condition as permanent postpartum telogen effluvium?

Boston - Understanding the basic science behind new and evolving laser surgery devices provides a basis for safe, effective clinical use, according to an expert.

National report - There are different types of cutaneous wounds with varying degrees of depth; therefore, there are also various methods to treat these wounds.

National report - Community-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has become a ubiquitous presence across the United States.

Washington - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s General and Plastic Surgery Advisory Panel has recommended that Radiesse, a soft-tissue augmentation product manufactured and distributed by San Mateo, Calif.-based BioForm Medical, be approved for use in restoring facial contours such as nasolabial folds and in treating facial lipoatrophy associated with HIV.

National report - Constant assaults from sun, wind and rain.

Because the category is so broad, Dr. Wu says it's impossible to generalize about the effect the products have on the skin barrier function. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that manufacturers are not required to test for the safety or efficacy of their products.

Palo Alto, Calif. - The first systematic comparison of CO2 laser, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels and 5 percent fluorouracil (5FU) cream as nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) prophylactics suggests all three may be beneficial, though patients tolerated TCA peels best, says the study's lead author.

Toronto - The most important way to avoid having dissatisfied cosmetic patients is to emphasize good patient selection, an expert says.

National report - There are several methods of lip augmentation at the disposal of the dermatologist for achieving ?sthetically desired lips in patients, including fillers, implants, resurfacing techniques (e.g. dermabrasions, peelings, lasers) botulinum toxin injections, as well as surgery.

Paris - To be a successful cosmetic eyelid surgeon, the physician must understand ethnic anatomic differences, as well as culturally diverse ?sthetic principles.

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.

National report - Results of a pivotal study evaluating a new generation hyaluronic acid (HA)-based gel filler (Juv?derm, Allergan) for correction of nasolabial folds show that all three formulations of the injectable product provide significantly greater and longer-lasting improvement than crosslinked bovine collagen (Zyplast, Allergan) reports Leslie Baumann, M.D.

Are you confused about lasers? Are you afraid to admit that you don't know the difference between "Q- switched" and "pulsed dye"? You are not alone and we are here to help "shed the light" on the confusing array of lasers and light devices.

In general, women tend to do a lot more wet work; they are exposed to more detergents and things that are used in household cleaning products that cause the nails to become more brittle.

For individuals with recalcitrant disease, the combination of topical therapy for melasma plus a physical modality to remove or destroy pigment might provide additive or synergistic activity.

The Baumann Skin Typing System empowers patients by helping them make their own decisions about what skincare products to buy.

Edinburgh, Scotland - A goldfish on display at the Royal Museum of Scotland has undergone cosmetic surgery after visitors said it looked ugly.

New York - The American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) has launched a public safety campaign in response to what it calls the "alarming national trend" of nonphysicians performing procedures such as Botox (Allergan) injections, laser hair removal, microdermabrasion and chemical peels.