Aesthetics

New York - Jean D. Carruthers, M.D., thinks it might be appropriate for her and her dermatologist husband, Alastair, to change their middle names to "determination."

Suzanne Kilmer, M.D., started out life on the move, in tandem with the amazing tech-nological developments evolving in laser medicine. The daughter of a pioneer in the manufacture of calculators, she was born in Dallas but early on moved to Chicago, then to Silicone Valley during her freshman year in high school.

New York and Pennsville, N.J. - While hydroquinone remains crucial for treating pigmentary disorders in ethnic patients, the most effective treatments frequently combine this drug with other preparations and treatment modalities.

National Report - Freckle-faced patients - whether they have one bothersome lentigo or a face full of mottling - have many options when it comes to achieving clearer, more even-toned skin. Depending on a patient's perceived concern, dermatologists have at their disposal therapies ranging from topical treatments to more aggressive lasers and light sources to combinations of both.

National Report - Combination therapy, featuring a newer dual-agent topical solution containing mequinol 2 percent and tretinoin 0.01 percent (Solag?,Galderma) used alone but particularly together with laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment, provides an improved approach for treating solar lentigines, agree Marta I. Rendon, M.D., and Fran E. Cook-Bolden, M.D.

The recently organized Pigmentary Disorders Academy (PDA) already can be credited with a number of significant accomplishments. These accomplishments exemplify its aims to increase awareness of pigmentary disorders within the medical community and to update and educate physicians about these conditions and their treatments to enhance patient care.

New York - A combination regimen beginning with adapalene cream 0.1 percent (Differin, Galderma) and incorporating the fixed triple-combination depigmenting cream (Tri-Luma Cream, Galderma) provides a well-tolerated and effective method for treating acne and its distressing sequel of post-in-flammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) in African-American patients, said Valerie D. Callender, M.D., at the recently held Academy '04 meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

New York - Results of a retrospective review reinforce the long-term safety and tolerability of repeated treatments with botulinum toxin type A (Botox Cosmetic?, Allergan) for cosmetic reasons, said Alastair Carruthers, M.D., at the American Academy of Dermatology's Academy '04 here recently.

National report - Pigmentary changes in skin are one of the first indicators of photoaging, according to Neil Sadick, M.D., F.A.C.P.

There is alitany of genetic and acquired disorders that cause hyper- and hypopigmentation, and no one-size-fits-all treatment for either the loss of or an excess of pigment.

An opinion is not enough to lead to a successful defamation lawsuit.

Option is good choice for psoriasis patients suffering moderate-to-severe plaque disease

Efficacy, safety encourage use for psoriasis

San Francisco - A significant part of the recent explosion in cosmetic procedures such as injection of botulinum toxin and fillers is due to increased interest among the male population, and treatment considerations for these patients often differ from those for women, according to Christopher Zachary, M.D.

New York - With the proliferation of lasers and other light sources over recent years, non-surgeons are finding it more difficult to determine which is the best option for treating their patients with vascular or pigmented lesions, solar damage and aging and excessive or unwanted hair.

New York - American dermatologists have been ignoring cellulite, but they need to start paying attention, says Mitchel Goldman, M.D., medical director of Dermatology/Cosmetic Laser Associates in La Jolla, Calif.

New York - Uniform treatment consisting of a three-pronged approach can help patients with foot ulcers heal more effectively and prevent chronic ulceration and the need for amputations, according to Peter Sheehan, M.D., director of the Diabetic Foot and Ankle Center for Joint Diseases, Orthopaedic Institute in New York, N.Y.

Victoria, British Columbia - While dermatologic surgeons are very aware and do an excellent job in managing wounds, wound healing is an area that needs the supervision and expertise of a trained practitioner, according to Gordon E. Searles, O.D., M.D., MSc, FRCPC, FRCPC, FACP. Speaking at the Canadian Dermatology Association Annual Conference, Dr. Searles compared the traditional training surrounding the management of "cold steel" wounds with those that occur as a result of lasers, and the importance of understanding the difference.

Charleston, S.C. - Skin diseases are common among pediatric solid organ transplant recipients, and so dermatologists play an important role in the management of these children, said Maria C. Garzon, M.D., at the 2004 annual meeting of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology here.

Miami - Sculptra (Aventis), an injectable poly-L-lactic acid that tricks the body into producing collagen, fills a unique niche, says Peter Engelhard, D.O.

Washington - Injectable poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra, Dermik Laboratories) is a welcome addition to the expanding armamentarium of filler materials because it can be used for deeper dermal filling to create more durable and greater volume replacement than available agents, says Tina S. Alster, M.D.

New York - Meticulous attention to technique is probably the most important rule for avoiding complications when treating patients with botulinum toxin for cosmetic indications, says Neil S. Sadick, M.D.

Albert M. Kligman, M.D., Ph.D.'s 'accidental' discovery of tretinoin moved drug well beyond acne treatment

Internationally recognized researcher, Alan Menter, M.D., considers the future of psoriasis treatment.

Alan Shalita, M.D., Ph.D., a leader in acne research, has studied the condition for more than 30 years.