Pediatric Dermatology

London - Botox (Allergan) therapy may be addictive, researchers in the United Kingdom report.

Gardasil (Merck) is made of virus-like particles - copies of the capsids or the outer shell of the virus; there is no DNA - therefore, it is impossible to become infected with HPV through vaccination. The vaccine stimulates an antibody response to that outer coating of the virus, and is 100 percent protective if administered prior to exposure to the four strains of HPV that it protects against.

National report - "My sister died of cervical cancer," says New Orleans-area dermatologist Patricia Farris, M.D., who has a private practice that is overwhelmingly female.

Cleveland - As Dermatology Times continues to grow, our mission to serve you, our readers, grows as well.

In dermatology, we are losing products more quickly than we are gaining products.

Birmingham, England - Researchers at City Hospital here have found that topical application of tacrolimus may be an effective treatment for most patients with vulval lichen sclerosus.

San Francisco - A new study suggests that patients being treated with isotretinoin may risk heart and liver problems.

While results from Sculptra are not immediate taking three to six months they can last three to five years.

Researchers are beginning to develop tools that will enable physicians to use biologic drugs with increasing specificity.

Interim results from an open-label controlled clinical study indicate that occlusion with a specially designed hydrogel patch safely and significantly enhances the efficacy of a variety of topical medications that are used in the treatment of psoriasis, reported researchers from the University of California at the American Academy of Dermatology's Summer Academy '06.

Since the mid-1980s, mounting evidence has shown that psoriasis is an immune disorder - specifically, that abnormal T-cell activity is a critical component of the disease.

The highly purified liquid injectable form of silicone received approval in 1997 specifically for intraocular injection for tamponade of retinal detachment, but can be used off label.

When assessing the base of the breast, the surgeons judge the distance to be considered in proportion with the width of the chest.

To date, there have been no large randomized controlled trials studying the link between treating iron deficiency and hair loss.

Addressing ethical concerns related to laser medicine requires both professional society oversight and individual responsibility.

National report - Dermatologists are changing the way they treat and manage hemangiomas.

Piscataway, N.J. - Modern medical acupuncture can help patients, particularly those with chronic skin diseases, improve their overall health and avoid risks associated with systemic treatments, says an expert who has experience with acupuncture both personally and professionally.

These strains differ from hospital-acquired strains in that they are more manageable and may respond to treatments to which they would appear to be resistant, according to their sensitivity cultures.

Philadelphia - The human body is constantly under attack from bacteria and viruses living in our environment. When we present with clinical infections, it is the direct result of our immune system's incapability of successfully protecting us from these microbes. To achieve a better understanding of skin infections, one must try to better understand the human body's defense system, as well as the microbial virulence system.

Canada's total of approximately 619 full-time dermatologists averages out to one per 55,000 residents (the American Academy of Dermatology recommends one per 40,000).

Kansas City, Mo. - Tacrolimus 0.1 percent ointment suppresses signs and symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis among those sensitive to nickel and who continue to be exposed to the metal, according to researchers from the University of Missouri in Kansas City.

This is in response to the excellent article, "Frequent tanners may be addicted, study shows," in the June 2006 issue.

As more patients find successful treatments, they're increasingly willing and able to give back, the National Psoriasis Foundation's president says.

Missing follow-up appointments include what Ms. Coates calls the "out of sight, out of mind" phenomenon, which she says is less common in patients with psoriatic arthritis than those with psoriasis alone.

Though it's possible to get biologic drugs covered by many patients' insurance plans, sources agree it's rarely easy.