Pediatric Dermatology

Bal Harbour, Fla. - While not a treatment of choice for atopic dermatitis, massage therapy can be used as an adjunct, or complementary therapy, to reduce symptoms of the common skin condition and side effects from treatment medications.

San Francisco - In those children who have alopecia areata, the presence of associated diseases, such as thyroiditis or atopic dermatitis, is not a factor in how they respond to treatment, Wilma F. Bergfeld, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Bal Harbour, Fla. - The excessive sweating of hyperhidrosis causes significant stress and has been shown to affect quality of life, especially in those who develop it at a young age. Of all the treatments available today, one of the safest and most effective for hyperhidrosis patients is botulinum toxin, according to Leslie Baumann, M.D.

Bal Harbour, Fla. - Andrea Trowers, M.D., fellow in pediatric dermatology and assistant professor, department of dermatology, University of Miami School of Medicine, touched on issues that pediatric dermatologists deal with daily. She spoke of sun exposure, use of cleansers for babies, and treating ethnic skin.

Birmingham, England - Uncomplicated hemangiomas that clear well with a pulsed dye laser (PDL) are probably limited to superficial lesions that would have resolved without treatment, according to Kapila Batta, M.D.

Bal Harbour, Fla. - Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is not always an easy diagnosis in children, and even nonsick children with seemingly inconsequential skin LCH should undergo full workups and be closely followed by pediatric oncologists, Ronald C. Hansen, M.D., said at the annual Masters of Pediatrics meeting, hosted by the University of Miami School of Medicine.

Bal Harbour, Fla. - Genetic updates on neurofibromatosis and tuberous sclerosis and Langerhans cell histiocytosis presentation in the neonatal period were among the topics discussed by Lawrence F. Eichenfield, M.D., clinical professor of pediatrics and medicine (dermatology), University of California, San Diego, at the annual meeting of the Masters of Pediatrics, hosted by the University of Miami School of Medicine.

Maui, Hawaii - A 12-week dose-finding study evaluating oral pimecrolimus for the treatment of chronic plaque-type psoriasis has yielded encouraging safety and efficacy results, Alice B. Gottlieb, M.D., Ph.D., said at the annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar, sponsored by the Skin Disease Education Foundation.

London -- The use of skin creams containing peanut oil to treat diaper rash, eczema, or other inflammatory skin conditions in babies may lead to peanut allergy in childhood, according to research by Gideon Lack, M.B., B. Ch., and colleagues, based on data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).

With one in four children at risk for becoming overweight and one in 10 children already overweight, childhood obesity is an epidemic fast becoming a national health problem.

Oklahoma City - Results of preclinical and initial clinical studies indicate the investigational compound CX-452 has promising activity as a highly safe and very effective topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and anti-aging agent, Bryan B. Fuller, Ph.D., said.

The recent news that a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is well on its way to being a reality has dermatologists pricking up their ears. The vaccine, which is in development by Merck & Co. to target HPV-16, could facilitate a 40-percent reduction of intraepithelial cancer of the cervix within 10 years of widespread distribution to women and men, according to Ulrich R. Hengge, M.D., department of dermatology, University of Essen, Germany. More importantly to dermatologists who see histologically benign recalcitrant vaginal warts every day, the science behind the HPV-16 vaccine is virtually the same as that behind similar investigational therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines for condylomata.

Acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, hyperhidrosis, trichotillomania, onychotillomania, neurotic excoriations ... Even as connections between isotretinoin (Accutane) and depression in teens was hotly debated in the media spotlight last year, no one denies the powerful connection between the health of the psyche and that of the skin.

Pittsburgh -Topical tacrolimus ointment 0.1 percent (Protopic) may be a viable addition to the current therapeutic armamentarium for early-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), Larisa Geskin, M.D., said.

Pusan, South Korea -- Intralesional interferon alfa-2b (Intron-A) can be a useful option for the treatment of rapidly growing keratoacanthomas, Chang-Keun Oh, M.D., Ph.D., said.

Boston - Data indicate that UV light is increasing the incidence of melanoma development by specifically targeting the Rb pathway. The study is among the first to verify the link between UV exposure and melanoma risk in experimental models.

Kansas City, Kan. - It is a simple rule of office organization. And interior decorating. Even dermatology. What's the rule? Group like items together to keep things simple and streamlined.

Sandusky, Ohio - Tacrolimus 0.1 percent ointment can treat a subset of patients with granuloma annulare (GA), according to a study conducted at Northern Ohio Dermatology Research in Sandusky, Ohio. The phase IV, open-label, single-center, clinical trial was conducted by Mandi R. Motter, R.N., clinical research coordinator, Thomas E. Fleming, M.D., principal investigator, and colleagues.

New York - Ciclopirox 1 percent shampoo is an effective alternative for management of scalp seborrheic dermatitis, according to results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Stanford, Calif. - Conjugation of cyclosporin A to arginine oligomer protein transduction sequences provides a promising method for delivery of the peptide immunosuppressant agent into psoriatic skin. However, further study is needed to characterize the cutaneous bioavailability achieved with that novel delivery platform and to answer the larger question of whether topical cyclosporin A offers a viable therapeutic modality for psoriasis, according to David F. Fiorentino, M.D., Ph.D.

Vienna -- Oral pimecrolimus is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for certain inflammatory skin diseases, such as chronic plaque psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, according to Klaus Wolff, M.D., F.R.C.P., professor of dermatology and chairman, department of dermatology, University of Vienna, Austria.

Paris - Papular and pruritic dermatoses of pregnancy are usually the result of three conditions - prurigo, papular dermatitis of pregnancy (PDP), and pruritic folliculitis (PF) - Samantha Vaughan Jones, M.D., F.R.C.P., said at the World Congress of Dermatology. Depending on the symptoms and their severity, these conditions can affect the health of both the mother and her baby.

Paris - Topical medications should often be considered as first-line therapy in the treatment of vulval diseases because they are effective, easy to use, and fast-acting, according to Annarosa Virgili, M.D.

Troy, Mich. - Looking at the penis is an important part of the dermatological exam. Dermatologists who make the effort will commonly find skin conditions related only to the penis, general skin conditions, cancer, and infections, according to Ali Moiin, M.D., a board certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor, Wayne State University, Troy, Mich.

Paris - Patch testing for possible contact allergy looks to be an effective tool in the investigation of inflammatory vulval diseases for patients with vulval dermatoses.