News

Novartis announced January 15 that the FDA approved Cosentyx (secukinumab) for psoriatic arthritis and active ankylosing spondylitis.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) announced in January that it is funding 24 research projects, to the tune of about $5 million, to develop non-traditional therapeutics for bacterial infections. Learn more

It might be tempting in our multi-tasking world to mix all of your morning skin care products in one bottle and all of your evening skin care products in another, but to find out the answer read more.

The earliest firm evidence of human tattoos dates back to about 5,000 years ago when hikers discovered the mummified body of Ötzi the Iceman. No one knows when a first human regretted a tattoo and tried to do something about it, but one expert thinks it happened early. Tattoo artists have offered “home remedies” for tattoo removal since at least the late 19th century, he says. Read our brief history.

While highly sensitive technology is important for detecting melanoma, methods with poor sensitivity can lead to unnecessary biopsies, treatments, cost, as well as morbidity. Several technologies are available to improve sensitivity and specificity, some of which are used as second-level tests.

There is an absence of strong evidence supporting the recommendation that cumulative dosing of isotretinoin follow a reference range of 120 to 150 mg/kg. This points to the need for clinicians to treat their patients to achieve clearance of acne rather than adhere to this range.

Clinicians recognize that acne is increasingly presenting in pre-adolescents and that early presentation is also a predictor of worse disease in the future and the potential for scarring. Prompt, aggressive treatment will lead to better outcomes and will reduce the potential for adverse psychosocial effects.

Continual maintenance strategies are key for addressing three chronic follicular disorders in skin of color.

New technologies for managing skin cancer were a topic of discussion at a scientific session at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery’s 2015 annual meeting in Chicago in October. Seaver L. Soon, M.D., division of dermatology and dermatologic surgery at Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, Calif., was one of the moderators for the scientific discussion titled, “The Cutting Edge: New Technologies for Managing Skin Cancer.” Learn more

We asked you to pick the personality style which resonated with you. Here is how the dermatology population stacks up against the general United States.

Taking time to educate consumers about professional vs. over-the-counter options can increase practice sales. Find out how

Following the merger of Pfizer and Allergan, Brent Saunders, Allergan's chief executive officer, will be president and chief operating officer of the newly combined company, called Pfizer plc. He spoke to us about the long-term impact the merger will have on the company and on the dermatology industry.

Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections are associated with unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, leading to antibiotic resistance. Antimicrobial stewardship programs could be a very effective and useful approach to help stop the alarming trend of antibiotic resistance. Several strategies help optimize outcomes.

Men are flocking to dermatologists for aesthetic procedures, and they usually know what they want aesthetic procedures to accomplish, but they may not know how to express what they want or what options are available, says an expert at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery annual meeting in Chicago. Learn more

A new study suggests patients with darker skin types are more prone than those with lighter skin to acral pigmented lesions, and many people are unaware those lesions exist.

There are five controversies rattling today’s dermatology community, causing some dermatologists to think twice about commonly used products, services and procedures.

Doing something good for the world feels great and when it’s built in to products and services your patients buy from you, it reinforces their decision to choose you and your practice.

Successful laser scar revision is achieved with lower energies, shorter pulse durations, and intervals of at least six weeks between treatments. Learn more

Many dermatologists in private practice inadvertently lose up to tens of thousands of dollars each year by less-than-optimal management of taxes. The good news is that it possible to improve your post-tax bottom line in a number of ways.

The FDA’s recent clearance of SculpSure (Cynosure) shines a light on the billowing demand for noninvasive lipolysis and the promise that unwanted fat will vanish without a prick or incision. Dermatologists and others faced with the daunting decision of which technologies to purchase or rent should also know there are clear differences between what invasive and noninvasive fat reduction can accomplish.

Melinda Gooderham, M.D., MSc, FRCPCPatients might stop taking their biologic medications for a variety of reasons. When patients do stop their biologic therapy, clinicians need to consider that some biologic therapies are better at recapturing response than others. learn more

Dermatology is truly unique in patient satisfaction, but I am concerned that our ability to deliver this high level of performance is being eroded by factors beyond our control. learn more

When considering selling a practice, physicians must consider the near- and long-term objectives of the practice's owners and of the acquiring organization, as well as how much autonomy the proposed arrangement allows the acquired practice, experts say.

Common concerns in daily practice include using Medicare's "incident-to" billing properly and documenting services – particularly why a particular procedure was performed – thoroughly.

Based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), one expert explains how each of eight mental processes may impact interactions with patients and staff. By understanding our default processes, we can begin to identify blind-spots in our ways of interacting with others

Dermatology Times presents a year-long exploration of social media-the many ways that it impacts the field of dermatology as well as your medical practice. The series will provide strategies and tips for how you can use social to best effect: how to get started, which platforms to use, secrets for incorporating video, AMA guidelines, and more.

New research indicates that cutaneous melanoma is the most mutation-driven form of all cancers. While research has determined that there is more than one form of cutaneous melanoma, forms with more mutations may respond better to immunotherapies that have been approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) since 2011. Learn more

While one German study has shown that population-wide screening for melanoma could dramatically reduce mortality, potential problems with the strategy include cost due to the overall rarity of the disease, patient compliance, and difficulties identifying patients likely to develop melanoma. Therefore, scientists are developing prediction models to identify those at high risk for melanoma, which can include genetic factors. Learn more

Precision medicine appears to be the future of healthcare and the use of big data is proving to be invaluable in achieving this goal. The vast amounts of molecular and other valuable data currently being collected at huge databases and used to create personalized medicine is part of a grand and inevitable formula to revolutionize modern medicine.

Immunosuppressed patients have a greater risk for developing high-risk non-melanoma skin cancer, which can typically be more aggressive in this patient population. As such, a multidisciplinary approach is required when contemplating appropriate treatment and management of this patient population.