News

Although sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) may be useful for staging of intermediate-thickness melanomas, says Pamela Basuk, M.D., its utility elsewhere is questionable.

Newer drugs are available to combat potentially serious infections including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), says Kenneth J. Tomecki, M.D., vice-chairman, department of dermatology, Cleveland Clinic. Colonization, mainly of the anterior nares, remains a major risk factor for MRSA.

The use of a fixed combination of 924 nm and 975 nm continuous wave laser energy can treat primary axillary hyperhidrosis, according to a study presented at the 2012 annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

A facial rejuvenation device that delivers fractional bipolar radiofrequency (RF) energy via microneedling directly into the dermis tightens skin and achieves measurable lifting and volume increase the likes of which have never been seen by any other devices on the market, said Lori Brightman, M.D., at the 2012 meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

Positive results from initial in vitro studies suggest that photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds promise for overcoming biofilm-related microbial resistance, says Thomas S. Mang, Ph.D.

Dr. Skin missed seeing a melanoma on his patient. It was present when he saw her two years ago; he just did not see it. The former patient sues Dr. Skin for negligence. The plaintiff's attorney offers to settle the case prior to going to court for $1 million dollars. Should Dr. Skin do so?

As drug costs and medicolegal scrutiny increase, the future of many drugs appears murky, said Stephen E. Wolverton, M.D., at the 70th annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

It's summertime, and once again, people are looking for reasons to enjoy the sun. Assertions that sunscreens are detrimental to health are surfacing once more. This time, the question is whether sunscreens provide so much protection from sun exposure that they inhibit the body's natural production of vitamin D, leading to deficiencies.

Leg hairs can be a convenient and natural-looking donor source for hair transplantation when restoring a thinning hairline. This approach offers an aesthetic solution for select patients with male pattern baldness, according to one hair transplant specialist.

Male patients comprise a discerning and sensitive market, and regardless of its benefits, a product that seems feminine will fail, as will any product associated with multiple steps, say Zoe D. Draelos, M.D., and Joel Schlessinger, M.D.

Male rosacea patients present with larger facial telangiectasias and more severe erythema because they tend to minimize skin problems and delay treatment, but a treatment plan focused on laser surgery can produce excellent outcomes, and the lack of ongoing aftercare is appealing to many male patients, says Tina S. Alster, M.D.

New research has identified the signaling pathway through which mechanical forces play a major role in the fibrotic process of wound healing and scarring. Modulating this pathway in mice significantly reduced scarring and may offer a therapeutic target to reduce scarring in humans, says Geoffrey C. Gurtner, M.D.

Dermatologists have the highest level of job satisfaction of 25 medical specialties, according to a national survey conducted by Medscape titled Physician Compensation Report 2012. Dermatologists also are among the better compensated, particularly when their more-varied pattern of hours worked are taken into consideration.

I can't tell you how many wonderful things I've heard from medical administrators and non-physician consultants that will result from the adoption of the electronic medical record (EMR). But like most of us, I've been taught to believe that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Repetitive same-day treatment with a nanosecond pulsed, Q-switched laser increases tattoo ink clearance and is safe, but the magnitude of improvement does not appear to increase linearly with the number of treatments, reported Suzanne L. Kilmer, M.D., at LASER 2012, the 32nd annual American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery conference.

Dermatologist Rashmi Sarkar, M.D., doesn't see the more than 7,000 miles separating her home country from the United States as a networking obstacle. In fact, she has taken a special interest in bringing the worlds of dermatology in India and America together.

Your employees are your practice's single most significant expense category, but they are also one of its greatest assets. A highly productive workforce is essential to ensure your dermatology practice runs effectively. That said, there may still be ways to decrease - or at least keep the lid on - staffing costs without reducing efficiency or service quality.

How many times weekly does the dermatologist get asked about nail splitting? A lot. Most patients ask about fancy vitamins and nail polishes that claim to improve nail health. Remember that nail health is an appearance claim without substantiation, as the nonliving nails really cannot be healthy because they are dead!

Two important Washington developments regarding sunscreen have taken place this summer, but neither will do much to help adults who need guidance in protecting themselves during this year's sunbathing season. Early in May, the Food and Drug Administration announced it is delaying until December implementation of new sunscreen rules that had been scheduled to take effect in June.

Merz has announced that James P. Hartman has been appointed vice president, medical dermatology, effective June 12, 2012. Mr. Hartman will be responsible for the company’s medical and OTC/OTX dermatology business unit, which includes Naftin (naftifine hydrochloride) and Mederma.

Doug Ulman, president and CEO of LIVESTRONG, has been appointed to Provectus Pharmaceuticals’ Corporate Advisory Board.

Stiefel and Welichem Biotech have entered into an agreement for Stiefel’s acquisition of exclusive development and commercialization rights to the nonsteroidal, topical anti-inflammatory agent, WBI-1001, in all territories outside of China, Taiwan, Macao and Hong Kong.

We have consulted with thousands of doctors in all specialties during our combined 35+ years in practice. From this experience, we have become intimately familiar with how most physicians build their financial plans (what we call “wealth plans”). Too often, they have ignored the most important factor in a sophisticated long-term plan - flexibility.

The product development pipeline will deliver game-changing injectable fat treatments in the very near future, according to one dermatologist.

A single intracellular molecule, activator protein-1 (AP-1), appears to initiate the signaling cascade for vascular remodeling that results in varicose veins. Assuming that these findings on the mechanisms of the disease in a mouse model translate into humans, they offer new targets for therapeutic intervention that go beyond current surgical options, a researcher says.

Use of combination therapy as a means to improve efficacy and minimize toxicity is a well-accepted principle in medicine. As it applies to the management of psoriasis, the results of multiple studies support the value of combination topical therapy with a vitamin D analogue and corticosteroid, said two speakers at the 2012 Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference.

Drugmakers American Medical Systems and Allergan will be jointly developing and seeking regulatory approval for a version of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) using the JetTouch system to treat overactive bladder.

Lauding his years of service and contributions, the National Psoriasis Foundation awarded its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award to Mark G. Lebwohl, M.D., professor and chairman of dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.

The International Psoriasis Council is encouraging cooperation among researchers and seeks to further the study of the genetic basis of psoriasis, according to a report published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Investigators from the University of California, San Diego, have isolated a molecule that may assist in clearing psoriasis and improve wound healing.