News

Neither patients nor physicians appreciate the serious health risks that venous disease can create, according to an expert who spoke at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

On Call wondered whether dermatologists who have been performing liposuction for decades have witnessed the phenomenon of fat returning to other parts of the body in their patients. Most of the doctors had more of an issue with the concept of the inevitability of the fat returning than with the location of its redistribution.

Even with the latest technology and the best-trained and experienced staff, efficiency isn't a given - you have to work at ensuring well-oiled work flows in your dermatology practice. Using your time wisely is important to your practice's revenue because, unlike those supplies on the shelf, your time can't be stored.

When Amy Derick, M.D., mentors dermatology residents and others who are just breaking into dermatology practice, she comes across not only as a peer, but also as an icon. She's young - 34. She only started practice about five years ago, so the challenges of a startup are fresh in her mind.

After Dr. Scar diagnosed a basal cell carcinoma, the patient said, "Tell me nothing. Just get the thing out." When the patient was left with a scar after surgery, she filed a medical malpractice lawsuit alleging she was not given appropriate informed consent and was not warned about the scar. Will Dr. Scar lose the medical malpractice case?

Dermatologists applaud the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) final decision to clarify sunscreen labeling, although some believe the new rules won't fully resolve consumer confusion or concerns about the safety of some ingredients.

The early diagnosis of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is not only crucial for the timely implementation of therapeutic regimens in patients suffering from this disease; it's also key to keeping the development of cutaneous cancers to a minimum.

Crow’s feet respond significantly better to treatment with Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA, Medicis) than to treatment with Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan), according to results of what is reportedly the first randomized trial comparing the two.

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor etanercept (Enbrel, Amgen/Pfizer) offers dermatomyositis patients a safe and effective treatment alternative to steroids, a small pilot study has found.

Fibrocell Science has won Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for an injectible wrinkle treatment that uses a patient’s own cells, Bloomberg.com reports.

Centocor Ortho Biotech, based here, has changed its name to Janssen Biotech.

New research suggests that patients getting Botox treatments can reduce wrinkles with half as many sessions after 20 months, Medical News Today reports.

PDR Network, a distributor of drug-labeling information and safety alerts, has joined with several electronic health record (EHR) vendors and other partners to launch an online network to collect and distribute information on adverse drug events in the United States.

A new study suggests that people with chronic pruritus have just as poor a quality of life as those who live with chronic pain, Medical News Today reports.

Regenerative medicine firm Avita Medical introduced its ReCell Spray-On-Skin at a symposium held at the recent Cosmedica 2011 Congress for Aesthetic & Surgical Medicine held in Bochum, Germany, Medical News Today reports.

A new study reveals dramatic results for an experimental drug designed to attack a melanoma tumor’s genetic trigger in patients with advanced disease, The Washington Post reports.

Verisante Technology, a medical device company, has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with the British Columbia Cancer Agency to manufacture the Verisante Aura, a spectroscopy system designed to aid in the early detection of skin cancer.

Brief individual counseling sessions led to significant improvement for physicians and other healthcare professionals suffering from occupational hand eczema, InternalMedicineNews.com reports.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is seeking applications for its educational grant program PICMED (Program for Innovative Continuing Medical Education in Dermatology).

The International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and Stiefel have launched Hats On For Skin Heath, a global initiative on sun protection for albinos in sub-Saharan Africa.

A GP100 peptide vaccine can significantly enhance response to the immune activator interleukin-2 in patients with advanced melanoma, MedPage Today reports.

People with Parkinson’s disease have a significantly higher risk of melanoma, new research suggests.

Contact by medical students with the pharmaceutical industry is associated with positive attitudes about marketing, HealthDay News reports.

People with rosacea say the disease can negatively affect their workplace interactions and employment - even to the extent of being denied promotions.

Disaster 101 : Is your practice prepared to meet the challenge? Restoring Skin : ReCell uses patient’s own cells to trigger regeneration Special Report : Men & skin

Rhinophyma, a progressive benign condition causing a large, swollen, bulbous nose, can be treated most effectively if identified early, according to Joseph Bikowski, M.D., director, Bikowski Skin Care Center, Sewickley, Pa. No one knows the cause of rhinophyma, which rarely occurs in women. The condition was once believed to be caused by excessive alcohol consumption, but that was unfounded.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in men, but there are numerous options for treating the condition, and more are being developed.

The incidence of acne in adult men is not as common as it is in female patients, but, nevertheless, some men do seek acne treatment from dermatologists, according to Vic A. Narurkar, M.D., F.A.A.D., founder and director, Bay Area Laser Institute, San Francisco. Adult men usually do not seek treatment for acne as frequently as they do for other conditions, such as rosacea.

Pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment for infants with port wine stains (PWS) should be performed early and often, according to research conducted by dermatologic surgeons from the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York.

Patricia K. Farris, M.D., never thought she'd experience a natural disaster that would wipe out her practice, a city and an entire infrastructure. Then came Hurricane Katrina. "You couldn't call a patient who had a melanoma. It was so beyond, beyond," says Dr. Farris, who practices in Metairie, La. After the 2005 storm, she says, "I was out of business for seven months."