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Too many physicians over the past decade have sought cookie-cutter asset protection plans to give them some piece of mind that if they ever endure an outrageous malpractice case, they won’t lose everything.

You might say that Mark Procino is typical of America’s conservative savers. A middle-age electronics technician, he doesn’t trust the stock market. He faithfully contributes to his 401(k) each month, but he avoids any other investments in stocks. He has several certificates of deposit and a small money market account at his bank. Mark doesn’t like risk, so he wants to keep most of his financial future in what he regards as "safe" investments.

With interest in the new subspecialty of pediatric dermatology still less than robust, leaders in the field are looking at training requirements to see how they might be impacting recruiting. Meanwhile, the window is closing for a small but well-qualified group of physicians to be "grandfathered" into board certification.

Frizz-reducing products for the hair have become popular with the increased use of hair dyes among younger women. Permanent hair dye irreversibly damages the hair cuticle, allowing the hair to become frizzy. Hair serums are clear liquids applied to the hair for a variety of purposes, including frizz reduction.

Basal cell carcinoma is a skin tumor that is quickly diagnosed, easily managed and curable if treated quickly. However, according to one specialist, metastatic BCC likely occurs much more frequently than currently reported, and dermatologists should consider metastatic lesions and address them accordingly.

The slide preparation lab seems a logical extension of dermatology practice, yet few dermatologists tap into this revenue-producing option. Adding a histopathology component to your practice generates long-term revenue to help make up for dwindling reimbursement and aesthetic devices.

As consumer interest in the roles of nutrition and cosmeceuticals in skincare continues to increase, it behooves dermatologists to be knowledgeable on these topics. An understanding of the mechanism of action and theoretical benefits of cosmeceutical ingredients is fundamental for designing effective skincare protocols and providing appropriate explanations on the rationale for their use, experts say.

Dermatologists say they will vigorously oppose many portions of the newly passed healthcare reform bill, although they say it's too soon to determine exactly how. Chief objections are the bill's creation of an independent payment advisory board (IPAB) for Medicare and lack of a fix for Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR), sources say.

Fibrocell therapy is an innovative autologous cell therapy that is showing promise in the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles typically seen in photodamaged and photoaged skin. It also holds promise for treating depressed scar tissue, as it can revolumize the target area.

Pediatric patients seek many of the same cosmetic procedures that their parents desire. The question, according to one expert, becomes whether dermatologists and others should perform cosmetic procedures on patients who are still growing - physically and mentally.

Internet-based patient portals are Web sites with real horsepower. In addition to posting static information, such as office hours, physician and staff profiles and a list of services, portals deliver functionality to patients. These points of virtual access to your practice generate patient satisfaction because they provide convenient, 24-hour, self-service options to handle many interactions with your practice.

Pediatric dermatology has achieved important milestones in recent years, including board certification. However, the small dermatology subspecialty stands at a crossroads in 2010. Faced with a significant shortage of physicians choosing a career in pediatric dermatology, those committed to the subspecialty's survival are searching for solutions.

New York City dermatologist Lance H. Brown, M.D., is immersed in the specialty. The solo practitioner offers patients every aspect of dermatologic care - from Mohs and dermatologic surgery to general and cosmetic dermatology to allergy and patch testing. He sees patients of all ages at his office in the Union Square/Greenwich Village area, which is home to or accessible to a diverse population.

Variations in the DNA sequence of genes that play a role in determining skin pigmentation could be used to identify people at risk of developing melanoma targets for future research, the author of a recent study says.

International report - Dermatologist David Colbert, M.D., left his busy New York City practice and journeyed to Haiti just weeks after January’s devastating earthquake to help in whatever ways he could.

Two years ago, Dr. Cancer saw a patient with a biopsy-proven BCC of the right helix. The patient, during initial consultation, also brought a photo of the involved area. Because the patient was so anxious about her upcoming surgery, Dr. Cancer suggested she take an anti-anxiety medication prior to surgery.

Treating dermatologic issues associated with pregnancy often requires individualized treatments combining various agents, an expert says.

A novel genetic testing technique allows for patients who experience hair loss of any severity to know whether their condition is likely due to androgenetic alopecia.

Since there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against prophylatic surgery for patients with congenital melanocytic nevi, physicians need to tailor management based on factors such as the size, thickness and locations of lesions for each patient, an expert says.

Psoriasis in adults is among the most-researched inflammatory skin diseases. Yet treatment options for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and psoriasis in children represents a largely unmet medical need, according to an expert.

On Call talked to dermatologists across the country and asked them to explain when they believe Mohs surgery is appropriate, whether they consider the surgery overused, and whether they've run into issues with reimbursement.

Shortly after I was invited to join the editorial board at Dermatology Times almost two years ago, I began collecting quotes to share with readers. Some are entertaining, some are inspiring. I heard some straight from the original source - often fellow dermatologists speaking publicly.

The Senate on March 2 voted again to delay the 21.2 rate cut caused by the sustainable growth rate formula, delaying it to April 1. The extension should allow lawmakers to pass yet a third extension, this one reportedly slated for seven months, to give Congress more time to come up with a better solution.

Pediatric dermatologists are taking a very slow - but hopeful - approach to using propranolol to treat hemangiomas in children. In doing so, they are also carefully monitoring children for possible unwanted reactions such as hypotension, bradycardia and hypoglycemia.

National report - The 7.3 earthquake that decimated Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince in January also leveled sites where U.S. dermatologists have been focusing training and aid efforts since 2003, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

Scottsdale, Ariz. - Medicis, based here, has begun shipping dermal fillers Restylane-L and Perlane-L (both hyaluronic acid/lidocaine), GlobeNewswire reports.

Bridgewater, N.J. - Recently released results of a new study suggest that treatment with Sculptra Aesthetic (poly-L-lactic acid, Sanofi-Aventis) is significantly more effective than the human-derived collagen treatment CosmoPlast (Allergan) in correcting shallow to deep nasolabial folds, PR Newswire reports.

Wellington, New Zealand - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance for Endoform Dermal Template, an extracellular matrix biomaterial manufactured by New Zealand regenerative medicine company Mesynthes.

Exeter, N.H. - Seacoast Pathology, based here, has launched its new DermDX division, which features a state-of-the-art on-site laboratory to service New England-area dermatologists and their patients.

Wayland, Mass. - Candela Corp., a Syneron company based here, announced Feb. 10 that China's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) has approved Candela's Alex TriVantage multi-wavelength laser system and the GentleMax multiple wavelength workstation for sale throughout the People's Republic of China.