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As trusted skincare experts, dermatologists owe it to patients to know about cosmeceuticals, says Wendy E. Roberts, M.D., Women's Dermatologic Society president.

There's nothing more frustrating to patients and staff than a dermatologist who constantly runs behind. Running behind is a vicious cycle; until you root out its causes and take action, everyone - including you - will be miserable.

She stands alone as having made her mark in dermatology. But the way E. Dorinda Shelley, M.D., tells it, hers is a story of a partnership with her beloved late husband, an icon in dermatology, Walter B. Shelley, M.D., Ph.D.

While scarless surgery remains a dream for dermatologic and cosmetic surgeons, the next best thing - minimal scarring - is becoming more of a reality than ever.

A variety of products are advertised both on television and in print that claim to reduce under-eye circles. It is hard to generalize, but under-eye circles are remarkably resistent to treatment.

The business climate of medicine has led more dermatologists to join group practices. That means doctors of widely varying ages often work side-by-side. What impact does that have on the practice of medicine?

Minimizing pain while performing botulinum toxin injections is of paramount importance to patient and physician alike. Though there are several topical anesthetic techniques from which to choose, Pain Ease (Gebauer Company), a topical anesthetic skin refrigerant, appears to be the best choice, according to an expert.

Love or loathe them, public Web sites that let patients rate their physicians aren't going away, experts say. Making these sites work for you rather than against you requires ongoing vigilance, broad-based patient participation and - for some physicians - patient contracts, they add.

Denver - Dr. Papidies interacts daily with patients and staff at Dermatology Associates of Colorado, Englewood, Colo., wearing his white lab coat - and a chewed stethoscope.

Strategies for treating adult female acne include taking detailed patient histories, checking for endocrine abnormalities when indicated and, in many cases, prescribing oral contraceptives also approved for acne, according to an expert.

A cell biologist who has devoted much of his career to understanding the process of cancer argues that the skin may hold the key to predicting cancer risk of the colon, breast and more.

Skincare products developed for a specific purpose work best. Most companies put a lot of time and effort into formulation, and there is no doubt that shaving cream is the best product for any shave in any area in both sexes.

Patients have innumerable opportunities to mix and match anti-aging therapies, which may create more problems than they solve.

We asked a number of doctors around the country whether they are adding procedures, therapies or equipment to their practices this year, and how those plans are being impacted by economic conditions. While some dermatologists are being cautious, others are actually using the economic challenges to plan for the future of their businesses.

A recent study that ranks dermatology among the most satisfying medical specialties to practice finds agreement among dermatologists, who count the specialty's diversity, flexibility and visual nature among its charms.

The first data from radiologic analyses in the phase 3 clinical trial of golimumab (Simponi, Centocor Ortho Biotech) for treatment of active psoriatic arthritis demonstrate the benefit of this new anti-TNF-alpha agent for inhibiting joint damage.

An expert in Chinese medicines says that while botanicals have been used as folk remedies for centuries, scientists have only recently begun to test and hold them to the same rigorous standards as synthetic pharmaceuticals.

Regulations in European countries are reducing the incidence of nickel allergy overseas, while the incidence continues to climb in the United States, according to the president of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group.

Dermatologists are one step closer to understanding how to access the electronic health record (EHR) incentive payments promised in the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Enacted in February 2009, ARRA provides incentives for physicians who demonstrate "meaningful" use of a certified EHR system.

Dermatologists must take special care when planning cosmetic procedures for patients with significant varicose veins, especially if those patients also suffer from CV disease.

The devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12 has also dealt a major setback to an American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) initiative to teach local doctors to better care for their patients' dermatologic needs, say three doctors involved with the program.

Erbium: yttrium aluminum garnet lasers (Er:YAG) were first introduced as bone-cutting lasers in the late 1980s. These lasers are seeing some resurgence in the cutaneous resurfacing market, with the introduction of new modified delivery methods and alternative wavelengths.

According to one expert, the tanning bed industry is heavily lobbied, and it is the job of dermatologist to not only recognize the health concerns associated with tanning beds, but also to give sound healthcare advice to patients regarding UV protection.

For some atopic dermatitis patients, aggressive systemic therapy can help control pruritis.

Dermatologists celebrated a significant victory in the debate over healthcare reform as the Senate agreed to a 10 percent federal excise tax on indoor tanning services instead of a proposed tax on cosmetic surgical procedures.

Dede Koswara, the Indonesian man known worldwide as the "Tree Man," is battling a recurrence of the massive warts that have covered much of his body since he was a teenager.

When physicians go beyond the directions given in a drug's package insert, it does not mean they are acting illegally or unethically.

Key advances in pediatric dermatology include a deeper understanding of the role of propranolol in treating hemangiomas and of the link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and atopic dermatitis (AD), according to an expert. Meanwhile, research into other pediatric issues, including diet and acne, continues.