News

As the healthcare reform debate unfolds, most of the headlines have focused on whether there would be a "public option" and, to a lesser extent, how the various proposals would affect Medicare, including patients and providers.

Even if one accepts that healthcare costs are rising at an unsustainable rate, why is there such a current rush to find the "magic" solution to the problem, when it is such an important issue? I believe the one-word answer to this question is this - politics.

One Mohs surgeon is successfully using the "slow Mohs" technique to treat rare melanomas that are large, invasive and amelanotic.

Are dermatologists coming out of residencies prepared for dealing with the challenges of running a practice? We asked dermatologists around the country if they think young physicians are prepared to make business decisions.

The Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), first identified in rare aggressive Merkel cell carcinoma in 2008, has now been isolated in up to a third of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), according to a new study published online in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Elderly patients take numerous medications, requiring careful consideration before treatment.

Cutaneous manifestations of metabolic syndrome aid dermatologists in appropriate diagnosis.

As the presence and diversity of ethnic skin of color (SOC) continue to grow worldwide, an expert says a more comprehensive skin-type classification system will help dermatologists predict these patients' response to dermatologic procedures.

Health status, not age, should determine the appropriateness of cosmetic surgery.

With the Obama administration's 2014 goal for national electronic medical record (EMR) adoption looming, dermatologists who have taken the plunge say the systems carry hefty costs and require steep learning curves.

Folliculotropic melanoma demands timely action, as little is known about the disease's potential aggressiveness.

Earlier this year, 200 colleagues attended a surprise 75th birthday dinner for Martin C. Mihm Jr., M.D. The fact that colleagues from around the world gathered to celebrate his birthday is no surprise.

Treating ethnic patients requires special considerations and sensitivity.

Island pedicle flaps and advancement flaps are the mainstay of lip reconstructive surgery, but some wounds will still need something more inventive.

The mechanisms that contribute to aging skin are gaining greater understanding throughout the medical field.

Diagnosing itch in the elderly requires looking beyond dry skin as the culprit.

Laser Buying Guide

Horsham, Pa. ? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the biologic Stelara (ustekinumab, Centocor Ortho Biotech) for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy, according to a Centocor press release.

Going Too Far? : Derms question pediatric warning for TNF antagonists Targeting Melanoma : Researchers study tumor-specific protein as vaccine hopeful Special Report : Hair & Nails

A recent study showed that individuals with darker skin appear to have greater chronic subclinical inflammation in the stratum corneum, compared to those with lighter skin.

To combat declining revenues during this recession, dermatology practices must pay close attention to customer service - everything from the reception area to staff interactions.

David Kingsley, M.D., interacts with 60 to 70 patients a day at his bustling Kearney, Neb., general dermatology practice. He thrives, he says, because he loves the work and the people.

A recent trial with etanercept proved largely ineffective in the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa.

Psoriasis and metabolic syndrome seem to be increasingly related disease entities.

The certification of pediatric dermatology as a subspecialty is a relatively recent milestone in the field of dermatology.

I was dismayed to learn that the elite leadership of the American Academy of Dermatology has hastily supported House Bill 3200.

According to one expert, experience plays a major role in the mastery of laser surgery, especially for physicians who are just learning to use these devices.

As a physician, I am starved for time. Social networking sites allow me to get the medical information I need quickly and efficiently. I can chat with other colleagues on cases, as well as learn about new products and services coming down the pike.

Because of the late hour, the physician does not clean up his medical waste and needles, knowing that his nurse will do a perfectly appropriate job in the morning.

When psoriasis is restricted to the nails, it creates a dilemma for doctor and patient, an expert says.