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Even Mohs surgeons with ample experience in detecting basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas can have difficulty detecting malignant melanocytes in frozen sections, making many apprehensive about using Mohs surgery for lentigo maligna. But proponents of the technique say the fast results and reduced rate of recurrence make Mohs well worth the effort.

As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews the safety of therapeutic and cosmetic botulinum toxin injections, dermatologists say adding warnings to Botox Cosmetic (botulinum toxin A, Allergan) would be unwarranted.

Nearly two decades after the introduction of botulinum toxin A for therapeutic indications, Botox Cosmetic (botulinum toxin A, Allergan) ranks among the safest and most successful æsthetic treatments available, dermatologists say. But, because of its relatively high cost, doctors say they would welcome competitive botulinum toxin options.

IPL," "photo-facial," light treatment, laser treatment - whichever name you use, intense pulsed light systems have become the single most popular light devices in use today. Their sales are largely unregulated, with most of the devices being used in spas, "medi-spas" and "rejuvenation facilities." Though universally offered, can IPL treatments differ at these "nonphysician facilities" and physicians' offices?

Occupational dermatitis is common, but often overlooked by primary care physicians. Therefore, dermatologists' skills are needed to not only diagnose work-related dermatitis, but also to identify the offending agents and manage the condition.

If it weren't for off-label drug use, dermatologists might have no medications at all. That may be a facetious statement, but it is one commonly repeated by dermatologists. A study from Stanford University a few years ago indicated that 20 percent of all drugs were prescribed off-label, and with biologics, fillers, immunomodulators and other drugs, dermatology's percentage may be even higher.

Mohs surgeons are experiencing a drastic reduction in reimbursement due to a change in Medicare policy, and further cuts may be coming. The task for dermatologists who perform Mohs surgery is to face the fact of reduced reimbursements and work with the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) to reverse these measure

The mainstay of treatment for actinic keratoses (AKs) is liquid nitrogen, but the therapy has several disadvantages. Ingenor mebutate, a topical gel, is being investigated for its efficacy and safety as a therapy, with the most recent findings showing a significant difference in the clearance rate of AKs with the use of this gel, as well as good tolerability.

Medicis (NYSE:MRX) and Ipsen (Euronext:IPN) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of the Biologics License Application (BLA) for DYSPORT (abobotulinumtoxinA), an acetylcholine release inhibitor and a neuromuscular blocking agent, according to GlobeNewswire.com.