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We recently hired a dermatopathologist to join our group. There are six dermatologists in our practice, and the dermatopathologist will be reading the slides for all the specimens generated from our group.

Is the constant din of ringing telephones frustrating and annoying everyone in your practice? Maybe it's time to turn your telephones into tools that work for your dermatology practice instead of against it.

Reduced ING4 staining is associated with melanoma thickness, ulceration and poor overall survival, which suggests that restoring the tumor suppressor ING4 is a possible therapeutic direction.

When it comes to investing our money, human nature likes to play tricks on us. When the stock market is reaching new peaks, we can't wait to jump in. When it stumbles and falls, we stop investing - or worse, we start selling. Despite the lessons of the past, that insistent inner voice keeps urging us to follow the crowd.

According to a recent study, the application of a specially formulated skincare system used before and after the electrodesiccation and curettage of superficial basal cell carcinomas proves to assist in wound healing and ultimately achieve better cosmetic results.

The dramatic improvement of a psoriasis patient who had developed squamous cell carcinoma secondary to PUVA treatment illustrates that adalimumab and acitretin work synergistically, a physician familiar with the case says.

Off-label use of imiquimod proves extremely effective for nodular and morpheiform BCCs as well as SCCs, arecent study indicates. According to one expert, long-term immune modulation therapy with imiquimod can significantly benefit patients with chronic actinic dysplasias and skin tumors.

Knowledge of the mechanisms involved in melanoma development may help to identify targets for chemoprevention or treatment. A variant in the cyclin D1 gene appears to increase susceptibility to malignant melanoma, an expert says.

Many new fillers are made from porcine collagen, averting the need for allergy testing. Because many new fillers are biodegradable, they will not induce fibrosis in the skin, leaving surgical correction as an option for patients in the future. Complications that occur with biodegradable fillers disappear spontaneously.

While traditional liposuction may remove unwanted fat, one of its disadvantages is that it produces skin laxity. Contemporary treatment modalities such as laser lipolysis are minimally invasive, tighten the skin and produce less blood loss than traditional liposuction.

Available fractional lasers differ considerably. Dermatologists interested in acquiring this technology must consider the needs of their patients so they can match them properly with the features of available fractional systems.

The short answer is "yes," sunscreens are able to penetrate the skin. This fact is proven by the ability to recover sunscreen chemicals in the urine, but the amounts are extremely small.

Suturing is not always the best answer for closing a wound site, an expert says. Some newer materials may offer advantages over suturing and traditional protective antibiotic coverings for second-intention healing (SIH).

Early intervention will prevent the development of visible, linear scars. One of the increasingly common treatment modalities to prevent scar development is the use of lasers. Laser therapy is virtually painless and does not burn the skin.

Physicians have more options than ever available for wound dressings, and while many newer products come with a high price tag, their efficacy may make the cost worthwhile. One new product, honey, actually dates back to ancient times, and recent studies support some wound-healing benefits, specifically from manuka honey, produced in New Zealand.

Sweet's syndrome is not always a straightforward diagnosis, especially when extracutaneous manifestations dominate the initial clinical picture. According to one expert, a careful history and an open mind are key in reaching a quick and accurate diagnosis.

Combining LED therapy with laser or intense pulsed light can effectively treat rosacea and subsequent erythema, an expert says.

A newly formulated topical therapy appears to be significantly effective and well-tolerated in patients suffering from primary focal hyperhidrosis. The modified formulation offers a therapeutic option to patients who fail other topical therapies for their condition and/or where other treatment avenues are not an option.

International report - Indonesia's "Treeman," whose body is disfigured with tree-branch-like warts, is getting better - but he is far from being free of the chronic HPV-2 virus that has overrun his body.

Medical technology changes so often that sometimes it seems as if one hardly gets something new in the office before it's outdated and another bit of technology is on the horizon.

Not long ago, a dermatologist from the southwestern United States who works in a busy six-physician practice received a check in the mail from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It was his share of more than $36 million in bonus payments made by CMS for satisfactorily reporting quality information under the 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).

Norman Levine, M.D., as evidenced in his Sep. 1, 2008, Dermatology Times Commentary (Commentary: Pharmacists, insurers limit scope of practice, prescription choices) is an articulate, caring and excellent physician, and I commend him for taking care of patients with delusions of parasitosis, a disease many of his colleagues elect to refer.

Dr. Head, a prominent dermatologist, has five years of experience using botulinum toxin injections for the treatment of migraine headaches. He knows that botulinum toxin injections are approved for the treatment of hyperhidrosis and hyperkinetic glabellar lines, but he also is very comfortable treating a variety of wrinkles and headaches with these injections.

Last year, I gave up my private practice to return to a full-time academic position. I finalized my decision after making a list of pros that outnumbered the cons.

National report - When it comes to performing required semiannual evaluations of fellows, both dermatopathology fellowship programs and procedural dermatology fellowship programs fall short, according to a recent study.

National report - Recognition from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) brings structure and standardization to surgical dermatology training, says a Mohs surgeon who has pushed for procedural certification.

National report - An over-the-counter compound with essential oils is not only superior in completely killing community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus organisms, it also acts faster than two other OTC products for the prevention of skin and soft-tissue infections, researchers say.

National report - Certification for procedural dermatology, now under consideration by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), could result in preferential treatment by insurance companies for Mohs surgeons who have earned such certificates, some dermatologists worry.

The doctors answer questions about bags under the eyes and fillers

We'd all love to have a "magic pill" - one that fixes all that ails us (or at least annoys us) and makes our lives perfect. That's pretty unrealistic, but the fact of the matter is that where youthful skin is concerned, help can be had simply by making use of the right supplements.