All
Laser safety: signs, goggles are simply a start
July 1st 2004Dallas - With updated laser safety standards on the way, it's not enough to simply don the goggles and hang the manufacturer-supplied safety sign, Penny J. Smalley, R.N., said here at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.
Standards of care for office extenders
July 1st 2004Orlando - Dermatologists, like other medical doctors, are turning more and more to office personnel to help with treatment-oriented tasks. The trick is to know what can be delegated - and what guidelines to follow to ensure that the delegation is both safe and appropriate.
To sun or not to sun? Derm researcher draws fire
July 1st 2004Debate over the need for absolute sun protection - the mantra of the AAD - is moving farther into the public arena this summer, with a long-time researcher advocating limited, unprotected exposure, and the AAD still firmly warning against it.
Lasers safely target areas of limited psoriatic lesions
July 1st 2004Washington - Lasers can offer a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of chronic, stable plaque psoriasis in patients whose disease is mild-to-moderate in severity and involves 10 to 20 percent of the body surface area, said Christine C. Dierickx, M.D., at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology here. Dr. Dierickx, director, Boom Laser Clinic, Boom, Belgium, and visiting scientist, Harvard Medical School, Boston, described the roles of lesion-directed, high intensity UVB phototherapy using various lasers and light sources as well as pulsed dye laser treatment that clears psoriatic plaques by targeting the microvasculature.
Frozen version of cellular matrix speeds healing of venous leg ulcers
July 1st 2004Miami - Pivotal trial results show that treatment with a cryopreserved, bilayered cellular matrix (OrCel, Ortec International) promotes healing of refractory venous leg ulcers, especially those of dermal depth, says Robert S. Kirsner, M.D.
Multiple courses of alefacept safe for psoriasis tx
July 1st 2004Toronto - The biologic medication alefacept (Amevive, Biogen, Inc.) may be safely administered to psoriasis patients in multiple courses as well as in conjunction with other standard therapies, according to a presentation at the 10th International Psoriasis Symposium here.
Chronic HD responds to bexarotene gel
July 1st 2004Portland, OR - In a small study of bexarotene gel treatment for chronic severe hand dermatitis (HD), the medication achieved both speedy and surprising results. In a 55-patient, phase 1-2 open-label randomized clinical study of the gel, used alone and in combination with one of two steroids, 79 percent of patients on monotherapy achieved clinical improvement of at least 50 percent, and 39 percent reached at least 90 percent clearance.
Lasers speed burn healing; diabetics helped most
July 1st 2004Dallas - Laser therapy is gaining acceptance - albeit slowly - as an effective clinical tool for quickening burn healing. Results of a recent study indicate that even for diabetic burn patients, laser therapy may be even more effective than first thought.
GAO urges assistants-at-surgery payment reform
July 1st 2004Key congressional committees with jurisdiction over Medicare have been urged by the General Accounting Office (GAO) to reform the way payments for the services of assistants-at-surgery are made in order to prevent potential abuse and overpayment.
Building your patients' trust: Topical anesthetics are key
July 1st 2004As cosmetic procedures grow in popularity, dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons strive to enhance patient comfort as well as ensure that the entire experience is a pleasant one. Building patient confidence and trust are the ultimate goals, and the use of topical anesthetics has helped greatly toward this end.
Update: Oral Antibiotics in the Treatment of Acne
July 1st 2004Oral antibiotics have an integral role in the treatment of moderate to severe acne. Patient compliance with an acne treatment program is crucial, and those affected must have realistic expectations for treatment. Because many strains of P acnes have become resistant to tetracycline, dermatologists are increasingly turning to doxycycline monohydrate, which has retained efficacy against the organism.