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There may be a possible flare of acne after the initiation of treatment, but long term, the improvement of lesions continues for three to six months after the cessation of treatment.

Coral Gables, Fla. - Stiefel Laboratories' recent purchase of Connetics blends Connetics' innovative vehicle technology with Stiefel's worldwide marketing reach, company officials say. For dermatologists and patients, the acquisition augurs a steady stream of new applications for vehicles including the popular, patient-friendly foam pioneered by Connetics.

National report - Cultured skin substitutes (CSS) are being engineered to perform better against infection through the stimulated production of beta defensins.

National report - Topical estrogen is one possible therapy for improving the skin of menopausal and postmenopausal women who choose to avoid hormone replacement therapy. But topicals, too, have their drawbacks, say dermatologists, who continue to look for answers to patient inquiries about HRT.

Kingston, N.Y. - Training board-certified primary care physicians in medical dermatology could be one way to help alleviate the shortage of medical dermatologists in the United States, according to Marie-Louise Johnson, M.D., in practice in Kingston, N.Y.

Washington - The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) must "clearly articulate its global role" as it moves into the future, says newly installed president Diane Baker, M.D.

Washington - They almost wouldn't let him leave.

Washington - Family physicians correlate well with dermatologists in diagnosis and treatment of many common skin lesions, a recent study says.

You now have a choice of deducting either your state and local income taxes or state and local sales taxes, but not both.

Toronto - Autologous fat transplantation, long recognized as a simple, effective technique for filling facial wrinkles and frown lines, is fast becoming the most frequently used technique for perioral rejuvenation, according to David A. Sherris, M.D.

Many of the new treatments on the market are not distinctive in their key ingredients, but represent a new formulation or vehicle of an available agent.

Some pharmaceutical companies feel the need to provide such incentives to be able to approach certain physicians in private practice.

National report - Sexual transmission of community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) may be an important and underappreciated part of the recent upsurge in infections across the country.

I've heard people described as Latin, Spanish or Hispanic in their background. How do you define people of color?

Psychodermatology can go beyond the trichotillomania or excoriation of severe psychosis and can present with virtually the same symptoms as completely physiologically caused skin conditions.

Dr. Toro says that patients with TRAPS generally do not respond to treatment with colchicine. They respond to high-dose corticosteroids, but long-term side effects limit their use.

Cold, dry air, coupled with blustery winds, exacts a toll on even the heartiest skin.

Liposuction can also be used to help improve the appearance of cellulite. But it, too, has limitations.

Make sure you use an acetone-free nail polish remover, as well as a nail polish that is free of formaldehyde and toluene.

Rochester, N.Y. - Ivanhoe Newswire reports that a University of Rochester Medical Center study links the ApoE-4 gene with the herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) virus, which is commonly associated with cold sores but also can travel to the brain.

Los Angeles - The Associated Press reports that a hand-held laser may be the cause of a recent Los Angeles office building fire that caused $200,000 in damage.

Washington - Reuters reports that pharmaceutical companies would have to pay $6.25 million in new fees next year to help fund a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review of TV commercials for their products.

Bay St. Lous, Miss. - A type of staph infection may be causing skin lesions and sores that have appeared on post-Katrina volunteer workers in southern Mississippi in recent months.

Washington - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ruled that the oral contraceptive YAZ can also be used by women to control moderate acne.

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The various types of this multi-etiologic disease can be categorized as septal, lobular or a combination of septal and lobular panniculitis.

National report - The Food and Drug Administration's approval process can seem mysterious to most physicians, who lack the time to study the process, experts say.

National report - Keep this in mind when bizarre cases show up - "Zebras are rare, but not everything is a horse," and, "Break down the systems causing hard-to-diagnose dermatologic conditions," ask questions, take time to diagnose - and don't be afraid to not know the answer the first day.

While the future for investors and savers is, as always, a bit cloudy, it's likely that sticking with the basics will continue to be your best bet.