News

National report - What we ingest - whether medication, food or drink - can affect the skin barrier.

Scottsdale, Ariz. - Lasers and light-based therapies are evolving with increasingly promising results for treatment of acne, but their place is still decidedly only as an adjunct therapy, according to doctors debating the topic at a recent meeting of the Skin Disease Education Foundation.

National report - New understanding has led to new approaches in the search for the genetic origins of generalized vitiligo, says a leading researcher in the field.

National report - While the question of what specifically causes rosacea remains unanswered, dermatologists can still address the condition with a number of existing treatment options and look forward to new ones being researched now.

For individuals with recalcitrant disease, the combination of topical therapy for melasma plus a physical modality to remove or destroy pigment might provide additive or synergistic activity.

National report - Dermatologists should be routinely screening their psoriasis patients for psoriatic arthritis and may feel comfortable prescribing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for modest joint complaints.

Louisville, Ky. - In treating difficult dermatologic conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis (AD) and plantar warts, a leading expert says the key to successful treatment often involves picking the right vehicle.

Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) will object to a proposed federal ban of over-the-counter sales of hydroquinone.

CMS is proposing for ASCs the same payment groups used under the outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS)...CMS also is proposing to modify the criteria for determining whether Medicare will reimburse an ASC for a particular procedure.

Dr. Wright thinks business should be more important during training than a seminar offered sporadically.

Rochester, Minn. - Results of a Mayo Clinic study show that treating a facial wound in the early healing phase with botulinum toxin improves the appearance of a scar later.

Chapel Hill, N.C. - University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers say they may have found a safer, more effective way to treat the autoimmune skin disease pemphigus vulgaris (PV) without turning off the immune system.

Results from a clinical study investigating the in situ mechanism of action of etanercept (Enbrel, Amgen) in the treatment of psoriasis indicate this agent, which binds both tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphotoxin, breaks the cycle of dendritic cell activation and maturation and thereby decreases T-cell activation and the production of a cascade of inflammatory mediators by multiple cell types, Alice B. Gottlieb, M.D., Ph.D., says.

Interim results from an open-label controlled clinical study indicate that occlusion with a specially designed hydrogel patch safely and significantly enhances the efficacy of a variety of topical medications that are used in the treatment of psoriasis, reported researchers from the University of California at the American Academy of Dermatology's Summer Academy '06.

Since the mid-1980s, mounting evidence has shown that psoriasis is an immune disorder - specifically, that abnormal T-cell activity is a critical component of the disease.

In cases of psoriasis affecting the nails but not the skin, nail biopsy and histopathology can potentially help patients avoid unnecessary treatments, according to a recent study (Grover C et al. Br J Dermatol. 2005 Dec;153(6):1153-1158).

The highly purified liquid injectable form of silicone received approval in 1997 specifically for intraocular injection for tamponade of retinal detachment, but can be used off label.

Inattention to details about how employees accrue leave time, who can take it when, and other questions can lead to unnecessary angst and frustration.

National report - Dermatologists are changing the way they treat and manage hemangiomas.

Piscataway, N.J. - Modern medical acupuncture can help patients, particularly those with chronic skin diseases, improve their overall health and avoid risks associated with systemic treatments, says an expert who has experience with acupuncture both personally and professionally.

These strains differ from hospital-acquired strains in that they are more manageable and may respond to treatments to which they would appear to be resistant, according to their sensitivity cultures.

National report - Americans will finally have direct market access to products offering long-lasting and complete broad-spectrum UV protection following the long-awaited federal approval of the sun filter Mexoryl, dermatologists say.

National report - Dermatologists are faring better - and often dramatically better - than the average doctor, whose net income fell 7 percent between 1995 and 2003, while the workweek shrank and the proportion of time spent on patient care rose, according to a new report.

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Results from one year of follow-up in a phase 3 trial investigating infliximab (Remicade, Centocor) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis demonstrate that the dramatic responses, achieved rapidly after induction therapy, are sustained with maintenance therapy in the majority of patients and without the emergence of new safety concerns, reported Alan Menter, M.D., at the American Academy of Dermatology's Academy '06.

While biologic drugs may not provide a first-line treatment for psoriasis, dermatologists are reaching for them somewhat more readily, an expert says.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a unique form of inflammatory arthritis that occurs in patients with psoriasis, usually manifesting itself well after the skin lesions of psoriasis appear.

As research and clinical experience continue to clarify biologic drugs' roles, the key to successful treatment remains educating and involving patients in treatment decisions, experts say.

Anti-T-cell therapeutic agents treat psoriasis by interfering with the immune responses involved in the generation of psoriasis.

The combination regimen was associated with about a 50 percent improvement in symptoms of depression evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory.