News

National report - Two recent studies regarding isotretinoin risks confirm what dermatologists have long known - that the drug can transiently raise cholesterol levels and perhaps aggravate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

If you're one of those people whose products collapse 24 hours after the warranty expires, you're a good candidate for service contracts.

National report - Laser companies continue to forge ahead with new techniques to stake their claim among leg vein treatments; however, sclerotherapy currently remains the treatment of choice for most cases, according to Mich?l Gold, M.D.

National report - Hirsutism may signal an underlying medical condition including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or Cushing's syndrome that dermatologists can help detect without laboratory tests, says Marcelle Cedars, M.D., who also suggests several treatment plans available to the dermatologist.

National report - There are different types of cutaneous wounds with varying degrees of depth; therefore, there are also various methods to treat these wounds.

National report - Scaly, erythematous papular and papulopustular rashes on the face are a common sight for dermatologists, and a number of possible diagnoses come to mind.

Philadelphia - It is estimated that psoriasis affects 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent of the general population, with more than 4.5 million adults affected here in the United States alone. Approximately 20 percent of patients afflicted with this disease are categorized as "moderate-to-severe".

The first systematic review of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in isotretinoin users shows that this drug may trigger IBD in certain patients. While the Physician's Desk Reference lists IBD as a possible adverse event associated with use of isotretinoin, "Our goal was primarily to determine if this association was legitimate," and if so, what it means to physicians and patients, Corey A. Siegel, M.D., says. He is one of the review's authors and assistant professor of medicine and director of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center in Lebanon, N.H.

National report - Community-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has become a ubiquitous presence across the United States.

Washington - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s General and Plastic Surgery Advisory Panel has recommended that Radiesse, a soft-tissue augmentation product manufactured and distributed by San Mateo, Calif.-based BioForm Medical, be approved for use in restoring facial contours such as nasolabial folds and in treating facial lipoatrophy associated with HIV.

National report - Constant assaults from sun, wind and rain.

National report - As most dermatologists know, it's no accident that the skin on the most consistently covered-up parts of the body is typically in the best shape. External elements ranging from the sun and wind to temperature extremes can take their toll on even the healthiest of skin, but when conditions such as rosacea are present, the elements can wreak particular havoc.

Because the category is so broad, Dr. Wu says it's impossible to generalize about the effect the products have on the skin barrier function. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that manufacturers are not required to test for the safety or efficacy of their products.

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.