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Philadelphia - The emergence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and new approaches to treatment of various bacterial illnesses are capturing the interests of dermatologists.

Las Vegas — With many new treatments for psoriasis now available, dermatologists need to educate themselves about these drugs in order to enable optimal care for their patients, said Mark Lebwohl, M.D., at the annual Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference, here.

Louisville, Ky. - Before submitting an Institutional ReviewBoard (IRB) proposal in the United States to perform what likelywill be one of the world's first face transplants, researchers hereare addressing a host of ethical and practical matters they hopewill smooth the approval process.

There is a significant variation in the age of sufferers, just as there are various forms of acne.

Atlanta — Facial rejuvenation has sparked interest in procedures that make other telltale signs of aging, such as wrinkled or bony hands, more youthful.

Philadelphia — Long-term use of antibiotics to treat acne can leave the patient more vulnerable to upper respiratory tract infections, according to a paper authored by David Margolis, M.D., Ph.D., and published in the September issue of the Archives of Dermatology. Dr. Margolis is an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia.

Philadelphia — Combination therapy with a topical retinoid and oral or systemic antibiotic represents first-line treatment for patients with inflammatory acne, but once adequate clearing is achieved, maintenance therapy with a topical retinoid alone is worth a try, says James J. Leyden, M.D., emeritus professor of dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

The retinoic acid metabolism-blocking agent (RAMBA) Rambazole (Barrier Therapeutics) has demonstrated promising efficacy and safety as a novel oral treatment for acne in early clinical trials along with potential activity as a topically applied agent. Based on those results, this novel compound is about to proceed into further testing of its topical use in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study and for oral administration in a double–blind, dose-finding study.

There is a significant variation in the age of sufferers, just as there are various forms of acne.

National report — Because of an increasing resistance of the P. acnes bacterial strains to existing antibiotics, researchers are working to develop new treatments that can effectively control inflammatory acne.

It may be possible to make a more effective benzoyl peroxide product by means of a stimulant, an accelerator andmodification of the vehicle.

Proper application consists of placing a "fingertip unit" of medication at each of 10 spots on the face — two on the mid-forehead (left and right), one each on the tip of the nose and chin, two spaced across each cheek, and one on each side of thelower face at a location that is approximately mid-distance between the spots on the cheek.

Atlanta — According to Michael H. Gold, M.D., medical director of the Tennessee Clinical Research Center in Nashville, the Food and Drug Administration registration requirement for Accutane (Roche) users — in combination with side effects caused by other modalities — has launched a quest for alternative therapies in the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory acne vulgaris. He argues that one of the best contenders is intense pulsed light (IPL) with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) as photosensitizer.

Walnut Creek, Calif. — Advances in phototherapy are bringing greatly needed new options for the treatment of hypopigmentary conditions in patients with ethnic skin, says Min-Wei Christine Lee, M.D., M.P.H., a dermatologic surgeon and director, The East Bay Laser and Skin Care Center, Walnut Creek, Calif.

Drugs can be the answer to many dermatological problems – but they can also be the cause of many skin problems. Sometimes a drug unexpectedly helps skin conditions, and sometimes a drug causes an unexpected adverse reaction.

Preferably, PDL treatment should be initiated within the first two to four weeks after scar development.

What effect, if any, has the new bankruptcy act had on physician's asset protection plans? In short, the answer is "a significant one." In this article, we will explain exactly what this effect has been and why it is so important for all physicians to re-examine their planning because of it.

Typically, you will be completely dependent on your high-speed Internet connection, and may not be able to function without that connection.

Studies have shown that the average fund manager — the highly paid professional who picks out the stocks that a mutual fund will buy — does no better than the average non-professional dart thrower.

With a growing shortage of qualified healthcare workers, there has never been a better time to consider the importance of how to retain the best and brightest talent over the long term.

After exposure to UV, "Keratinocytes send out immune suppressing signals [the cytokine IL-10] and antigen presenting cells are chased out of the skin," Dr. Yarosh explains.

National report — Redheads are much more sensitive to sunburn and are more prone to developing skin cancer, even when they don't burn. Why is that? What is the biological mechanism of action that makes all of this happen?

Bipolar RF energy skin resistance to preheat the targeted area for the subsequent selective heating by the optical energy.

Atlanta — Facial rejuvenation has sparked interest in procedures that make other telltale signs of aging, such as wrinkled or bony hands, more youthful.

Many a pincer nail can reside relatively unnoticed, curled in a nail bed and requiring no treatment, but when such nails become symptomatic, surgical treatment is necessary with a main goal of targeting the widened nail matrix, according to Nathaniel J. Jellinek, M.D., a dermatologist at Rhode Island Hospital, Providence.

Atlanta — A common and inexpensive petrolatum-based scar treatment emollient was as good as more expensive, heavily marketed onion extract over-the-counter topicals, according to a new study.

Scottsdale, Ariz. — A recent trial involving 20 patients with radiation side effects provides some of the first clinical proof that stem cells are capable of repairing damaged human skin.

Botox can also be injected to smooth out wrinkles, but Dr. Markus believes that Botox is safe even if injected for wrinkles and axillary hyperhidrosis at the same time.

With these OTC products, one observes superficial frosting that can last for seconds to a few minutes, but its relevance is debatable.

He warned physicians not to use the 75 percent silver nitrate stick because it is caustic.