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Physicians may not need to prescribe antibiotics when treating a common skin infection in children, according to researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Q. What should you recommend for the dry-complected rosacea patient who is using the newer gel azelaic acid prescription topicals for treatment?

Miami, Fla. - Of the two types of vascular tumors-hemangiomas and vascular malformations-hemangiomas are the most common among children. Dermatologists treating these patients should know that while the vast majority of hemangiomas regress spontaneously, without problems, lesions that are segmental, multiple, giant or in certain locations on the body are of great concern. Dermatologists should recognize and treat these early, ruling out the possibility of malformations in other organs, according to Ramon Ruiz-Maldonado, M.D., dermatology, professor of dermatology and pediatric dermatology, University of Mexico, National Institute of Pediatrics, Mexico City.

Tri-Active LaserDermology (SM) is the result of the newest FDA-approved technology incorporating triple-action methodology for restoring a normal balance to the skin and outer layers, including smoothing and tightening. The treatment reduces the appearance of cellulite through the combined action of mechanical massage, localized cooling, and deep laser stimulation.

Genmab A/S presented data from Phase II HuMax-CD4 studies to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) at the 65th annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology in April. At the time the abstract was completed, 36 patients enrolled in the two ongoing HuMax-CD4 clinical trials were evaluated using the Composite Assessment of Index Lesion Disease Activity (CA) score.

Patients with rosacea who were treated with CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals' Periostat (doxycycline hyclate) showed continuous improvement during a 16-week Phase III trial, the firm reported. Among the 134 patients who received Periostat or placebo, Periostat-treated patients experienced a significantly greater reduction in the number of inflammatory lesions, according to a preliminary data analysis.

Cambridge Antibody Technology and Genzyme Corp. announced preliminary results from a Phase I/II clinical trial of CAT-192, a human anti-TGF(Beta)1 monoclonal antibody. The primary objective of the trial was to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of CAT-192 in patients suffering from diffuse systemic sclerosis.

Genmab A/S will present data from Phase II HuMax-CD4 studies to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) at the 65th annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology in April. At the time the abstract was completed, 36 patients enrolled in the two ongoing HuMax-CD4 clinical trials were evaluated using the Composite Assessment of Index Lesion Disease Activity (CA) score.

A new survey by the National Rosacea Society found that certain alcoholic beverages may aggravate rosacea more than others, while also dispelling the common myth that this red-faced condition ? estimated to affect 14 million Americans ? is caused by heavy drinking. In the survey of more than 700 rosacea patients, published in Rosacea Review, 10 percent said they rarely or never drink alcohol, and an additional 10 percent reported that consuming alcoholic beverages had no effect on their appearance.

Washington D.C. - In a recent trial involving four patients with dissecting cellulitis, long-pulsed Nd:YAG (1,064 nm) laser treatments were shown to reduce pain, purulent drainage, and the need for systemic antibiotics. In addition, some patients' hair regrew without recurrence of the disease.

Washington - Rapid-paced, impersonal technological advances may increase our access to information, but technology alone cannot offer the knowledge or intellectual exchange of a one-on-one mentoring relationship.

Maui, Hawaii - E-mail lists can be invaluable for dermatologists who wish to research, collaborate, or network without leaving their offices. Like all such lists, however, you get from them what you put into them.

Q.I've been hearing and reading a lot about offshore trusts as a way of protecting assets. Do they really work?

Anew option is available to all physicians, whether they seek healthcare insurance coverage for themselves and their families or affordable options for the employees of their practice.

Washington -- If you think a career in academic research offers immunity from financial pressures and power struggles, think again.

New York - As injectable filler options grow, so do their power to offer patients a second round of youthful looks. The market is expanding with fillers that offer various compositions, indications, durations of effect, and stages of FDA approval. The growing choices are cause for celebration and consideration.

New York - Imagine fat as a substance bundled into intact parcels that are a size and shape allowing for them to travel through a small cannula - both when harvested and injected. This is the key to transferring the permanent subcutaneous filler, Sydney R. Coleman, M.D. said.

New York - A comprehensive, science-based health assessment designed to detect risk factors for age-related diseases is one tool for narrowing the gap between health expectancy and life expectancy, said Gary Bucher, M.D., medical director, Kronos Optimal Health Co., Phoenix.

Washington D.C. -- Scalp biopsies are a very useful aid in the evaluation of hair loss if they are done and interpreted correctly, said Leonard C. Sperling, M.D., at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

New York - Cosmetic surgery practices are fertile ground for age management services. Patients seek surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic services to make them feel better about themselves.

San Diego - Much of the aging process is about gravity trying to pull us out through the soles of our feet, and eventually it succeeds, said Michael Colgan, Ph.D. A physiologist and biochemist, Colgan called humans "the most domesticated animal" and said that our sedentary habits exacerbate the impact of gravity.

Deer Valley, Utah -- Patients seeking long-lasting cosmetic improvement without a facelift have a new treatment modality - non-ablative radiofrequency (RF) - in which improvement continues for up to six months after a single treatment.

Washington - Extensive skin cancer can be a life-ruining or even lethal event for organ transplant recipients. Speaking at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, Clark C. Otley, M.D., reviewed for his colleagues five lessons he learned, some times the hard way, to address this challenging problem.

Miami, Fla. - Pediatric dermatologists and pediatricians often see children with purpura, which presents cutaneously but can be a sign of systemic abnormalities.

Washington -- New therapies continue to emerge in pediatric dermatology, and recent studies demonstrate the effectiveness of such therapies. Ilona J. Frieden, M.D., highlighted studies in some areas of common concern in a presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Washington - Timely diagnosis of juvenile dermatomyositis is critical, because early aggressive management with immunosuppressive agents - even for patients with amyopathic disease - is the best method for preventing calcinosis that is a source of significant morbidity for these children, said Amy S. Paller, M.D., at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Washington - Dermatologists should be aware that a number of the treatments they prescribe are associated with an increased risk of skin cancer, said Mark Lebwohl, M.D., at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Boston -- Skin lesions often provide significant clues for diagnosing infections seen among international travelers. A new review of dermatologic infectious diseases in international travelers describes some of the more common conditions, and looks at changes in treatment.

Washington D.C. -- Testing conducted at the Dermatology Center at the University of Manchester's (U.K.) Hope Hospital shows magnetic resonance (MR) scanning can help dermatologists get a better subcutaneous look at patients' port wine stains. However, it fell short of providing the predictability doctors desired with respect to estimating how patients would respond to pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatments.

Washington - According to a poster study presented at the annual American Academy of Dermatology meeting, oral tazarotene (Tazorac; Allergan Inc., Irvine, Calif.) gives patients with plaque psoriasis significant improvements that continue after treatment stops. The blinded, placebo-controlled multicenter study of approximately 700 patients shows that oral tazarotene delivers several advantages over existing alternatives for treating plaque psoriasis.