Staying current with therapeutic advances and expert insights

Joe Gorelick, MSN, FNP-CDear Colleagues,

This month we offer new insights and data to aid diagnosis and treatment of difficult conditions, as well as practical approaches to optimize outcomes.

Vitiligo is difficult to treat effectively. In addition to physical deformity, patients carry a tremendous psychosocial burden. New insights into the pathogenesis of vitiligo are yielding innovative and potentially more effective treatment options. In ‘New hope for patients with vitiligo’, we learn that such emerging therapeutic options offer the potential to effectively re-pigment the skin in patients affected by this condition.

Who would consider oral therapy for difficult to treat basal cell carcinoma (BCC)? Vismodegib is an oral therapy that is considered first line therapy in Germany for BCC’s that are not suitable for surgery or irradiation. Read ‘Armementarium grows for advanced BCC’ to learn more about the latest data confirming efficacy and safety for this therapeutic agent. It will be important for us to consider as we add this option to our treatment protocols for hard to treat BCC’s.

Finally, patient safety is paramount to any cosmetic procedure. The practical and clinically relevant advice offered here will not only improve safety, it may result in improved outcomes for our cosmetic patients. Read practical tips that will benefit both our patients and our practices in ‘Tips to avoid laser device complications’.

Best,

Joe Gorelick, MSN, FNP-C, Dermatology Education Foundation Founder and Chairman