Skin & Allergy News

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

Consistency is key to securing high-quality Mohs photos.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
AUSTIN, TEX. -- Getting good, consistent pre- and postoperative photos of Mohs procedures is crucial to documenting a reconstructive procedure and sharing those procedures and outcomes with colleagu . . .

Surgical options for the aging face explored.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
Nonsurgical options may improve the appearance of the face for some, bur patients with more skin redundancy and platysmal banding may require surgical neck or face lifts, according to Dr. Roberta D. . . .

To achieve natural lips, consider entire face.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
When enhancing a patient's lips, consider the patient's aesthetic goals and the natural anatomy of the lip, and remember to think aesthetically about the entire face, said Dr. Kimberly Butterwick. . . .

Dead sea minerals.(COSMECEUTICAL CRITIQUE)
The palliative effects of immersing in baths or pools of thermomineral water, known as balneotherapy, have been known for centuries, with modern practices dating back to the 1800s and natural health . . .

Expert reviews diagnosis of genodermatoses.(PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY)
Genodermatoses may be rare, but it is still important to be familiar with the signs typically seen in patients, according to Dr. Kara N. Shah. "You will see these patients in your practice. The impo . . .

ASMS opposes subcertification.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(American Society for Mohs Surgery )(Brief article)
The American Society for Mohs Surgery is coming out in opposition to the American Board of Dermatology's proposal for a subcertification in procedural dermatology. Such a certification would be redu . . .

Texas gets tough on tanning.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
Gov. Rick Perry (R) has signed Texas House Bill 1310, which, beginning in January 2010, prohibits anyone under the age of 16 1/2 from using a tanning bed. It a]so requires in-person parental consent . . .

Florida boosts ABD certification.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(American Board of Dermatology)(Brief article)
When Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) signed Senate Bill 720 in mid-June, the Florida Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery celebrated a "victory" for dermatology and patients. In an online . . .

Vermont bans most pharma gifts.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R) has signed into law a bill that prohibits manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics from providing free gifts, including meals and travel, to physicians and . . .

FIDE turns global dermatology into a reality.(PRACTICE TRENDS)(Foundation for International Dermatologic Education)(www.fide-der
Anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." A living embodiment of . . .

Topical retinoid.(PRODUCTS)
Refissa (tretinoin cream, 0.05%) is formulated to reduce free wrinkles, rough skin, and irregular pigmentation in patients who protect their skin from the sun by wearing sunscreen. It should be appl . . .

Moisturizing body washes.(PRODUCTS)
The latest Dove body washes contain Nutrium-Moisture, a skin-compatible formula that is designed to be absorbed into the skin surface. The penetrating ingredients can help improve skin health and av . . .

Body shaping tool.(PRODUCTS)
The VelaShape II is designed to nonsurgically improve the appearance of cellulite and reduce the circumference of thighs. The device uses a combination of radiofrequency, infrared light, vacuum suct . . .

Market for at-home devices is growing.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Use of at-home aesthetic devices could prove to be a double-edged sword: If they fail to work, potential patients will assume that in-office devices also won't work, accordi . . .

Metastatic disease shows response to peptide vaccine: phase III trial yields positive results.(NEWS)
ORLANDO -- At last, some favorable news regarding immunization against melanoma: The addition of a peptide vaccine to high-dose interleukin-2 therapy significantly improved clinical response for pat . . .

Add vascular disease to list of psoriasis risks.(NEWS)
People with psoriasis are at higher Frisk than others for a full range of atherosclerotic diseases, not just cardiovascular but also cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular diseases, according to a . . .

Systemic lupus patients have greater HPV risk.(NEWS)(Clinical report)
The rate of cervical human papillomavirus infection among women with systemic lupus erythematosus increased from 12% to 25% after 3 years, according to new study results. Patients were twice as li . . .

Ingredients cause hypersensitivity.(NEWS)(Clinical report)
PRAGUE -- Ingredients commonly found in topical pharmaceutical agents and cosmetics may cause hypersensitivity in patients with chronic eczema, according to the results of a large study. The frequ . . .

Unexplained erythema could be malignancy.(NEWS)
PRAGUE -- Unexplained erythema should raise suspicion about a possible underlying malignancy, according to a review of cases at one Asian institution. In an effort to determine the clinical implic . . .

Sentinel node burden found to predict melanoma survival.(NEWS)
ORLANDO -- Long-term follow-up data on patients with melanoma suggest that minimal sentinel lymph node tumor burden at diagnosis predicts excellent melanoma-specific survival, with a prognosis indis . . .

Acitretin plus diabetes drug may calm psoriasis.(NEWS)
PRAGUE -- The diabetes drug pioglitazone significantly improved psoriasis control when added to oral acitretin, data from a small clinical trial found. The combination led to a 64% reduction in ps . . .

Coal tar found as effective as tazarotene for psoriasis.(NEWS)(Clinical report)
PRAGUE -- For psoriasis patients who can handle the smell and mess, coal tar remains an effective, inexpensive treatment option for stable disease, according to Dr. Uma Kumar. Coal tar proved just . . .

Mind-body connection plays role in coping with disease.(NEWS)
PRAGUE -- A mind-body connection may play a role in a psoriasis patients' disease adaptation, study data suggest. Lipoprotein levels and the aminoterminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide . . .

Commissioner aims to open FDA's 'black box'.(NEWS)
In one of her first public acts at the Food and Drug Administration, new commissioner Margaret Hamburg announced that the agency aims to be more transparent about its daily work and decision-making . . .

Community outreach.(UNDER MY SKIN)
From a recent article in the New York Times: "The Cleveland Clinic has lent its name and backup services to a string of CVS drugstore clinics in northeastern Ohio. And the Mayo Clinic is in the game . . .

Mandatory flu vaccination.(COMMENTARY)
In 2004, I joined my colleagues at Virginia Mason Medical Center in a workshop to examine ways to improve delivery of influenza vaccine to patients and staff. This experience seems all the more re . . .

Serving in Iraq.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
I enjoyed reading "The Rest of Your Life" column about a physician recalled to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom ("'Dr. Charlie' Goes to War," May 2009, p. 48). I was called to do a . . .

Leukemia mortality linked to prior skin cancer.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
PRAGUE -- A prior diagnosis of non. melanoma skin cancer predicts an increased mortality risk in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, investigators from the National Cancer Institute reported . . .

Skin regimen prevents cancer Tx-related rashes.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
ORLANDO -- A prophylactic skin care regimen may prevent the severe rashes that afflict cancer patients treated with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, according to a physician who conducte . . .

Sebaceous cell carcinoma responds well to mohs.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
AUSTIN, TEX. -- Mohs surgery seems to be effective for primary sebaceous cell carcinoma when there is an absence of orbital extension, according to a retrospective case study. Sebaceous cell carci . . .

BCC is most common form of periocular skin cancer.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)(basal cell carcinomas)(Report)(Clinical report)
AUSTIN, TEX. -- A chart review aimed at quantifying the incidence and type of periocular skin cancers showed that the vast majority were basal cell carcinomas, and that there was a slight predominan . . .

Two UVA sunscreen filters are better than one.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
SAN FRANCISCO -- An SPF 40 sunscreen containing two UVA filters--ecamsule and avobenzone--protected patients from flares of polymorphous light eruption significantly better than formulations contain . . .

Laser's role limited in spider vein treatment.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
While advances in technology have made lasers more effective as a treatment for spider veins, sclerotherapy remains the standard for treatment, according to Dr. Margaret W. Mann. While there have . . .

Classify melasma and vitiligo before treatment.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. -- The key to treating pigmentary disorders is making an accurate diagnosis using a Wood's lamp and classifying the patient's condition, according to Dr. Anand Ganesan. "One o . . .

Lasers, intense pulsed light ease pigmentation disorders.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. -- The ideal device for treating pigmentation disorders would reduce wrinkles, pigment, and redness in one pass with a low amount of pain and give patients a fast, easy recovery . . .

Saffron.(COSMECEUTICAL CRITIQUE)
Saffron (Crocus sativus), a member of the Iridaceae family, is native to I Southwest Asia, particularly Iran, but was first cultivated in Greece. It has been used as a spice or food flavoring agent, . . .

Sclerotherapy microfoam for varicose veins on the horizon.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)(Brief article)
AUSTIN, TEX. -- A new microfoam in trials in the United States holds promise for sclerotherapy, said Dr. Girish Munavalli, who also discussed other techniques currently available for addressing vari . . .

Choice of injectable products poised to expand.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. -- Dysport is on its way; ArteFill won't be gone for long; and Juvrderm will soon be available in a formulation with lidocaine. The already rapidly evolving array of cosmetic . . .

Detective work suggested before liposuction.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. -- Pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions are not necessarily contraindications to liposuction, but they must be carefully evaluated in the preoperative period, Dr. Robe . . .

Patient education site is launched.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
A new patient-oriented Web site," Explore Your Skin," is designed to provide general educational materials for patients about how skin diseases occur and how cosmetic procedures are performed. The i . . .

Facial nerve blocks boost comfort, expectations.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
Dermatologists who master the use of facial nerve blocks can make nonsurgical procedures more comfortable for patients, according to Dr. Howard K. Steinman. The concept of "nonsurgical" cosmetic p . . .

Expert offers tips to squash creepy parasites.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
BALTIMORE -- Parasite infections may not be one of the more common conditions treated by dermatologists, but the creepiness factor makes them stand out, judging from the series of anecdotes and advi . . .

Male HPV vaccine will need careful promotion.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
MONTREAL -- Although the prevalence of human papillomavirus is similar among females and males, physicians will need to be careful about promoting a vaccine that specifically targets men, according . . .

Widespread HPV vaccination may require school mandate.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
BALTIMORE -- The notion that the future burden of human papillomavirus will be greatly decreased thanks to the HPV vaccine may be unrealistic without a national school mandate, according to a new mo . . .

FDA strengthens syncope warning on Gardasil label.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
Patients who receive the Gardasil vaccine should sit or lie down in the office for at least 15 minutes after vaccination to prevent possible injury from falling during syncope, while being observed . . .

Encapsulation may increase acne drug tolerance.(ACNE)
PRAGUE -- Silica-encapsulated benzoyl peroxide treats acne more effectively and with less skin irritation than nonencapuslated therapy, according to a presentation at the International Congress of D . . .

Acne scars, overall appearance found to improve with fractional ablative lasers.(ACNE)
Skin resurfacing with fractional ablative lasers can improve acne scarring and the overall appearance of patients with an efficacy that approaches the results seen with traditional lasers and microd . . .

Study: ALA plus laser clears acne by half.
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. -- The combination of 5-aminolevulinic acid solution with a 532-nm potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser treatment significantly improved moderate inflammatory facial acne, compared . . .

New scleroderma-modifying therapies emerging.(AUTOIMMUNITY/CONNECTIVE TISSUE)(Report)
CHICAGO -- Several pioneering treatment approaches have emerged to modify the vascular and fibrotic disease in scleroderma, Dr. Frederick Wigley said at a symposium sponsored by the American College . . .

Skin changes help identify scleroderma mimics.(AUTOIMMUNITY/CONNECTIVE TISSUE)
CHICAGO -- Few physicians would be fooled nowadays by gadolinium-induced nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, but there are other diseases that can masquerade as scleroderma. The precise diagnosis of sc . . .