Dermatology Times back issues from September 2008:
Ups & downs
Sep 01, 2008; ... As economy ebbs, top-notch service, noninvasive procedures keep derms afloat EDITOR'S NOTE: Is the slowing economy affecting dermatology practices? Yes, doctors say-but to varying degrees. Some physicians say bookings for both medical and cosmetic procedures are down. Others say one area ...
Moisturizer hazard?
Sep 01, 2008; ... Murine study links products to heightened risk of skin cancer National report - Skin moisturizers may be contributing to the increase in sunlightinduced nonmelanoma skin cancer in the United States, results of a murine study suggest, but researchers and dermatologists say further study ...
Who's the physician, anyway?
Sep 01, 2008; ... Adviser Editorial Pharmacists, insurers limit scope of practice, prescription choices I had a recent personal experience that shocked me into reexamining what we dermatologists do and what our future will be as a specialty. For many years, I have been taking a name-brand ...
Dr. Siegfried joins DT Editorial Advisory Board
Sep 01, 2008; ... It is with great pleasure that we announce the addition of Elaine Siegfried, M.D., to the Dermatology Times Editorial Advisory Board. Dr. Siegfried will join Ronald Wheeland, M.D.; Norman Levine, M.D.; and Zoe D. Draelos, M.D., in helping to guide the editorial content of the magazine's ...
Standard of care
Sep 01, 2008; ... My patient died from a side effect; will I be sued for millions? Dr. Foot has, for years, been prescribing a highly effective oral medication for tinea pedis. One of the known and documented side effects of this oral agent is liver failure. Although periodic blood test ...
Quality control
Sep 01, 2008; ... 2008 PQRI includes enhancements, incentives for participation The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced payment of more than $36 million in bonus payments to many of the more than 56,700 health professionals who satisfactorily reported quality information to ...
Troubled economy
Sep 01, 2008; ... Are derms seeing an impact on their practices? Economists debate whether the United States has reached a full-fledged recession or is simply teetering on the brink, waiting for some sign it will either topple or be pulled back. Meanwhile, as the debate rages, people are dealing with the ...
(Some) business is booming
Sep 01, 2008; ... ASDS figures show cosmetic procedures still robust National report - Despite concerns about the U.S. economy, a March 2008 survey by the American Society for Dermatologie Surgery (ASDS) showed that nearly one-fourth of the survey's 562 respondents were experiencing increased bookings for ...
Tough times, tough calls
Sep 01, 2008; ... Hard line, soft touch help practices stay on top National report - Surviving lean times demands that dermatologists take a hard line with finances and keep a soft touch with patients, sources say. To that end, experts offer the following tips: *Keep marketing. "When people are ...
Cannabinoids & skin
Sep 01, 2008; ... Human body produces chemical similar to active ingredient in marijuana National report - A recent study shows that the human body produces chemical compounds similar to the active ingredient in marijuana, and these compounds, called endocannabinoids, play an important part in maintaining ...
Black Sea holds healing 'secrets'
Sep 01, 2008; ... Constanza, Romania - Romanian scientists say Mediterranean mussels and clams from the Black Sea have significant skin-regenerating properties. Investigators at the University of Constanze have shown that lipids from Mytilus galloprovincialis L (Mediterranean mussel) and Rapana venosa ...
Research ABSTRACTS
Sep 01, 2008; ... STAT . . . FROM THAT PILE OF PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS ON YOUR DES PSORIASIS MANY SEVERE PSORIASIS PATIENTS UNDERTREATED JAAD JUNE 2008 Nearly 40 percent of severe psoriasis patients are treated with only topical agents, according to the results of a ...
Malignant wounds
Sep 01, 2008; ... Innovative tool helps clinicians assess severity of symptoms Toronto - Clinicians here have developed a tool to assess the severity of symptoms caused by malignant wounds, and they urge other clinicians to use the tool to treat malignant wounds in patients. The Toronto Symptom ...
NEWS BRIEFS
Sep 01, 2008; ... * SKIN CANCER 'ODOR' PROFILE Philadelphia - A specific skin cancer "odor profile" discovery could lead to an accurate, noninvasive diagnostic test that relies on a handheld scanner or sensor, according to research presented at the American Chemical Society meeting ...
Attention on prevention
Sep 01, 2008; ... Derms should identify candidates for HPV, herpes, chickenpox vaccines Scottsdale, Ariz. - Although dermatologists don't usually administer vaccines against genital human papilloma virus (HPV), herpes and chickenpox, they should play a role in tracking and identifying candidates for such ...
Contact dermatitis
Sep 01, 2008; ... Patch testing is on the rise due to recent developments Scottsdale, Ariz. - Patch testing is the gold standard for diagnosing allergic contact dermatitis. The number of dermatologists who patch test is on the rise. According to one expert, the increase in patch testing is the ...
Pityriasis versicolor
Sep 01, 2008; ... Investigational triazole offers effective, well-tolerated treatment International report - Results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-ranging study demonstrate oral pramiconazole provides a welltolerated and highly effective treatment for tinea versicolor, even when administered ...
Preventing IAD
Sep 01, 2008; ... Appropriate barriers decrease risk of incontinence-associated dermatitis Toronto - Using appropriate barriers to keep urine and stool away from the skin can decrease the risk of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). At the World Union of Wound Healing Societies meeting held ...
iPLEDGE compliance
Sep 01, 2008; ... Program protects patient, prescriber from serious consequences Scottsdale, Ariz. - Since its inception in March 2006, the iPLEDGE program has gone through growing pains, which included a very poorly designed computer program, making it quite cumbersome to use and ...
Treating PIH
Sep 01, 2008; ... Retinoids favored; uncertainty surrounds hydroquinone Sewickley, Pa. - With retinoids continuing to represent a highly effective standard of care for postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), some newer combinations are offering even better results for topical treatments. PIH is ...
Port wine stains
Sep 01, 2008; ... Combining PDL, creams may prevent darkening over time Scottsdale, Ariz. - Treated birthmarks are likely to partially return, but preliminary animal research suggests that combining pulseddye laser (PDL) treatment with anti-angiogenic creams could prevent darkening of treated port wine ...
Improving AD
Sep 01, 2008; ... Adding Lactobacillus GG boosts treatments National report - In a small prospective study, adding oral Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) to standard treatments for atopic dermatitis (AD) appeared to significantly improve symptom severity, while significantly decreasing IgE levels in ...
Technology's downside
Sep 01, 2008; ... Laptop computers, other devices can cause skin changes Columbia, Mo. - Dermatologists can usually recognize a skin condition within seconds, but sometimes even relatively common conditions can make a dermatologist look twice. Pediatric dermatologist Jon A. Dyer, M.D., University ...
The big picture
Sep 01, 2008; ... Knowing signs of systemic disease can help avert complications National report - Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms may sometimes be related to dermatologie conditions, and failure to make the connection can, in the worst-case scenarios, lead to the development of more serious systemic ...
Worth the wait
Sep 01, 2008; ... Diagnosing difficult cases sometimes takes years New Orleans - It would be nearly 20 years before dermatologists at Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, would have the literature and science to diagnose and treat a case of pyogenic sterile arthritis, pyoderma ...
Collecting clues
Sep 01, 2008; ... Obtaining biopsy, patient history are key to diagnosing unusual cases Cleveland - Many conditions that originate from another site on the body present with dermatological symptoms, and dermatologists need to keep a high index of suspicion when seeing patients. Melissa Piliang, ...
Custom job
Sep 01, 2008; ... IMAGE AND/OR TEXT OMITTED ...
Carcinoma challenge
Sep 01, 2008; ... Clinical presentation, genetics guide management decisions Tucson, Ariz. - Some dermatological conditions are extensive and/or unusual, and the management of these conditions can be a challenge. Clara Curiel, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology and medicine at the Arizona ...
The perils of beauty
Sep 01, 2008; ... Sunscreen can cause acne-like eruptions; hair dye weakens shaft Q Why do sunscreens cause acne? A Many patients say they do not wear sunscreens because they cause acne. Is this a real or imagined phenomenon? I believe that sunscreens may, indeed, cause an acne-iform eruption in ...
Fractional resurfacing
Sep 01, 2008; ... Ablative, nonablative options abound Colorado Springs, Colo. - With a growing number of nonablative and ablative fractional resurfacing options available, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction, according to Vie Narurkar, M.D., director of the Bay Area Laser Institute, San ...
Scar therapy
Sep 01, 2008; ... Classification by morphology, etiology determine laser choice Scar therapy has advanced alongside the development of laser technology. Now, several options exist for various types of scars. Determining the proper treatment for each scar depends on the type of scar being ...
Geriatric aesthetics
Sep 01, 2008; ... Medicare, elderly patients can lift cosmetic practice Colorado Springs, Colo. - Serving the cosmetic needs of one's geriatric patients, including those in the Medicare population, can have a positive impact on one's bottom line, not to mention one's quality of life and these patients' ...
Threads make a comeback
Sep 01, 2008; ... New technologies emerge for minimally invasive facelifting Paris - Lifting aging facial skin and tissues can be easily achieved using Aptos (KMI) threads, as these barbed threads represent an excellent alternative to existing invasive surgical procedures, resulting in less bruising, no ...
Rejuvenating the body
Sep 01, 2008; ... Repeat treaments to maintain cosmetic effects World report-There are a multitude of devices on the market that claim to rejuvenate the skin a bit better than the next device does. However, in most cases, the effects of these aesthetic devices are temporary, whether it is for the ...
Expand your practice
Sep 01, 2008; ... General derms should look to existing patients first to broaden services Montréal - If general dermatologists want to transition to a cosmetic-based practice, they should look at their existing patients as possible candidates for cosmetic procedures, says Jeffrey Dover, M.D., associate ...
Try before you buy
Sep 01, 2008; ... Fractional lasers lack solid, objective data for comparison Scottsdale, Ariz. - In the absence of solid, objective data for establishing comparisons between newer fractional resurfacing lasers, an expert recommends trying several lasers before buying one. Perhaps the biggest ...
Super sonic
Sep 01, 2008; ... Skincare brush demonstrates safety, versatility National report - In several studies, a sonic skincare brush (Clarisonic; Pacific Bioscience Laboratories) has shown that it provides safe facial cleansing for people with rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis. The device also removes ...
Battling nonmelanoma skin cancers
Sep 01, 2008; ... Radiotherapy is safe, effective option Scottsdale, Ariz. - Superficial radiotherapy represents a safe, effective option for nonmelanoma skin cancers of the head and neck, an expert says. However, he says, fewer dermatologists are using it because of a decrease in dermatologie ...
Role of regression
Sep 01, 2008; ... Single criterion doesn't warrant sentinel lymph node biopsy in thin melanomas Montreal - According to a recent study, using solely regression as a criterion for performing a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in thin melanomas is not sufficient. "Several factors affect the ...
Pre-emptive strike
Sep 01, 2008; ... Treating precancerous lesions may curb 'alarming surge' in nonmelanoma skin cancer Williamsburg, Va.-Nonmelanoma skin cancer is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide, and dermatologists are struggling to keep up with the alarming surge. According to one expert, treating ...
Melanoma update
Sep 01, 2008; ... Incidence fates continue to rise, especially among young women National report - Last year, incidence reporting data on melanoma indicated that the number of cases might be on the decline for the first time in 25 years. While that was an encouraging scenario, the numbers had been ...
When Mohs surgery fails
Sep 01, 2008; ... Surgeon's reaction, aggressive solutions are crucial to patients' outcome New Haven, Conn. - At times, Mohs surgery does fail, and surgeons should realize that a tumor doesn't recur following a Mohs procedure because of lack of surgical skill. The Mohs surgeon's reaction to the ...
Back to the drawing board
Sep 01, 2008; ... Melanoma vaccine ineffective, possibly harmful; GM2 tanks in major study Chicago - For patients with stage II melanoma, the adjuvant ganglioside GM2-KLH21 vaccine proved ineffective, and possibly even harmful, in a large multicenter European study (EORTC 18961) presented at the American ...
BCC excision
Sep 01, 2008; ... Incomplete removal linked to location, aggressiveness Paris - Most dermatologie surgeons can recall the frustration they felt the first tune they received a histopathology report, stating the excision of the basal cell carcinoma (BCX]) they performed on a patient had positive surgical ...
On the safe side
Sep 01, 2008; ... New classification 'Spitzoid tumor' signals cautious treatment International report - Clinically recognizing and diagnosing a Spitz nevus is a challenge. Many experts are not so quick to commit to a definitive diagnosis at first inspection, as the differential diagnosis of a melanoma may ...
Public enemy No. 1
Sep 01, 2008; ... Melanoma incognito cunningly mimics benign lesion International report - Melanoma incognito has significant potential to pose a great threat to the patient affected, as this malignant skin lesion can cunningly mimic a benign lesion, such as a harmless hemangioma or a common intradermal ...
Ever vigilant
Sep 01, 2008; ... White patients with vitiligo should be monitored for signs of cancer Detroit - Older vitiligo patients with lighter skin types may have an increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) compared with the general population, according to a study conducted by dermatologists at the Henry ...
Weighing the risks
Sep 01, 2008; ... Biologies used to treat rheumatoid arthritis pose minimal cancer threat Wichita, Kan. - A large observational study shows increased risks of melanoma and nonmelanotic skin cancer for patients taking biologic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its lead author says the risks are ...
Choosing therapy
Sep 01, 2008; ... Weigh options carefully for immunocompromised patients Amsterdam, Netherlands Immunocompromised patients, and those with a specific genodermatoses, have an increased risk of developing skin cancer compared to the normal population. Chronically immunocompromised patients, such as ...
Treating multiple AKs
Sep 01, 2008; ... Conservative treatment with topical imiquimod is safe, effective for organ transplant patients Berlin - Organ transplant patients who are treated with immunosuppressive drugs are much more susceptible to developing cutaneous malignancies and precancerous lesions compared to the healthy ...
Getting the word out
Sep 01, 2008; ... Derms must educate organ transplant patients, physicians about skin cancer risks St. Louis - Organ transplant patients are at risk for developing skin cancer - up to 65-fold over the general population - yet most of these patients are not using necessary sun protection. In fact, ...
Expert advice
Sep 01, 2008; ... BUSINESS CONSULT TAe do's and don'ts of hiring a consultant for your practice needs Hiring a practice management consultant can bring a host of benefits to your practice, but you need to hire the one that's right for you and your needs. How can you make sure that your investment ...
Bonding your portfolio
Sep 01, 2008; ... YOUR MONEY Diversifying investments, large or small, will minimize risks One of the most challenging financial decisions you need to make these days is where to put your money. Whether your investment portfolio is large or small, you must choose from among mutual funds, ...
Cream protects at-risk skin
Sep 01, 2008; ... Cooperlabs (USE ART) Cabot P.O.L. cream from Cooperlabs features an Omental Lipids formula that is gentle on fragile skin and is a highly effective moisturizer and solution for chronic itch, severely dry skin and irritation. The nonprescription cream is applied topically and targets ...
Physicians aren't 'average Americans'
Sep 01, 2008; ... Don't settle for standard legal, financial advice from mainstream media According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American Family earns less than $49,000. That translates to an income tax liability of less than 12 percent. Ninety-eight percent of American families will never be ...
Latest software offers visual diagnostic decision support system
Sep 01, 2008; ... Logical Images VisualDx 6.0, a browser-only diagnostic decision support system, offers healthcare providers real-time point-of-care access to clinical information and more than 16,000 medical images presenting diseases in variation of severity, skin type, age and passage of ...
Moisturizer revitalizes skin with antioxidants
Sep 01, 2008; ... Murad Soothe skin, eliminate breakouts and minimize the signs of aging with Murad Man Razor Burn Rescue. The moisturizer contains antioxidants (panthenol, vitamin E and neem) and anti-inflammatory ingredients (witch hazel and zinc). Using glycolic acid to exfoliate dead skin ...
Therapy modifies skin's appearance without tissue damage
Sep 01, 2008; ... Allied Health Quantum Electro-Ionization from Allied Health offers extensive hydration, tightening, sterilization and collagen reformation. The Quantum uses ionization therapy, which works with skin at the cellular level, encouraging collagen production without harming the ...
Booklet offers guidance in managing patient-lifting
Sep 01, 2008; ... Liko North America A free educational booklet, stocked with many of the most-asked questions by healthcare professionals about starting and managing a safe lifting program, can be downloaded online at www.safeliftingportal.com/lift-doctor-booklet. "Ask the Lift Doctor - ...
Dandruff conditioners offer improved protection
Sep 01, 2008; ... P&G Beauty New findings show that combining Head & Shoulders shampoo and conditioner in hair washings leads to increased remaining pyrithione zinc levels on the scalp, which elevates flake protection. The advanced line of hair and scalp conditioners contain 0.5 percent PTZ, and ...
New sunscreen offers maximum protection from UV rays
Sep 01, 2008; ... Benev Benev Co. TD+S SPF-30 sunscreen blends titanium dioxide and silicone for maximum protection from UV rays and environmental aggressors. Essential for post-procedure care, titanium dioxide blocks UV radiation, and silicone seals in moisture while keeping bacteria at bay to promote ...
Ablative workstation mixes CO2 skin resurfacing, rejuvenation
Sep 01, 2008; ... Cynosure Cynosure Inc. launches the Affirm CO2, an ablative workstation with a proprietary scanning delivery system that combines ablative CO2 skin resurfacing and rejuvenation in a single laser system. "Affirm CO2 is a dynamic platform to address deep wrinkles, significant ...
New handpiece decreases procedure time of laser lipolysis
Sep 01, 2008; ... CoolTouch CoolTouch has launched the CoolBlue Duet handpiece, which is designed to enhance the CoolLipo 1,320 nm laser system. The newest addition to CoolTouch's laser lipolysis platform is the first on the market to ablate and aspirate fat cells simultaneously. CoolBlue Duet provides ...
Looped DVD presentation for patient waiting areas focuses on procedures
Sep 01, 2008; ... Candace Crowe Design Candace Crowe Design introduces the Revenez Loop professionally produced, eye-catching video that provides straightforward information for patients. The Revenez Loop was created to utilize valuable time that patients spend in the waiting room. According to ...
Electronic pen device with pure silver tip treats pimples
Sep 01, 2008; ... Rebuilder Medical Technologies Rebuilder Medical Technologies introduces the Acne-Pen, an electronic pen device that uses silver iontophoresis therapy for the treatment of acne at home. The pen works by touching its pure silver tip to a pimple for 10 seconds. The area to be ...