Aesthetics

National report - Poly-L-lactic acid filler Sculptra (Dermik) can offer some excellent long-term results in adding volume when patients have facial lipoatrophy, and Cherie Ditre, M.D., offers some key tips to further enhance successful use of the filler.

San Diego - Preventing and treating hypertrophic scars and keloid formation has always been a difficult task for dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons.

DermaSmart is a new concept in the treatment of atopic dermatitis from Hill Pharmaceutical.

Chicago - Acne, common in women of all ages, can be treated differently depending in part upon age, according to Julie C. Harper, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham.

National report - Experience with a new topical product line containing hyaluronic acid sodium salt 0.2 percent (Bionect, JSJ Pharmaceuticals) indicates it may be useful for optimizing the healing environment when the skin barrier has been disrupted by various dermatologic treatments.

National report - Drug companies can now start beautifying their pills with pigments like those that give cosmetics a pearly sheen, the Associated Press reports.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Muslims in Malaysia may have to learn to live with their wrinkles after the country's top Islamic xbody ruled against Botox (Allergan) injections.

London - By 2007, Britons will spend more on cosmetic surgery than they will on tea, according to the London Daily Telegraph.

San Francisco - People with red hair, light skin or freckles are more likely to develop malignant melanoma, researchers say.

Evanston, Ill. - Aggressive melanoma cells secrete Nodal, a protein critical to proper embryo formation, according to researchers at Northwestern University.

Morgantown, W.Va. -- A skin test that could allow detection of Alzheimer's disease in its earliest stages may become a reality.

What a relief. There are some in our profession who assure us medical dermatology is alive and well.

Eckley M. Keach's article in the June 2006 issue of Dermatology Times ("Successful malpractice defense lies in body of evidence") provides tips for dermatologists to reduce the risk of malpractice liability from treating high-risk melanoma patients.

Providence, R.I. -- A Brown University Medical School study says that "mole mapping" can prove valuable in helping people spot melanoma.

Winston-Salem, N.C. - One night, Dr. Steven Feldman woke up in a hotel bed and had a "Eureka!" moment.

Amit Pandya, M.D., uses his knowledge of medicine and dermatology to carry out his life's missions.

Philadelphia - Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are just two examples of non-melanoma skin cancer.

Scottsdale, Ariz. - For dermatologists interested in the in-office dispensing of cosmeceuticals, three agents in particular - ferulic acid, idebenone and human growth factors - are gaining prominence, but is there evidence to back them up?

Paris - Botulinum toxin type A and fillers have become a mainstay in cosmetic interventions and a very powerful tool in anti-aging procedures worldwide.

Winston-Salem, N.C. - One night, Dr. Steven Feldman woke up in a hotel bed and had a "Eureka!" moment.

Cleveland – Dermatology Times has won a Gold Triangle Award from the American Academy of Dermatology for the article, "Bogus Botox sounds wake-up call" appearing in the February 2005 issue. The article, written by Senior Staff Correspondent John Jesitus, explored the proliferation of knock-off Botox and its untoward effects on patients. The article included dermatologists' opinions on the problem and how Allergan, Botox's manufacturer, was helping keep pure product in the market.

Stem cell research is among the "one or two paradigm-changing medical breakthroughs" that may occur in a lifetime, and it's vitally needed to bring hope to millions, says Ron Reagan, son of the late President Ronald Reagan. Mr. Reagan addressed the Friday morning plenary session at the American Academy of Dermatology's Academy '06, couching in impassioned and often stinging political commentary his plea for support for stem cell research.

When dealing with topical treatments, dermal fillers and botulinum toxin, an expert advises sticking to products backed by rigorous science and minimizing patients' risks wherever possible.

Treating leg and foot ulcers irrespective of the etiology has always been a mountain to climb for physicians and patients alike.

Using a dermoscope can help dermatologists diagnose melanomas that don't exhibit classic warning signs, says an expert

While biologic drugs may not provide a first-line treatment for psoriasis, dermatologists are reaching for them somewhat more readily, an expert says.

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New York - Hyaluronic acid (HA) products' success rests on the ability of this compound to provide effective, long-lasting treatments, says an expert.

San Francisco - Results from several studies performed with imiquimod 5 percent cream (Aldara, 3M Pharmaceuticals) suggest that the immune response modifier may have a role as a surgical adjuvant for improving local tumor control and/or to enhance scar appearance, says James M. Spencer, M.D., M.S., clinical professor of dermatology, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York.