Aesthetics

New Orleans — The biggest mistake most dermatologists make when they decide to start a cosmetic dermatology practice is trying to jump into things too fast. That's the message Joel Schlessinger, M.D., a successful cosmetic dermatologist from Omaha, Neb., likes to share with his colleagues who are considering that move.

San Diego — Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a common complaint among skin of color patients and one that is important to manage effectively because it can be a source of significant psychosocial distress, said Patricia Dunwell, M.D., at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS).

New Orleans — Botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Botox Cosmetic; Allergan) can be used safely and effectively in a range of doses to simultaneously treat a spectrum of upper facial rhytids in adult women, although use of a higher dose affords benefits for improved magnitude and durability of response without compromising safety, according to the results of a dose-comparison study presented by Alastair Carruthers, M.D., and Jean Carruthers, M.D., at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

New Orleans — Initial clinical experience indicates injectable poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra) can be used safely and effectively to achieve natural-appearing restoration of facial volume and contour in patients with age-related facial lipodystrophy, said Douglas Key, M.D., at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) here.

Boston — Although, for many patients, hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers have become the treatment of choice in the United States, Gary D. Monheit, M.D., says many questions remain: Can Hylaform (Inamed), Restylane (Q-Med) and Juvederm (LEA Derm) be improved to achieve more than a three- to six-month longevity? How will the fillers compare after more extensive head-to-head testing? And where will HA products ultimately fit in an armamentarium ranging from bovine collagen to polylactic acid?

New York — A limited population of abdominoplasty patients who also desire breast augmentation can have the procedures performed together without scars on or around the breast.

New Orleans — A striking array of new, non-invasive cosmetic laser treatments and devices has been developed recently to help dermatologists rejuvenate skin and improve appearance. From class 2 products that treat cellulite to a variety of radiofrequency devices, the many options may leave physicians wondering which one to choose.

In terms of rejuvenation, the combination of Restylane for the lower face and Botox for the upper face is the gold standard.

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Orlando — Scars require individual assessment and treatment because no one solution will solve all problems, according to Susan H. Weinkle, M.D., a dermatologist specializing in Mohs surgery and practicing in the Tampa Bay Area.

Florence — Alopecia areata is a disease with important aesthetic implications that may affect the patient psychologically and socially, and treatment can be challenging, according to Ana Kaminsky, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

New Orleans — Undergraduates are accustomed to paying for their education. Why not dermatology residents?

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National report — A new precedent has been set in the cosmetic surgery industry, but it has nothing to do with surgical results. In September, New Jersey became the first state to enact a vanity tax on cosmetic surgery and Botox injections — a move that lawmakers elsewhere are now seeking to emulate, potentially leaving physicians and their patients at a loss.

National report — With the number of cosmetic procedures performed nationally rising, the line between dermatology and plastic surgery continues to blur as dermatologists devote more time to cosmetic procedures and plastic surgeons embrace less-invasive treatments.

Recently, a group of leading dermatologists, clinical investigators, and dermasurgeons met to discuss the role of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in their practices. The experts discussed a new treatment paradigm for actinic keratosis (AK) and how it is changing. They also shared their personal experiences in using 5-FU innovatively to treat AK, while reducing inflammation and discomfort and improving compliance. In addition, the physicians reviewed the use of 5-FU in the treatment of several other dermatologic conditions, such aswarts and actinic cheilitis.

San Diego — One of the biggest cosmetic skin problems among the people of Iran, according to Saied Vejdani, M.D., is scarring from acne.

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Miami — Filler options are getting closer to what David J. Goldberg, M.D., considers ideal.

Active cooling helps minimize epidermal injury — a critical factor when treating patients with darker skin phototypes.

Why do women with more pregnancies have more facial wrinkles?

San Diego — One of the biggest cosmetic skin problems among the people of Iran, according to Saied Vejdani, M.D., is scarring from acne.

New Orleans — Combining a popular topical retinoid with a widely used antibiotic — and applying them at the same time as if they were one drug — clearly outperforms using either agent separately in treating acne, according to new data presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) here.

Classification of rosacea patients by subtype guides physicians toward the most appropriate treatment for each patient, says Frank Powell, M.D.

Beiersdorf Inc. is demonstrating its new Eucerin Redness Relief sensitive skin line with licochalcone A for patients with rosacea.

MoleMapCD technology from DigitalDerm allows patients and doctors to monitor potentially deadly changes in the skin with accuracy and objectivity, the company says.

Speaking yesterday, dermatologist Melvin Elson, M.D., of Nashville, Tenn., discussed five types of aging that occur on the face and how dermatologic treatments can improve the skin's texture and return its youthful glow.

Combining a popular topical retinoid with a widely used antibiotic - and applying them at the same time as if they were one drug - clearly outperforms using either agent separately in treating acne. The key is adding to them a novel aqueous hydrogel which solubilizes the two old stand-by drugs and stabilizes them to provide a particularly effective once-daily treatment.

Pharmaceutical Specialties is demonstrating its Vanicream Sunscreens at the 63rd Annual Meeting here.

Silicone sheet technology has been clinically proven to improve the appearance of scars significantly and has been used by physicians for years, according to Pfizer who is displaying its Neosporin Scar Sheets here at the 63rd Annual Meeting.