Aesthetics

Dr. (George) Farber says if the tax had been passed in Louisiana, he would have been first in line to challenge it.

A controversial report suggests that Britons should sunbathe daily without sunblock to help prevent disease.

Leeches may now officially be used for medicinal purposes, following recent approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for commercial marketing.

Irvine, Calif. - Sweat has a new enemy. Botox (botulinum toxin type A), developed by Allergan, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hyperhidrosis.

National report - The benefits of Allergan's proposed oral psoriasis drug, Tazoral, do not outweigh possible risks of birth defects and bone loss, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel has decided.

Stanford, Calif. - Dermabrasion might have been considered a lost art when CO2 lasers entered the dermatology scene in the mid 1990s, but Stephen H. Mandy, M.D., finds the pendulum swinging back toward a renewed interest in the facial sanding resurfacing technique.

Safe, cost-effective filler ideal for correcting large defects

Examining and discerning diagnostic considerations for primary and metastatic lesions of MBCC may reveal a requisite for early intervention with aggressive treatment modalities.

Stanford, Calif. - According to Andrew Menkes, M.D., it generally doesn't matter whether Restylane is injected using a threading or puncture technique or, as he prefers, a combination of the two - that is, unless you are talking about the lips.

Charleston, S.C.- Hair disorders in children are discernible by several factors, including the amount of hair on the head (hypotrichosis or hypertrichosis), structure (with fragility or without) and color (hypopigmented or hyperpigmented), according to Carola Duran-McKinster, M.D., department of dermatology at the National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico.

National report - An anti-acne gel containing both clindamycin and tretinoin is safe, well-tolerated, and more effective than either agent alone, according to results of phase 3 trials including more than 2,200 patients.

Diffuse cryotherapy + topical depigmenting agent show success in treating solar lentigines

Nurses often educate patients about who good candidates are for radiofrequency skin treatments.

Topical retinoids and sun protection are the foundation for skin care at all levels.

No downtime and no injury to skin surface, physician says

Experience, observation, knowing equipment and limitations are best allies

Christopher Zachary, M.D., notes that in California, the concerns of cosmetic dermatology patients differ from those of patients in other parts of the country.

Doctors are seen as the most trusted source of information about anti-aging.

Debate over the need for absolute sun protection - the mantra of the AAD - is moving farther into the public arena this summer, with a long-time researcher advocating limited, unprotected exposure, and the AAD still firmly warning against it.

Port Charlotte, Fla. - Stephen Chiarello, M.D., is on a mission to bring dermatology into the 21st century.

Portland, OR - In a small study of bexarotene gel treatment for chronic severe hand dermatitis (HD), the medication achieved both speedy and surprising results. In a 55-patient, phase 1-2 open-label randomized clinical study of the gel, used alone and in combination with one of two steroids, 79 percent of patients on monotherapy achieved clinical improvement of at least 50 percent, and 39 percent reached at least 90 percent clearance.

Botox manufacturer Allergan Inc.. reports it won a $1.5 million judgment in its trademark infringement and unfair competition suit against Mira Life Group Inc., according to the Associated Press.

As cosmetic procedures grow in popularity, dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons strive to enhance patient comfort as well as ensure that the entire experience is a pleasant one. Building patient confidence and trust are the ultimate goals, and the use of topical anesthetics has helped greatly toward this end.

Oral antibiotics have an integral role in the treatment of moderate to severe acne. Patient compliance with an acne treatment program is crucial, and those affected must have realistic expectations for treatment. Because many strains of P acnes have become resistant to tetracycline, dermatologists are increasingly turning to doxycycline monohydrate, which has retained efficacy against the organism.

Do over-the-counter medications and primary care treatment lower dermatologists' acne treatment load?