Pediatric Dermatology

Paris - Papular and pruritic dermatoses of pregnancy are usually the result of three conditions - prurigo, papular dermatitis of pregnancy (PDP), and pruritic folliculitis (PF) - Samantha Vaughan Jones, M.D., F.R.C.P., said at the World Congress of Dermatology. Depending on the symptoms and their severity, these conditions can affect the health of both the mother and her baby.

Paris - Topical medications should often be considered as first-line therapy in the treatment of vulval diseases because they are effective, easy to use, and fast-acting, according to Annarosa Virgili, M.D.

Troy, Mich. - Looking at the penis is an important part of the dermatological exam. Dermatologists who make the effort will commonly find skin conditions related only to the penis, general skin conditions, cancer, and infections, according to Ali Moiin, M.D., a board certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor, Wayne State University, Troy, Mich.

Paris - Patch testing for possible contact allergy looks to be an effective tool in the investigation of inflammatory vulval diseases for patients with vulval dermatoses.

San Francisco ?? Dermatologists might find it strange when patients come into their offices complaining of nearly invisible "scars" or other imperfections. Yet the patients focus on the flaws to the point that one would think they were dominant features.

Ipswich, U.K. -- From a ragbag of low-quality randomized trials, the simplest and cheapest topical preparation has emerged as the safest and most effective treatment of cutaneous warts, according to Sam Gibbs, M.R.C.P.

The image of dermatology as a medical profession has undergone a variety of changes over the decades. In the 1800s and the early part of the 20th century, dermatologists were the physicians to go to for venereal diseases, as well as diseases of the skin, so their place as a medical necessity was secure.

Las Vegas - Much of what is new in dermatologic therapy represents off-label use of marketed drugs, but clinicians should not let that fact necessarily deter them from prescribing what may be very safe and effective therapy, said Stephen Stone, M.D., at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.

As chair of the scientific program of a medical organization, I have been flooded with abstracts, some of which arrived by mail or fax.

Many dermatology practices are experiencing high patient demand for appointments and are expanding their services. The result frequently necessitates adding providers to the practice.

Denver - Tumescent liposuction pioneer Jeffrey A. Klein, M.D., strongly advised against being overly aggressive with the procedure.

New York - For severe forms of psoriasis, dermatologists should choose treatments based on efficacy and rapidity of response more so than potential for chronic toxicities, according to Kenneth B. Gordon, M.D.

New Orleans - Treating some types of psoriasis - severe, scalp, arthritic, "out of town," and others - can challenge the therapeutic acumen of dermatologists.

New York - For treatment of localized psoriasis, breaking down the barriers to compliance can begin with something as simple as the human touch, according to Steven R. Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., director, Psoriasis Treatment Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Paris - Treatment for dermatomyositis (DM) begins with sun avoidance and sun-protective measures, Jeffrey P. Callen, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology. "The first line of therapy is to recognize that the patient is photosensitive."

Washington - Tighter restrictions on Accutane could have a reverse effect - increased black market activity - the FDA told a congressional investigative subcommittee on Dec. 11.

Anew oral retinoid has been FDA cleared for the treatment of psoriasis. It has been shown to be safer than all previously available retinoids. Dr. Doe learned that this medication has been used safely in Europe for the prevention of acne in pre-adolescent teenagers. He has a large adolescent practice and is excited about using this medication on his young patients. Recognizing that the drug does not have FDA clearance for his intended use, he asks parents of prospective patients to sign a consent form allowing him to use this potentially miraculous drug on their children. Is the consent of the parent valid?

Paris - Topical imiquimod offers safe and often effective treatment for basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) in immunosuppressed, solid organ transplantation patients, David Vidal, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Now that many of us have been online for a number of years, we are getting as many as 200 e-mails a day from friends, family, business associates, and spanners.

For years dermatologists have been recognized as the experts in the diagnosis and medical or surgical treatment of diseases and cosmetic disorders of the skin, hair, and nails.

Paris - Results from a series of studies conducted at the Skin Research Laboratory of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology are providing important insights about the pathogenesis of alopecia areata and a basis for exploring new immunomodulating therapies for the disorder.

Paris - Dermatologists may find yet another use for extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), as it seemingly treats atopic dermatitis, according to Gerd Plewig, M.D.

Boston - Organogenesis, which pioneered the engineered skin Apligraf, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September.

My wife and I are preparing to fly to Hong Kong and Singapore, where I will deliver some lectures. Naturally, we are trolling the Web to find information that will add pleasure and value to our journey.

Los Angeles - Among 3-year-olds, children with atopic dermatitis have significantly more melanocytic nevi than their unaffected counterparts, and the difference in nevi count overall can be accounted for by higher numbers of nevi present in light-skinned children with eczema, Robert Dellavalle, M.D., Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology.

Paris - Topical 1 percent ciclopiroxolamine cream is a safe and effective treatment for mild-to-moderate facial seborrheic dermatitis, according to research presented at the World Congress of Dermatology.

Los Angeles - Cutaneous atrophy, the bane of topical corticosteroid treatment, may have met its match in a thyroid hormone analogue, according to Jan Faergemann, M.D., Ph.D.

Paris - Results from a small pilot study suggest that topical tacrolimus ointment 0.1 percent (Protopic) may be a promising new treatment for seborrheic dermatitis, researchers from Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, reported.

New York - As the debate continues on the merits of widespread smallpox vaccination, a report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology cautioned that vaccines can trigger severe skin reactions among susceptible individuals.

Paris - Bioengineered skin substitutes can facilitate healing of difficult wounds and even achieve closure of some long-standing chronic wounds refractory to other measures, but the success of these modalities depends on proper wound bed preparation and even then, they may not be the answer for all patients, Vincent Falanga, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.