News

Are patients really feeling the influence of social media on their decisions to have a cosmetic surgery procedure? What you can expect in the New Year.

From proven workhorse lasers to the best lasers for specific conditions, expert dermatologists offer their perspective and advice for choosing the right lasers for your practice.

When it comes to laser and light treatments in the New Year, this is what experts have to say you can expect to see more of.

Imagine wearing electronics powerful enough to transdermally measure things like hydration, electrophysiological activity and pulse and cerebral oximetry. But the technology is so thin, breathable, soft and malleable, that you don’t notice it on your skin. It can be on your eyelid, on your lips, over hair. It seamlessly does its job while you live your life without constraint.

Studies in the literature on wearable technology advances.

The Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval to nivolumab (Opdivo, Bristol-Myers Squibb) for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma and for patients whose disease has progressed following ipilimumab and, if BRAF V600 mutation-positive, a BRAF inhibitor.

Nathanial Miletta, M.D., an Army captain stationed at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., and his colleagues set out to assess subjective changes, including how dermatologic conditions - such as infection, abcesses, itching, pain, irritation, pulling of leg hair - at the joint interface affect quality of life and whether laser hair removal can help.

Lead author and a Galderma consultant dermatologist Linda Stein Gold, M.D. writes to Dermatology Times that results from Soolantra (ivermectin) Cream, 1% were seen in clinical studies as early as week two, with continuous improvement in patients with inflammatory lesions of rosacea.

Kevin D. Cooper, M.D., professor and chair of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, and Steven R. Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N.C., weigh in on important gaps in dermatology research today.

Research has become much more sophisticated in recent decades; however, gaps remain in the understanding of how to treat common problems, like warts, researchers say.

Earring dermatitis at the site of a pierced earring can be due to many different factors. It is important to rule out nickel dermatitis and recommend the use of high quality yellow gold earrings.

New topical antifungal treatments provide better penetration and efficacy than their predecessors, says an expert.

Advanced BCC may be more common in elderly patients but many cannot tolerate surgery or radiation. Many elderly patients have comorbidities and limitations that limit therapeutic options for aBCC. Vismodegib and other medications that are under study are novel options to help manage their aBCC.

The antipsychotic drug ziprasidone is associated with rare but potentially fatal skin reactions, the FDA announced December 11, 2014.

Text messages improve compliant use of prescription medications, according to new research from Queen Mary University of London. More than just a reminder, the texts provided the link to identify patients who needed help, the author notes.

The recently announced acquisition of Allergan Inc. by Actavis means the Irvine, Calif.-based maker of Botox will no longer be the target of a hostile takeover by Canadian firm Valeant Pharmaceuticals-which in turn means Allergan’s research-and-development programs will continue unabated.

New topical and systemic medications are being developed specifically for atopic dermatitis (AD). New guidelines of care for the management of AD are being issued by the American Academy of Dermatology, and ongoing research in other areas may change the approach to AD management in the future. Meanwhile, strategies are needed to combat steroid phobia.

The presence of biofilm in wounds makes wound care increasingly complex, and dressings need to be designed to penetrate through biofilm.

In an experimental model, the investigational NDV-3 vaccine appears to mobilize the immune system to fight methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin infections, a recent study indicates.

Carrie Kovarik, M.D., associate professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, talks about the nuances of making teledermatology work, what the future may hold, and how to get involved if you’re interested.

Carrie Kovarik, M.D., associate professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, talks about her path into teldermatology and best practices she has learned from her research and involvement in telemedicine.

Melanoma is a genetically heterogeneous condition that will likely result in more diversified clinical management in the future.

Therapeutic delivery is an important research focus. Better drug delivery has the potential to enhance skin penetration, make drugs more tolerable, and increase compliance.

Getting patients to use their prescriptions is another story-one that's shockingly understudied in dermatology. Just what works to improve medication adherence has stumped researchers outside dermatology. Several studies are cited.

This is a challenging time for researchers-especially younger, less established investigators, one expert says. He offers several tips to fellow junior investigators.

Reducing medical errors requires taking a structured approach that includes teamwork, communication and tools to help eliminate bias and oversights, experts say.

Adam DeGraide, CEO of Crystal Clearl Digital Marketing, interviews Reza Sadrian, M.D., of Sadrian Plastic Surgery in San Diego, Calif., who discusses the power of a patient's story as a marketing tool and how his practice is sharing these stories online in a very effective and practical way.

Directing a medspa might seem like an easy way to make money. After all, it’s a no-brainer for many dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons who perform cosmetic procedures day in and day out. But that’s not reality, experts say. Here’s what they say you need to know before signing on.

Dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons who direct medical spas assume responsibility for all procedures performed. While it can be a financially rewarding career move, many physician and nonphysician medspa owners may be operating these facilities illegally and not know it.

Heidi Waldorf, M.D., provided her formula for great filler results. One key to avoiding upset patients is rejecting unsuitable ones, she noted. She also pointed to patient behaviors that should raise red flags.