News

A new government study suggests costs related to nonmelanoma skin cancer and melanoma treatment have skyrocketed relative to other cancers, increasing by 126 percent to more than $8 billion.

Several weeks ago an editorial appeared in our local newspaper. The basic premise of this editorial is that we doctors aren’t doing enough “to control healthcare costs.” This is in spite of the availability of an $840 million grant program under the ACA “to teach Medicare and Medicaid doctors new ways to offer higher-quality, better-coordinated, more cost-effective care.” From my experience as a practicing dermatologist in both academics and private practice, I have always felt that the specialty of dermatology was extremely cost effective while delivering high quality care to our patients. Providing high quality healthcare at a reasonable cost is not only incredibly difficult but also extremely complex.

Although every scar tells a story, it is a tale better spoken by the dermatologist and plastic surgeon who can help to reduce its appearance. To do so, physicians today are using improved protocols in laser treatment and beyond.

Scientific findings indicate that people need to do more to protect their skin from the sun and must now also begin thinking about the damaging effects of exposure to pollution. Topical applications of antioxidants and DNA repair enzymes have potential to be helpful tools, according to an expert who spoke at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

All medical practices need to realize they are vulnerable to information security breaches. Mobile devices that house sensitive patient information can easily be lost or stolen, and practices should take steps to reduce risks by performing a risk assessment and identifying potential “leaks.”

A newly discovered subpopulation of melanoma cancer cells may lead to the development of more effective cancer therapies.

Learn more about erosive pustular dermatitis

So you have surrounded yourself with a solid team. How do you continue to coax the best of your employees’ attributes and enrich their growth as staff members? Some fellow dermatologists weigh in.

An 82-year-old man has been complaining of oozing sores on his scalp for over 3 years. He has been treated extensively with liquid nitrogen.

The accurate diagnosis of erosive pustular dermatosis is necessary to ensure appropriate management of the condition.

Injectable fillers can correct the volume loss and provide support for the underlying tissues, meaning that fewer horizontal forehead wrinkles develop when someone raises her eyebrows, according to an expert who spoke at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Both common and uncommon causes of diaper dermatitis have to be recognized in order to develop an effective plan to treat diaper dermatitis, a condition that is highly frequent in infants, according to a staff physician in pediatric dermatology at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.

An unscientific survey of 159 Mohs dermatologic surgeons finds that many don’t fully understand the ramifications of healthcare reform spawned by the Affordable Care Act, according to a speaker who presented the findings Saturday at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Google Glass technology can be useful as a hands-free camera/video recorder, as well as for live-streaming of techniques and approaches. And it can transmit live video to an in-office iPad so patients can view hard-to-reach areas or even watch their own surgical procedures, according to an abstract presented this weekend at the 2014 ASDS Annual Meeting.

Microwave-based technology designed to eliminate axillary hyperhidrosis - excessively sweaty armpits - turns out to be an effective treatment to remove unwanted armpit hair, according to an abstract released at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Careful preoperative photography, a 10-minute anesthetic rule and old-fashioned magnifying loupes are crucial to successful eyelid grafts, according to an expert who spoke Friday at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

If approved for use, sodium deoxycholate (ATX-101) will create a new market in terms of how we think about fat and facial aesthetics, Adam M. Rotunda, M.D., FACMS, a diplomate with the American Board of Dermatology told Dermatology Times at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery this weekend.

HIPAA-compliant online surveys are convenient, and the results help Todd Schlesinger, M.D., F.A.A.D., of the Dermatology & Laser Center of Charleston, identify areas that need improvement. Positive comments can be used as testimonials and increase the awareness of the services his practice offers, he told attendees at this weekend's 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery.

Treatments for acne scars are improving rapidly, although complete fixes remain impossible and repairs require long-term treatment planning and management, according to a speaker Friday at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Greg Goodman, M.D., of The Dermatology Institute of Victoria in Australia, offered attendees tips and takeaways for treating scars.

“It works, it’s very natural, and so far it seems to be permanent with no side effects. It’s currently the benchmark treatment in our clinic,” Alastair Carruthers, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., a clinical professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, told attendees at the Leadership in Innovation Lecture during the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

A European study’s preliminary findings suggest that psoriasis treatments with Daivobet gel (calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate, LEO Pharma) result in significant improvement in disease severity and patient preference.

Responses to a recent survey indicate that the public’s perception of what dermatologists actually do falls significantly short of reality.

New research looking at the psychological impact from psoriasis reveals key themes about how the skin disease affects people’s identity and relationships.

A Pittsburgh-based national health insurance provider will be the first health insurer in the United States to cover teledermatology. Highmark will reimburse begin reimbursing for online services provided through DermatologistOnCall starting Jan. 1.

Laser treatments are rapidly becoming the standard of care for a wide variety of scars, according to an expert who spoke Thursday at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Supermodel-turned-super mogul, Kathy Ireland, urged attendees at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery to think of themselves as brands that must be promoted. She offered takeaways on what it means to be a brand and how to successfully manage your brand.

Lasers can be used in novel ways to treat skin conditions such as port wine stains, unwanted eyeliner tattoos and bruising, according to an expert who spoke Thursday at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Heidi Waldorf, M.D., director of Laser & Cosmetic Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City offered attendees at ASDS 2014 her office's best practices for keeping patients satisfied and staff happy.