News

When it comes to choosing topical agents for treating acne, separating fact from fiction can be challenging for dermatologists.

Studies suggest that a more aggressive approach to neck tightening procedures yields better results. Patients can experience significant pain and edema from these procedures that may require prescription medications to treat. The procedures cost thousands of dollars, raising questions about whether they're worth the cost for patients.

Many different types of peels are available to successfully treat a wide variety of skin conditions. Instances of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) that develop after healing of peel or laser treatments may require additional management. Attendance at workshops and use of prepackaged kits can help derms gain confidence in providing peel treatments to patients.

Emerging treatments are expected to help fill the need for safer and more effective therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD). Both systemic and topical treatments are needed to provide full and complete treatment for patients with AD. Targeting the specific axis or axes that control AD may contribute to developing personalized approaches to treatment

TNF inhibitors adalimumab and infliximab have evidence-based efficacy for the treatment of hidradentitis suppurativa (HS). Anti-interleukin inhibitors ustekinumab and anakinra also being evaluated in small studies for treatment of HS. Antibiotics, hormones, retinoids, steroids and laser therapies directly targeting the lesions round out an effective treatment plan for HS patients.

Biosimilars have the potential to lower the high costs of biologic treatments for patients suffering from chronic skin diseases. Although biosimilars have received FDA approval derms still have many questions about what they are and when they may be used appropriately. Patent wars and a lack of rules and regulations at the state level add to the confusion about using biosimilars.

Laser and light source treatments target many of the most common skin conditions that dermatologists encounter. The recent expansion in laser dermatology is both promising and exciting as the treatments available to derms and their patients continue to grow. New technologies are taking laser and light source treatments in new directions of skin structure imaging, epidermal harvesting, tissue rejuvenation, and new types of photodynamic therapies.

This month we’re looking at some allergy guideline recommendations, discuss whether or not ‘natural’ soap is milder and novel immunomodulaters.

Alexander Miller, MD, a dermatologist in Yorba Linda, Calif., has a simple message for colleagues grappling with the new ICD-10 codes: Don't panic!

A panel of veteran dermatologists tackled the topic of difficult patients at the 2016 CalDerm Symposium and offered some tips for successfully dealing with these patients.

After a sudden urge to tidy up his office, Dr. Ronald G. Wheeland developed another urge to figure out what to do with his old dermatology books and journals.

It is important to note that where there are two or more recognized methods of diagnosing or treating the same condition, a physician does not fall below the standard of care by using any of the acceptable methods even if one method turns out to be less effective than another method.

Dr. Mark Lebwohl talks about the FDA’s approval of the anti-interleukin-17 receptor monoclonal antibody brodalumab (Siliq, Valeant Pharmaceuticals) for treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

There has been recent concern about the safety of parabens as they are the most frequently used preservative in skin care products today

Providing safe products that consumers can use with confidence requires preservatives. However, the concept of preservation is not unique to skin care products.

Many skin care products are now advertising the “paraben-free” claim, however the parabens must be replaced with another preservative.

Safety concerns over parabens arose because they mimic estrogen by binding to estrogen receptors.

No one is really sure what constitutes a natural skin care product, since all ingredients are natural to the earth!

In skin of color, psoriasis can be tough to spot, and it carries a broader differential diagnosis. Darker-skinned patients may not know that they can develop psoriasis, or the importance of seeking treatment early.

Available resources of the Center include human pathology specimens and database info on living consented patients. Techniques such as tissue imaging, gene expression analysis, T-cell receptor, sequencing studies, and CyTOF analyses are available. Visiting Scholar grants funds allow researchers to learn how to work with human tissue and how to use new techniques.

Being able to predict which patients will respond to which treatments will help dermatologists in treating psoriasis, preventing progression to psoriatic arthritis and reducing comorbidities.

PDT is underutilized as field treatment for AKs. An expert pushes for two to three hours' incubation time in her clinic and suggests efficacy-elevating pretreatment of lesions.

A new research center makes a database of five million human pathology specimens and 22,000 living consented patients, all searchable by diagnoses, as well as cutting edge human analytic techniques available to anyone interested in carrying out translational skin disease research on human cells and tissues.

Taking the sting and stress out of dermatologic procedures requires low-tech distraction techniques and, often in the case of children, amusing apps.

Knowing the genetic basis of monogenic skin diseases may one day help dermatologists treat non-monogenic skin diseases as well.

CMS' meaningful use program for electronic health records (EHRs) has morphed into the Advancing Care Information (ACI) initiative, which loosens restrictions for earning EHR bonuses.

Promising new treatments recently approved or under development for atopic dermatitis include crisaborole, JAK inhibitors and dupilumab, an expert said.

Important recent publications from mainstream medical journals highlight the following: Automobile side windows do not block UV radiation well; An adjuvant herpes zoster vaccine works as well in patients over 70 years old as it did in the 50-plus age group; The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine dosing based on actual, not ideal, weight.

A recent pediatric allergy study spells out how to safely introduce peanuts to high-risk (and other) children. Another study suggests that melatonin may have immunomodulatory effects in AD.

The American Academy of Dermatology kicks off March 3. Follow here for updates on advancements in clinical dermatology.