News

A two-drug combination for metastatic melanoma reduced the odds of progression by 60 percent, demonstrating more effectiveness than monotherapy, according to researchers.

Surgeons at Johns Hopkins University Hospital have successfully transplanted a new ear on a Maryland woman who lost her original ear to an aggressive form of basal cell carcinoma.

Mailings about sun protection improved sun-protective behaviors compared to those of a control group, according to a recent study.

Stress appears to be strongly linked with a higher risk of atopic dermatitis, according to a recent study.

Actress Cynthia Nixon, best known for her role as Miranda Hobbes in the hit series “Sex and the City,” spoke to dermatologists about her experience with rosacea as part of the Face to Face with Rosacea Symposium at the 2012 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference on Oct. 4.

Most leg vein treatments are less complex than dermatologists may think, and polidocanol makes such treatments more efficient than ever, an expert says.

A growing knowledge of facial anatomy is driving ongoing refinements in filler strategies and techniques, says Allan S. Wirtzer, M.D., a Sherman Oaks, Calif., dermatologist in private practice.

Promising developments in antiviral therapies include potential vaccines and treatments for herpes simplex and herpes zoster, said Stephen K. Tyring, M.D., Ph.D., at the 2012 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.

The most exciting news regarding photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves a new study showing significant results in treating acne, says the study’s primary investigator.

Achieving optimal surgical closures begins long before - and ends well after - the procedure, says Roger I. Ceilley, M.D., an Iowa dermatologist in private practice and clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Iowa, Iowa City.

Coding-related changes exerting the most impact on dermatologists involve National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline changes and increasing numbers of Medicare contractor audits, according to Brett Coldiron, M.D.

When considering prophylactic antibiotics in dermatologic surgery, knowing what to do can be as important as knowing what not to do.

New treatments that are currently impacting the field of dermatology address diseases ranging from skin cancers to cold sores, said Mark Lebwohl, M.D., at the 2012 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Sorilux Foam 0.005 percent for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis of the scalp.

Medical students can better identify and diagnose skin cancer after learning how to use a dermatoscope, researchers have found.

Patients with severe psoriasis who were treated systemically with biologic agents or methotrexate had a lower combined risk of death, myocardial infarction and stroke, according to the results of a recent study.

The use of polyalkylimide filler in patients with HIV-related facial lipoatrophy is associated with a high risk of infectious complications, which can occur years after treatment, according to a recent study.

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When using fillers in the glabella, "The big concern is vascular compromise, which can lead to necrosis. We certainly hope this won't happen to our patients and us. But it's important to be prepared,"

Treating severe atopic dermatitis presents numerous hurdles for patients and doctors alike. Many patients with severe atopic dermatitis disease have tried and failed numerous treatments in the past; part of the challenge is regaining their trust in medicine, says Peter Lio, M.D., a dermatologist in practice in Chicago and clinical assistant professor of dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.

The length of time to wait following sunscreen application before entering the sun is controversial.

There is not enough evidence to conclude that exposure to animals in childhood confers protection from atopic dermatitis or other atopic conditions, according to the chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego.

Key cosmeceutical developments include the advent of safe, effective hand sanitizers, as well as a deeper understanding of the basic science of the human body, according to Zoe Draelos, M.D., who spoke on the topic at the 2012 summer meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Options for topical treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs) are increasing, but in choosing a management approach, dermatologists should keep in mind that AKs are a premalignant condition, and the ultimate goal of therapy is prevention of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Field treatment is the key to managing the entire disease, says Neal Bhatia, M.D.

Even though dermatology is the oldest medical specialty, there are probably more unanswered questions in the field than in other specialties because we can visualize our organ of study 24/7. Thus, more observations can be made, allowing the formulation of more questions to answer. Patients probably ask more casual questions of spouses, family members and physicians regarding their skin than any other organ, as well.

Patients who undergo a solid organ transplant procedure have an alarmingly higher incidence of skin cancers compared to the general population. Special care and management strategies involving a multidisciplinary approach are warranted in this group, says Mich?l O'Donoghue, M.D., a dermatologist in private practice in Oak Brook, Ill.

Current strategies for minimizing bruising associated with filler injections include considering introducing cannulas in some areas, discontinuing certain vitamins and herbal remedies and potentially avoiding certain needle techniques, says Joel L. Cohen, M.D.

Many treatment regimens are available and customizable to meet the individualized needs of adult female patients with acne, according to Diane S. Berson, M.D., who practices in New York. And several key factors differentiate adult female acne patients from males.

As research and clinical experience continue to underscore differences between the three neuromodulators available in the United States, picking a product for a given clinical situation rests largely upon individual preference, according to Joel L. Cohen, M.D., who spoke earlier this year at MauiDerm 2012: Advances in Cosmetic and Medical Dermatology.

For common dermatologic conditions such as acne, warts and eczema, classical individualized homeopathic medicine can provide a safe, inexpensive and nontoxic alternative or adjunctive treatment, said Robert J. Signore, D.O., at the 2012 American Academy of Dermatology Summer Academy Meeting.