News

I can't tell you how many wonderful things I've heard from medical administrators and non-physician consultants that will result from the adoption of the electronic medical record (EMR). But like most of us, I've been taught to believe that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Repetitive same-day treatment with a nanosecond pulsed, Q-switched laser increases tattoo ink clearance and is safe, but the magnitude of improvement does not appear to increase linearly with the number of treatments, reported Suzanne L. Kilmer, M.D., at LASER 2012, the 32nd annual American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery conference.

Dermatologist Rashmi Sarkar, M.D., doesn't see the more than 7,000 miles separating her home country from the United States as a networking obstacle. In fact, she has taken a special interest in bringing the worlds of dermatology in India and America together.

Your employees are your practice's single most significant expense category, but they are also one of its greatest assets. A highly productive workforce is essential to ensure your dermatology practice runs effectively. That said, there may still be ways to decrease - or at least keep the lid on - staffing costs without reducing efficiency or service quality.

How many times weekly does the dermatologist get asked about nail splitting? A lot. Most patients ask about fancy vitamins and nail polishes that claim to improve nail health. Remember that nail health is an appearance claim without substantiation, as the nonliving nails really cannot be healthy because they are dead!

Two important Washington developments regarding sunscreen have taken place this summer, but neither will do much to help adults who need guidance in protecting themselves during this year's sunbathing season. Early in May, the Food and Drug Administration announced it is delaying until December implementation of new sunscreen rules that had been scheduled to take effect in June.

Merz has announced that James P. Hartman has been appointed vice president, medical dermatology, effective June 12, 2012. Mr. Hartman will be responsible for the company’s medical and OTC/OTX dermatology business unit, which includes Naftin (naftifine hydrochloride) and Mederma.

Doug Ulman, president and CEO of LIVESTRONG, has been appointed to Provectus Pharmaceuticals’ Corporate Advisory Board.

Stiefel and Welichem Biotech have entered into an agreement for Stiefel’s acquisition of exclusive development and commercialization rights to the nonsteroidal, topical anti-inflammatory agent, WBI-1001, in all territories outside of China, Taiwan, Macao and Hong Kong.

We have consulted with thousands of doctors in all specialties during our combined 35+ years in practice. From this experience, we have become intimately familiar with how most physicians build their financial plans (what we call “wealth plans”). Too often, they have ignored the most important factor in a sophisticated long-term plan - flexibility.

The product development pipeline will deliver game-changing injectable fat treatments in the very near future, according to one dermatologist.

A single intracellular molecule, activator protein-1 (AP-1), appears to initiate the signaling cascade for vascular remodeling that results in varicose veins. Assuming that these findings on the mechanisms of the disease in a mouse model translate into humans, they offer new targets for therapeutic intervention that go beyond current surgical options, a researcher says.

Use of combination therapy as a means to improve efficacy and minimize toxicity is a well-accepted principle in medicine. As it applies to the management of psoriasis, the results of multiple studies support the value of combination topical therapy with a vitamin D analogue and corticosteroid, said two speakers at the 2012 Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference.

Drugmakers American Medical Systems and Allergan will be jointly developing and seeking regulatory approval for a version of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) using the JetTouch system to treat overactive bladder.

Lauding his years of service and contributions, the National Psoriasis Foundation awarded its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award to Mark G. Lebwohl, M.D., professor and chairman of dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.

The International Psoriasis Council is encouraging cooperation among researchers and seeks to further the study of the genetic basis of psoriasis, according to a report published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Investigators from the University of California, San Diego, have isolated a molecule that may assist in clearing psoriasis and improve wound healing.

Pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, based here, has agreed to purchase new eczema treatment Toctino (alitretinoin) for a reported $300 million.

Nearly 75 percent of adults in the U.S. ages 18 to 29 agree with the statement, “Sun exposure is good for your health,” according to results of a survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology.

Head lice may be growing resistant to the insecticide permethrin, French researchers say.

Psoriasis may be a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a new study suggests.

Scientists at Singapore Immunology Network say they have determined the origin of a group of immune cells in the skin that act as the first line of defense against harmful germs and skin infections.

A new study has found vismodegib to be effective in shrinking and preventing the formation of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in patients with basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS).

Researchers in India report they have developed a radiation spot treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) that destroys facial tumors without surgery or major radiation therapy in 80 percent of patients in a small study.

Results of a new study suggest the diameter of most slow-growing melanomas changes very little over time, but that the lesions can become more disorganized, less structured and change or develop new colors.

New research could clarify the long-held “soil and seed” organ-specific metastasis theory that different cancerous tumor types spread only to specific, preferred organs.

Researchers from the Henry Ford Health System suggest transplants of healthy skin from a patient’s own body can improve discoloration caused by vitiligo.

Teens whose acne is treated with isotretinoin may face twice the risk of eye infections, including conjunctivitis and styes, researchers say.

Sun Exposure : Despite increased warnings, people continue to tan at an alarming rate. Why aren’t they receiving the message? Lessons in Lyme disease : Researchers plan clinical trial to investigate treatment for post-infection chronic inflammation Clinical Dermatology : Newly approved microwave device zaps hyperhidrosis Cosmetic Dermatology : Tips and tricks to manage hair growth Cutaneous Oncology : SLNB is appropriate for some thin melanomas Practice Management : Stop embezzlement in your practice before it starts Special Report : Psychodermatology

Acne patients live with more psychological distress than the published numbers would have you believe, according to an expert who is both a dermatologist and a psychologist.