News

New Orleans - A recently introduced high-dose targeted ultraviolet B light system (BClear, Lumenis Inc.) combines traditional UVB light therapy with fiberoptic delivered light technology for the treatment of localized plaque psoriasis and vitiligo.

New Orleans - In the treatment of onychomycosis, terbinafine (Lamisil) offers better short-term and long-term efficacy relative to other oral antifungal agents, Bernard J. Cribier, M.D., Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Gainesville, Fla. - One medication approved for gum disease appears to be effective against moderate facial acne at sub-antimicrobial doses given over six months.

Lathering agents called sodium sulfates get a bad rap from those whothink they could be carcinogenic. Regardless, extra-cautious hair washersdon't have to go suds-free. New haircare lines ditch the sulfates completely,using sugar and coconut-oil extracts to create foam. Self, May 2002

I will never forget one of my female patients who had a neurogenic bladder.She was using disposable catheters for self-intermittent catheterizationand called our office to obtain a box of them. My nurse told her that wehad the catheters and that she would bring the box out to the patient'scar if she would call from her cell phone when she was in front of the building.The nurse also mentioned the cost of the catheters, according to our officepolicy to charge for durable medical goods.

Las Vegas - Destruction of veins by a sharp-tipped needle maybe a more effective approach to leg telangiectasias than sclerotherapy,according to Linda Woodson, M.D. She views this new modality as an appropriatestrategy for sites that have been resistant to sclerotherapy, rather thanas a first-line therapy.

New York ­­ A few procedural developments stood out amongmyriad presentations at the 8 th International Symposium of Facial PlasticSurgery, according to sources.

Future of wound healing lies in gene therapy and target-specific deliveryof therapeutic agents in high concentrations

Problems exacerbate when patients, doctor falsely believe diagnosis isless serious than it actually is

New Orleans - Studies have shown that the local lymph node assay(LLNA) in mice can be used to provide quantitative estimates of the relativeskin sensitizing potency of various product ingredients, and these valuescorrelate closely with what is known of the ability of chemicals to causeskin sensitization in humans, G. Frank Gerberick, Ph.D., said at the annualAmerican Academy of Dermatology meeting.

Kenilworth, N.J. - Clarinex, a new systemic drug for treatmentof urticaria (hives), has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA), according to Schering-Plough, the drug's manufacturer.

Complaints of pruritis from patients may be neuropathic in origin and will not be relieved with conventional treatment modalities

Senior prescription drug costs could hit $1.8 trillion over next 10 years,meaning benefit covering half would entail spending some $900 billion

When hair removal manufacturer introduces newer, safer product, can oldermodel exist in same market or is it then considered defective, outdated

Kenilworth, N.J. - Clarinex, a new systemic drug for treatmentof urticaria (hives), has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA), according to Schering-Plough, the drug's manufacturer.

Irvine, Calif. - Turf battles over who should administer botulinumtoxin injections erupted within the first month after the April 15 FDA approvalof Botox Cosmetic.

Complaints of pruritis from patients may be neuropathic in origin andwill not be relieved with conventional treatment modalities

New Orleans - Bexarotene gel (Targretin) appears to be both effective and well tolerated for long-term use in early-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, according to a poster presentation at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting.

New Orleans - Clobetasol propionate and betamethasone valerate in a foam vehicle are effective for the treatment of acne keloidalis nuchae and have the advantage of better cosmetic acceptability compared with other formulations of topical steroids, Valerie D. Callender, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

New Orleans - Dose rather than duration of therapy appears to be the important factor for achieving favorable cure rates using oral terbinafine (Lamisil) for the treatment of tinea capitis, Sheila Fallon Friedlander, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

New Orleans - Calciphylaxis can be a confusing condition, Madhu Dahiya, M.D. said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Previewing what may become routine in a few years, researchers have used genetic profiling to evaluate efficacy and adverse effects of a drug undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of psoriasis.

New Orleans - Topical tazarotene gel 0.1 percent (Tazorac) can improve the appearance of epidermal nevi and may be worthwhile to consider as an effective and generally well-tolerated modality in children with lesions that are large and present in cosmetically important areas, or for patients who do not wish to have surgery,

New Orleans - A new 585nm pulsed dye laser (C-Beam, Candela Corp.)introduced at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatologyaddresses the needs of patients with hypertrophic scars or psoriasis.

Optimal vehicles and occlusion are two important factors in deliveringefficacious and reliable topical anesthesia. Any addition that helps topicalanesthetic penetrate the skin improves efficacy.

New Orleans - Selecting an appropriate topical anesthetic agent requires a knowledge of the biochemistry and mechanisms of action of these agents to ensure efficacy and a quick onset of action, Christopher J. Arpey, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

New Orleans - Chronic wound healing can be enhanced through a variety of products that encompass systemic agents such as pentoxifylline and aspirin to tissue-engineered skin and growth factors that stimulate healing, according to Robert S. Kirsner, MD.

New Orleans - Management of skin cancer in organ transplant recipientspresents numerous challenges, but there are also many opportunities fornew approaches that will improve the care of these patients, Clark C. Otley,M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

General symptoms, pain, burning reduced with reports of only minimal side effects

Patients say disease has moderate to large impact on lives, including sleep problems