Ilya Petrou, M.D.

Meningococcal infection is a common cause of purpura fulminans, followed by anticoagulant use, malignancy and connective tissue disease. After ruling out these etiologies, suspect autoimmune diseases and/or the medications used to treat these diseases as a possible cause of purpura fulminans secondary to antiphospholipid syndrome, an expert says.

According to a recent study, the application of a specially formulated skincare system used before and after the electrodesiccation and curettage of superficial basal cell carcinomas proves to assist in wound healing and ultimately achieve better cosmetic results.

Off-label use of imiquimod proves extremely effective for nodular and morpheiform BCCs as well as SCCs, arecent study indicates. According to one expert, long-term immune modulation therapy with imiquimod can significantly benefit patients with chronic actinic dysplasias and skin tumors.

Sweet's syndrome is not always a straightforward diagnosis, especially when extracutaneous manifestations dominate the initial clinical picture. According to one expert, a careful history and an open mind are key in reaching a quick and accurate diagnosis.

A newly formulated topical therapy appears to be significantly effective and well-tolerated in patients suffering from primary focal hyperhidrosis. The modified formulation offers a therapeutic option to patients who fail other topical therapies for their condition and/or where other treatment avenues are not an option.

Whether performing a chemical peel, a dermabrasion or a shave excision, just how deep can a derm surgeon go before crossing the rubicon of scar tissue formation? What is the critical depth at which a scar will form within the skin following a procedure in the skin? A recent study was able to define this critical dermal depth of no-return, making physicians more savvy to the cosmetic thorn known as fibrous scar tissue, helping them predict cosmetic outcomes prior to the intervention itself.

According to a recent study, there is a possible link between lichen sclerosus and psoriasis. Data show that female patients with lichen sclerosus of the vulva have a higher prevalence of developing psoriasis, compared to the expected rate in the general population.

Dermatologic disease has a proven detrimental effect on the psyche of patients and according to one expert, the resulting mental disorders are grossly under-diagnosed.

Climate change and increased UV radiation that reaches our skin can have detrimental effects on our skin in terms of UV damage that may likely lead to an increase in pre-cancerous and cancerous skin lesions. According to one expert physicist, it is important for physicians to know just at what level and why there is an increase in UV radiation that is causing many more people to visit their dermatologist.

It may seem like a heretical statement, but the fact is that the physician is not saving the patient's life by treating actinic keratoses.

Cutaneous metastasis from an internal malignancy is estimated to occur in 1 percent to 9 percent of patients with cancer.

Washington - Chemical peels have become a mainstay in cosmetic dermatology practices.

Washington - Dermatologists have a variety of technologies at their disposal for achieving skin rejuvenation, including lasers and light devices.

Victoria, Australia - Acne is the most common disease that dermatologists treat, affecting approximately 80 percent of adolescents.

Toronto - Autologous fat transplantation, long recognized as a simple, effective technique for filling facial wrinkles and frown lines, is fast becoming the most frequently used technique for perioral rejuvenation, according to David A. Sherris, M.D.

Dr. Toro says that patients with TRAPS generally do not respond to treatment with colchicine. They respond to high-dose corticosteroids, but long-term side effects limit their use.

Berlin - Fine-tuning the botulinum toxin injection techniques and tailoring these techniques to each patient individually requires attention to certain details, and is the key to successful outcomes, according to one expert.

Ambient humidity influenced the rate of skin barrier maturation in extremely preterm infants.

National report - Experienced dermatologists would agree that some dermatoses are easier to treat than others.

The various types of this multi-etiologic disease can be categorized as septal, lobular or a combination of septal and lobular panniculitis.

Choosing the right light source when treating skin of color can help avoid unwanted post-treatment hypo- and hyperpigmentation changes, and is key to a positive cosmetic outcome.

The validation of biomarkers is one of the important goals of microarray studies

Kohala Coast, Kona Island, Hawaii - Despite years of relentless research efforts, melanoma remains the only major cancer in the United States that is still increasing, a fact exacerbated by a treatment modality controversy.

A positive sentinel node was the most important prognostic factor in the biopsy group.

National report - A Contour Threads (Surgical Specialties) lift offers a simple, safe, effective and cheaper alternative in face lifting procedures with minimal downtime, as compared with the traditional facelift, one expert tells Dermatology Times.

The disadvantages (of using long-acting fillers) are that any mistakes made by the physician are cosmetically punishable because of the permanent defect caused to the patient.

National report - Contrary to popular belief, all lip augmentation procedures are not created equal.

Palm Springs, Calif. - Botox (botulinum toxin type A, Allergan) offers patients with moderate-to-severe glabellar lines longer lasting efficacy and greater treatment satisfaction compared with those patients treated with Dysport (botulinum toxin type A, Ipsen Limited), according to one expert.

For dermatologic purposes, Dr. Gordon administers GH intramuscularly or subcutaneously when treating scars, wrinkles, wounds and similar defects.

Toronto - There are numerous procedures and techniques at the disposal of the surgeon for addressing the aging perioral features, according to Ross A. Clevens M.D., F.A.C.S., head plastic surgeon at The Center for Facial Cosmetic Surgery in Melbourne, Merritt Island, Fla. He discussed different techniques on how to best rejuvenate and sculpt the aging perioral complex region, at the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, here.