Aesthetics

Washington - Today's photoepilation is as individualized as the patient being treated, and it is up to the dermatologist to determine the appropriate laser system for each case, according to Elizabeth L. Tanzi, M.D.

Las Vegas - Dermatologists can look forward to an explosion in available filler materials for soft tissue augmentation, said Rhoda S. Narins, M.D., at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.

San Francisco - With a host of fillers and ablative techniques available to dermatologists, clinicians should exercise a variety of options to meet the short-term and long-term goals of their patients who want to treat their aging skin.

Tucker, Ga. - Three mechanisms are purported to induce cutaneous malignancies: initiating events, promotional effects, and effects on the immune system, according to Kathleen J. Smith, M.D., from Quest Diagnostics.

Washington, D.C. - Hair transplants can appear very natural now that they can be performed using micrografts and natural follicular grouping that occurs in the scalp, according to Marc R. Avram, MD, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Washington, D.C. - With a handful of new options expected to receive FDA approval within a year, the field of tissue augmentation stands poised to undergo a seismic shift. "The bottom line is, tissue augmentation is about to change dramatically," said Mariano E. Busso, M.D. He is clinical professor in the University of Miami's department of dermatology, chief of dermatology at Mercy Hospital, also in Miami, Fla., and a private practitioner who is board-certified in dermatology.

Washington -- When it comes to photoprotection, people expect too much from sunscreens.

Washington, D.C. - Tacrolimus and pimecrolimus may spring to mind first when atopic dermatitis is diagnosed, but it turns out that these topical immunomodulators are also effective for a host of previously difficult-to-treat diseases. Granuloma faciale, Hailey Hailey disease, hand and foot eczema and chromic actinic dermatitis are among the lengthy list of conditions these work well for, according to Mark Lebwohl, M.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of Dermatology, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine.

Washington D.C.- New concepts in the management of ulcerations as well as new treatments and dressings have emerged, Mark D. P. Davis, M.D., said.

Las Vegas -- New options for the treatment of actinic keratoses allow dermatologists to tailor therapy according to patient needs and the lesion characteristics, said Roger I. Ceilley, M.D., at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.

A recent two-year study in Florida indicated that patients were 10 times more likely to suffer complications, even death, if their surgery was performed in an office settingrather than an ambulatory surgical center.

San Diego - Tissue glues and sealants can reduce recovery time by as much as 10 days, according to Neal R. Reisman, M.D. "In surgical procedures from facelifts to mastectomies, using some form of a tissue glue or a sealant saves as much as a week to 10 days of recovery," said Dr. Reisman, clinical associate professor, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine.

Las Vegas - As consumer interest escalates in wrinkle-reducing cosmetics with antioxidants, precautions should be taken to minimize adverse events caused by cosmeceuticals.

New Orleans - The cosmetically engaged dermatologist has to pay attention to trends in botulinum use, according to Jean Carruthers, M.D. Dr. Carruthers and her husband, Alistair, introduced the neurotoxin for treatment of frown lines at the 1991 meeting of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons. The society embraced the born-again toxin and now, peering into 2004, predicts that it will prick through new frontiers. These include: enhancing upper lip fullness, treating enlarged masseter muscles, contouring the mandible area of the lower face, and eliminating multiple benign cystic lesions of the face.

The long-term effects of injecting acryl facial-filler materials into the face that often cannot be removed without surgical intervention is an issue that deserves serious consideration by physicians and patients. Injecting foreign bodies under the skin can have potential adverse side effects. Some steps can be taken to avoid their presentation.

Las Vegas ?? New options for the treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs) allow dermatologists to tailor therapy according to patient needs and the lesion characteristics, said Roger I. Ceilley, M.D., at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.

New York -- Now that hair transplant technology has advanced to the point where women with female-pattern baldness can expect as good results as men, one would think dermatologists would be quick to embrace the procedure for their many female patients who are devastated by hair loss.

Las Vegas - Whether patients seek treatment of problem veins and vascular lesions for cosmetic or medical reasons, dermatologists have many tools at their disposal that offer alternatives to hospital-based procedures, said Margaret Weiss, M.D., who is in private practice at the Maryland Laser, Skin & Vein Institute and Dermatology Associates, Hunt Valley, Md.

Quantel Medical is conducting a worldwide clinical study on the Aramis Er:Glass 1.54 micron laser to treat inflammatory acne.

Genital ulcer disease symptoms increase during and after acquiring HIV, say researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Rakia in Uganda.

Washington - The FDA advisory panel reviewing Hylaform and Restylane, the newest upstarts in the battle against wrinkles and scars, recommended each for approval, with conditions, by a 6-3 vote November 21.

The choice of injectable fillers that have been approved or are coming up for approval by the FDA is growing almost daily. From temporary materials such as Collagen and Restylane to longer-lasting substances such as Artecoll and Radiance, an array of products to augment the soft tissue in the face will soon be available from which patients can choose.

New Orleans - Jean and Alistair Carruthers, M.D.s, who , in 1991, introduced botulinum for treatment of frown lines second American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons (ASDS) predictions of the neurotoxin's widening role in 2004. These include: enhancing upper lip fullness, treating enlarged masseter muscles, contouring the mandible area of the lower face, and eliminating multiple benign cystic lesions of the face. Dr. Jean Carruthers confirmed the society's predictions and appended her own.

New Orleans - As more fillers for soft tissue augmentation become available, dermatologic surgeons will need to consider carefully the risks and benefits of each while keeping in mind the many questions that remain to be answered about these new materials, said Murad Alam, M.D., at the annual joint meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery/American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology.

New Orleans -- The Facial Lipo-Lift, a new technique combining modifications of facial and neck tumescent liposculpture with a short scar facelift, provides a safe, effective, minimally invasive alternative to a traditional facelift, said Greg S. Morganroth, M.D.

Las Vegas -- The landscape of dermatologic diseases manifested by HIV-positive (HIV+) patients has changed in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), said Clay J. Cockerell, M.D., at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.

Las Vegas -- Recent innovations in topical therapies are providing valuable alternatives for the management of some challenging dermatologic conditions, said Mark Lebwohl, M.D., at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.

For the second time in two years, lawmakers have created federal tax cuts designed to spur business investment.

New Orleans - While intense pulsed light (IPL) technology is beneficial and generally safe, there are risks and complications, according to Patrick H. Bitter, M.D.

Las Vegas - The next-generation of cosmeceuticals capitalize on discoveries gleaned from biotechnology research. These five new compounds appear to represent innovative approaches to anti-aging strategies, but by objective measures the jury is still out, according to Patricia Farris, M.D., of Metairie, Louisiana. Dr. Farris delivered a talk on new anti-aging agents at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.