Pediatric Dermatology

San Diego - Psoriasis patients find a plethora of treatment options today, beyond methotrexate and cyclosporine and their potential to cause side effects.

All patients developed a protective antibody response to at least eight pneumococcal serotypes.

Lipstick movement into furrows on the upper and lower lips is a common problem encountered by mature women. It is caused by the loss of subcutaneous fat on the face and within the lips in combination with facial osteoporosis. The lip line of an adolescent girl protrudes from the face in a youthful pout, but with maturity, the lip line actually becomes flush with the face. This loss of volume results in the skin folding around the upper and lower lips, creating furrows into which lipstick can easily wick.

National report - Many dermatologists, especially pediatric dermatologists, have embraced 2-octyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive (Dermabond, Ethicon) as an alternative to using standard sutures and staples in selected patients. Dermabond has evolved, as a result of early complaints about dripping and smearing, to offer a new, higher-viscosity formulation. But it's unclear how effective the tissue adhesive is when skin tension exists.

Singapore - Just as the skin of a newborn differs from the skin of a young child, so too does the skin of premature infants born at 24 weeks differ from the skin of infants born later.

A recently developed algorithm has been designed to provide a simple, stepwise approach to the management of atopic dermatitis (AD) based on disease severity, says its creator Lawrence F. Eichenfield, M.D., chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology, Children's Hospital, San Diego, and clinical professor of pediatrics and medicine (dermatology), University of California San Diego School of Medicine.

The results showed the sequential approach was safe and very effective for controlling AD.

New York - Recent data suggests that refinements in dosing techniques can improve clinical outcomes with alefacept (Amevive, Biogen).

New York - Recent data suggests that refinements in dosing techniques can improve clinical outcomes with alefacept (Amevive, Biogen).

Internationally recognized researcher, Alan Menter, M.D., considers the future of psoriasis treatment.

National report - In the treatment of vitiligo, the 308-nm excimer laser (PhotoMedex) achieves results as favorable as those of other phototherapy modalities in one-third the time, according to James M. Spencer, M.D.

There is alitany of genetic and acquired disorders that cause hyper- and hypopigmentation, and no one-size-fits-all treatment for either the loss of or an excess of pigment.

Barring cost issues, new systemic therapies could soon be on the forefront

Biologic therapy yields promising results in treatment of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis

Physician describes switch of patients from oral systemics to biologic therapy

New York - While acitretin remains a common oral treatment for psoriasis, oral tazarotene (Allergan), fumaric acid esters (FAEs), and oral pimecrolimus can cut side effects ranging from alopecia to liver and kidney damage, according to a recent study.

Maintaining patient compliance is critical in effectiveness of this form of treatment

Efficacy, safety encourage use for psoriasis

Charleston, S.C. - Biologic agents for pediatric dermatology offer the promise of being safer and much easier to use than traditional drugs, according to Elaine C. Siegfried, M.D., associate clinical professor of pediatrics and dermatology at St. Louis University School of Medicine, Mo.

New York - When diagnosing a pediatric hair disorder, be sure to examine not only the scalp, but also the skin, nails and even the mouth.

As knowledge increases, physician urges derm advocacy in political, regulatory fields

When treating black patients for hair and scalp disorders, clinicians must also have an understanding of hair care practices.

National report - A large, prospective, six-year clinical trial is well under way to investigate whether early, aggressive treatment of atopic dermatitis in infants can alter the future course of their skin disorder and the development of other manifestations of atopy, particularly asthma.

In dermatology, there are myriad diseases that can be affected by emotional aspects and in which coping with the disease is important.

Charleston, S.C. - Skin diseases are common among pediatric solid organ transplant recipients, and so dermatologists play an important role in the management of these children, said Maria C. Garzon, M.D., at the 2004 annual meeting of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology here.

Better care of infants contributes to decline in diaper rash, cradle cap; psoriasis on the rise

Kona, Hawaii - Tacrolimus ointment is superior to pimecrolimus cream in treating atopic dermatitis, according to recent trial data reported by Alan Fleischer, M.D., during the 28th Annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar here. Both calcineurin inhibitors have identical modes of action and identical metabolism, and bind to the same FKBP receptor. "But pimecrolimus has one-third the binding affinity of tacrolimus," he says.

The literature also contained three case series that included 13 patients.

Victoria, British Columbia - Antihistamines are effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), according to research presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Dermatology Association.

Topical vitamin B12 cream may offer some atopic dermatitis patients a natural alternative to corticosteroids and topical immunomodulators, according to a new study.