Vol. 39 No. 03

In a CME session through your local dermatology society, a prominent drug company provides journal articles documenting the off-label use of one of their prescription pharmaceutical agents. You obtain CME credits, read the journal article and begin prescribing the off-label medication. Is the drug company in violation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rulings? Are your actions acceptable?

In this article, Dr. Norman Levine sums up his takeaways from the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting, beginning with a presentation by two physicians who addressed the difficulties of managing hidradenitis suppurativa, such as fixed dosing. He also addressed controversies associated with treatments for atopic dermatitis. Apparently, bleach baths are no better than regular baths in improving skin symptoms.

Mounting clinical evidence points to a need for tighter disease control in psoriasis patients, says Dr. Alexander Egeberg.

Dermatologists should take ownership of screening patients for mental health concerns associated with their skin condition.

Study finds that second-line agents need to be incorporated into treatment for moderate to severe dermatomyositis, which is otherwise very difficult to treat.