News

As a medical professional in the field of dermatology and aesthetics your time is valuable and there are only so many hours in a day. So the million-dollar question is: Beyond providing quality care for your patients and relying on voluntary referral sources, how you can maximize the potential of your practice?

Patients will bring to me on a weekly basis tubes of slimming cream for evaluation. The question from the concerned consumer is always the same. Is it wise use of my money to purchase this product again and what exactly does a slimming cream do? The honest truth is that I am not sure what benefit a slimming cream delivers.

Along with retirement accounts, the family home is often the most valuable asset of the affluent. Beyond its financial value, the home has great psychological and emotional value. In fact, we find that most of our clients who engage in asset-protection planning often begin with the question: “How can I protect my home?” That is why we thought it important to discuss this asset and how to protect it from outside threats.

When was the last time you got really excited about dermatology? I mean, in your bones, core-shaking, vitality-restoring, conquer the universe type of elation. If the answer is “Well, I can’t remember the last time.” or worse yet, “Maybe never?” then perhaps it is time to throw a party.

Fillers injected to enhance beauty have an ugly side effect, which is tricky - at best - to prevent and treat, according to a study published recently.

More than half of the psoriasis patients surveyed by the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) said their psoriasis was disfiguring. Seventy-three percent of the thousands of people who responded said they felt angry or frustrated about their psoriasis. And 59 percent reported psoriasis was a large problem in their everyday lives.

A patient with psoriasis asks dermatologists to put themselves in their patients' shoes and look at the condition from that perspective.

Richard D. Granstein, M.D., chairman of dermatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, has conducted research on how the nervous system and, perhaps, stress can make psoriasis worse or control the phenotypic expression of psoriasis.

The psychiatric comorbidities associated with psoriasis deserve more attention from physicians around the globe, experts say.

The results of two large phase 3 clinical trials suggest that the drug secukinumab (Novartis) is a remarkably effective treatment for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Content related to dermatology and dermatologic conditions is widely available on YouTube, but identifying sources for some of the content remains a challenge, according to results of a recent study.

Advanced basal cell carcinoma is a term whose frequency of usage has increased recently, in part, due to the introduction of the Hedgehog pathway inhibitor, vismodegib. Advanced basal cell carcinoma (aBCC) is comprised of two subtypes of BCC associated with significant morbidity and mortality, locally advanced BCC (laBCC) and metastatic BCC (metBCC).

Many psoriasis patients develop psoriatic arthritis. Dermatologists should be on the lookout for arthritis symptoms and refer patients to rheumatologists when appropriate.

Many doctors, including dermatologists, would rather not address patients’ feelings about psoriasis. It’s part of how dermatologists protect themselves from bearing the burdens of patients’ woes, according to Richard Fried, M.D., Ph.D., a dermatologist and clinical psychologist in Yardley, Pennsylvania.

Telemedicine is a term that covers any use of electronic communication technology to convey medical information. It can be as basic as seeking a consultation or as advanced as robotic surgery. Teledermatology can be practiced in the role of a consultant or as a seeker of consultation. However, this practice is fraught with liability issues.

Laser and light device treatments are infiltrating cosmetic and medical dermatology, causing many in the specialty to consider starting or growing laser practices. While the decision to go into the laser side of dermatology works out well for many, it can be a costly mistake for those who don’t do their homework, experts warn.

Injectable fillers are used in a variety of ways to improve the appearance of the aging face. However, because not all fillers are alike, it is important for dermatologic surgeons to understand the features and benefits of each product in order to optimize its clinical use, says W. Philip Werschler, M.D.

There are no valid reasons, in my opinion, that everyone should not have access to high quality healthcare. Sadly, due to corrupt governments, geographic isolation, religious and ethnic conflicts, poor economies, inadequate education, ineffective leadership or a simple lack of will, much of the world’s population - especially those in Third World countries - has little or no access to healthcare. This is a gigantic problem with global implications that has no simple solution.

The Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation to Galderma’s trifarotene molecule for the treatment of congenital ichthyosis.

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres in collagen are effective for treating atrophic acne scars, results of a recent study suggest.

A novel delivery system of an old drug designed to treat herpes labialis resulted in fewer recurrences of next herpes episodes, shorter durations of episodes, and increased incidence of blocked episodes.

Successfully managing cutaneous drug reactions requires including drug reactions in the differential diagnosis of most cutaneous eruptions, and recognizing severe reactions where treatment may improve outcomes, an expert says.

Electronic surface brachytherapy allows dermatologists to offer patients another safe, effective option for nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), many experts say. And if the specialty doesn’t seize the opportunity, they add, it might lose some skin cancer treatments to radiation oncologists.

Hawaii has passed legislation that prohibits minors under the age of 18 from indoor tanning, according to a news release. The bill is effective immediately.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning that some common over-the-counter acne treatments can cause severe irritation or even life-threatening allergic reactions.

Merz has entered a definitive merger agreement to acquire energy device maker Ulthera in a deal that could be valued at more than $600 million.

Physicians are prescribing antibiotics for acne for shorter durations, but almost one-fifth of antibiotic therapies for acne still exceed six months, according to results of a recent study.

A Yale University dermatologist says the rheumatoid arthritis drug tofacitinib citrate allowed a patient with alopecia universalis to grow a full head of hair.

Lymphoseek is now approved by the Food and Drug Administration to help clinicians determine whether squamous cell carcinoma has spread to a patient’s head and neck region.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Sivextro (tedizolid phosphate, Cubist Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of acute skin infections.