News

London - Results of a new study suggest that people with vitiligo may have natural protection against skin cancer, BBC News reports.

Toronto - Results of several studies suggest that the new compound NT 201 improves treatment of blepharospasm and cervical dystonia by at least 25 percent, according to news source Docguide.com.

Barcelona, Spain - Doctors here performed what they are calling a successful face transplant on a Spanish man in his 30s, All Headline News reports.

Aliso Viejo, Calif. - Valeant Pharmaceuticals, based here, will acquire Vital Science Corp., a Toronto-based manufacturer of over-the-counter dermatology products, news source Socaltech.com reports.

Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Academy of Dermatology has announced the results of its election of new officers for terms to begin in 2012.

The Bottom Line : Derms cut back, but emphasize quality, as slow economy continues to pinch Tightening Tanning : FDA may reclassify sunbeds, set stricter limits on use by teens Special Report : Skin Cancer

When treating patients with undiagnosed eating disorders, early recognition of dermatologic signs improves prognosis and helps dermatologists avoid æsthetic treatments intended to address such patients' unrealistic perceptions, according to an expert.

Thorough planning provides the best approach to recognizing, managing and preventing complications when performing æsthetic procedures, an expert says.

Using confocal imaging (or reflectance confocal microscopy, RCM), the VivaScope (Lucid) is proving to be a useful tool in the differentiation and diagnosis of cutaneous lesions.

Because dog-ears behave predictably, physicians can use a structured algorithm to prevent, minimize and repair them when necessary, the algorithm's developer says.

The recession is reminding dermatologists about the importance of excellent service, savvy marketing and a personal touch, experts say. They share lessons for riding out the recession.

Credentialing a new doctor with third-party payers (including Medicare) is a tedious but necessary process. Even small mistakes can result in setbacks - even worse, application denials - all of which can rob dermatology practices of precious revenue, experts say.

Could e-prescribing be a boon to the operation of your practice? Or is it one more layer of bureauracy the federal government is trying to lay on physicians? On Call wondered whether dermatologists are using e-prescriptions, and if so, whether they actually like them.

Two of the most important insults the skin sustains are oxidation and glycation. Oxidative damage is the effect most familiar to the dermatologist, and it is caused by dermal protein damage from reactive oxygen species. Glycation is a second insult to the skin protein, and it is caused by the linking of sugars with dermal proteins.

Omaha, Neb. - A new treatment for actinic keratoses, known as PEP005, has completed two phase 3 trials which demonstrated that ingenol mebutate gel 0.05 percent, when used to treat actinic keratoses (AK) on the head and non-head locations, resulted in complete clearance of the lesions, when compared to vehicle.

While common allergens cause most contact dermatitis in women, finding the sources of these allergens often demands detective work, an expert says.

Recovery audit contractors are the government's hired guns to recover money from Medicare fraud and abuse. Dermatologists need to be ready for these potential audits by becoming familiar with the RAC process.

Just as patients are delaying or downsizing elective treatments, the economy is pushing dermatology practices to do more with less, sources say. From manpower to marketing dollars, practices are economizing while also seeking to maintain - if not improve - patient service.

Interim results from a five-year study of Artefill (polymethylmethacrylate/PMMA, Suneva) required by the Food and Drug Administration show that the product appears to be as safe as existing fillers for the nasolabial folds, a lead investigator says.

Although treatment for dysplastic nevi varies among dermatologists, these atypical moles are always biopsied, and then patients are followed closely to watch for melanomas, according to an expert.

A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel has recommended reclassifying tanning beds and setting stricter limits for their use by minors. But whether the FDA will adopt these changes remains unclear, say sources who attended a March 25 General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel meeting at which these and related manners were discussed.

What is it going to take for Congress to stop playing games with physicians who treat Medicare patients and develop an effective solution to the fee cuts that are scheduled every year and require last-minute, short-term emergency solutions? Will the likelihood of physicians stopping their care of Medicare beneficiaries be enough to jolt Congress into action?

Treatment adherence is an important variable in psoriasis therapy, and it can be the deciding factor between successful and unsuccessful outcomes. Prescribing once-a-day, cosmetically acceptable regimens can be key in achieving better treatment adherence in psoriasis patients.

Dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Andrew A. Hendricks, M.D., remembers when he first became interested in his family history. It was in fourth grade, when a teacher's assignment turned into a lifelong passion. Learning about the Dutch influence on U.S. history fueled the dermatologist's desire to spread the word.

Postpartum striae rubra is common, and in Asian skin, these lesions can progress to become hyperpigmented striae distensae. Results from a consecutive case series show the utility of nonablative fractional photothermolysis for treating this problem.

Researchers developed a nitric oxide-releasing nanotechnology platform and have investigated its efficacy for treating full-thickness wounds infected with MRSA.

Dr. Nose uses botulinum toxins to treat the nasal flush associated with rosacea. He treated a patient in this manner, and she developed an infection after her treatment. Although all agree that the infection had nothing to do with the actual toxin per se, the patient finds out that no botulinum toxins are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this purpose. She files a complaint with the local state board of medical examiners.

Although a recent survey indicates many physicians are postponing retirement because of the recession, dermatologists say that - regardless - retirement in their specialty is rare.

Some time ago, I wrote an editorial in this magazine describing my early experience with the use of an electronic medical record. In the article, I indicated that this technology was a valuable addition to the medical office, but there was a fairly steep learning curve and some difficulties in creating a coherent and understandable document. After three years of using an EMR, much of what I said before remains valid.

From fast-food restaurants churning out a meal in just minutes to the Internet culling through millions of documents in mere seconds, Americans are used to getting what they want, and getting it now. Have you figured the value of patient access to your practice?