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A thorough dermoscopic evaluation of each and every skin tumor in patients can prove invaluable in accurately diagnosing dangerous skin tumors such as melanoma incognito. One expert applies seven "golden rules" to help better manage patients with skin tumors, and to home in on which lesions should be biopsied and which should not.

Histopathologists have coined the term "Spitzoid tumor" for ambiguous diagnoses of spitzoid lesions. According to one expert, such patients are now more carefully treated and followed, as such a shaky diagnosis forces dermatologists to take serious precautions in treatment.

A large observational study shows a risk of melanoma and nonmelanotic skin cancer associated with biologic use for rheumatoid arthritis; however, this risk is slight, the study's lead author says.

According to the results of a recent study, the incomplete excision of basal cell carcinoma can be directly related to the location of the tumor as well as the aggressiveness of the tumor defined by its histologic type.

A retrospective study examined the rates of nonmelanoma skin cancer in patients with vitiligo. The data suggest careful surveillance for skin cancer may be prudent in white vitiligo patients.

For patients with stage II melanoma, the adjuvant ganglioside GM2-KLH21 vaccine proved ineffective and possibly even harmful, according to a large, multicenter European study.

The reality is that Mohs surgery can and, at times, does fail. According to one expert, how the surgeon reacts to this challenge in terms of therapy is crucial to the patient's successful outcome.

Incidence reporting data show that melanoma is on the rise, particularly in young women. However, the numbers were calculated using a new method, and the decline may have been an artifact of the new methodology, an expert says.

Treating actinic keratoses early is a must, as these can further develop into squamous cell carcinoma in situ and, in some cases, further complicate in field cancerization patients. Treating these lesions may help to reduce the surge in skin cancers, an expert says.

In a recent study, investigators found that regression alone is an insufficient criterion to validate the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with thin melanomas.

Because superficial radiotherapy provides safe, effective treatment for many nonmelanoma skin cancers, dermatologists must keep practicing and teaching this discipline rather than ceding it to radiation oncologists, an expert says.

A new sonic brush has demonstrated its safety for use by patients with conditions including rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis, according to several studies. The sonic brush also is safe and effective for removing makeup, and having sonically cleansed skin increases absorption of topical preparations, one of its developers says.

With no randomized, objective studies comparing performance of fractional ablative resurfacing lasers, an expert recommends trying them for oneself before buying.

Incorporating cosmetic dermatology into a medical dermatology practice is made easier if clinicians offer the cosmetic procedures to their existing patients. Internal marketing and a pleasant support staff ensure the success of expansion to cosmetic dermatology.

The full-body skin exam provides an opportunity for dermatologists to broach cosmetic topics of interest to aging baby boomers, an expert says.

As a rule, in order to maintain cosmetic effects from various noninvasive rejuvenation devices currently available on the market, treatments must be repeated. How often these treatments must be repeated is the central issue, and leading noninvasive devices continue to vie for the top spot.

Several novel technologies are emerging for minimally invasive facelifting. According to one expert, the Aptos and now Cousin (elastic ligament knitting) threads lead the way in thread-lifting with a bidirectional cog system, ensuring longer-lasting cosmetic results.

Scar therapy has advanced alongside the development of laser technology. Now, several options exist for various types of scars. Determining the proper treatment for each scar depends on the type of scar being treated.

The advent of fractional resurfacing technologies has raised many controversial questions, an expert says. However, he says what's beyond dispute is that even the most effective resurfacing device works best in the context of combination treatments.

Steps such as taking a biopsy and obtaining a detailed history will assist in making a diagnosis in challenging and unusual cases. In some instances, such as a case of a patient with strongyloidiasis, it may be necessary to perform multiple biopsies to arrive at a diagnosis.

Considering genetics, as well as clinical presentation, will aid in managing challenging cases of skin cancer. It is also incumbent upon clinicians to conduct a comprehensive review of the medical literature to assess the risks associated with metastases of some lesions, such as proliferating trichelemal tumors, according to an expert who treats mainly skin cancer cases.

Despite nearly 20 years of waiting, a difficult case is diagnosed as the rare PAPA syndrome. After treatment with biologic anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs, the patient's skin is now clear.

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms may sometimes be related to dermatologic conditions. Recognizing the connection can prevent unnecessary complications, an expert says.

Recent studies show that port wine stains (PWSs) are likely to require multiple courses of treatment over a patient's lifetime. Applying topical anti-angiogenic creams may prevent eventual darkening of treated PWSs, an expert says.

A small prospective study suggests oral Lactobacillus could be helpful for patients with atopic dermatitis, although the study's results require validation, a study co-author says.

Even relatively common skin conditions can present themselves in ways that make their diagnosis a bit more challenging than many of the cases dermatologists see every day. Laptop computers resting on the thigh, for example, may lead to erythema ab igne.

With hydroquinone's status in the U.S. marketplace uncertain due to safety concerns, retinoids are increasingly gaining favor in the treatment of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.

The iPLEDGE program is excellent for protecting the prescriber, so that he or she can continue to practice medicine and responsibly care for patients with severe acne, one dermatologist says. However, the issue of compliance remains a major hurdle.

It's imperative for woundcare specialists to ensure that urine and stool are kept away from the skin. To ensure this, clinicians need to use appropriate barriers. It's also paramount that the barriers be properly removed. If they are not, that can trigger skin damage. Whatever the choice of products used to protect the skin, following structured protocols will keep the integrity of the skin intact.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-ranging study evaluated five dosing regimens of pramiconazole, an oral broad-spectrum triazole antifungal agent, for the treatment of pityriasis versicolor. Four treatment groups demonstrated significant efficacy compared with placebo.