News

Tel Aviv, Israel - The results of an Israeli study suggest a link between penicillin use and a twofold risk of developing pemphigus variant, HealthDay News reports.

Austin, Texas - A recently published study suggests that psoriasis patients who have had extended exposure to high-dose etanercept (Enbrel, Immunex) respond positively and experience no increased infections or other serious adverse effects, MedPage Today reports.

National report - With no indication when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will decide on its proposed rule essentially banning all hydroquinone products that have not undergone the new drug approval process, dermatologists and patients are seeking alternatives.

Vitiligo patients can benefit from any number of therapies offered by dermatologists. One expert discusses the etiologies of this hypopigmentary disorder, its various treatments and its therapeutic challenges.

Vitiligo patients can benefit from any number of therapies offered by dermatologists. One expert discusses the etiologies of this hypopigmentary disorder, its various treatments and its therapeutic challenges.

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International report - In attempting to ban OTC hydroquinone, FDA could follow South Africa, Japan, Australia and the European Union, which have banned hydroquinone from cosmetic products, sources say. However, some of these areas are experiencing problems with black-market hydroquinone, experts add.

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National report - With no indication when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will decide on its proposed rule essentially banning all hydroquinone products that have not undergone the new drug approval process, dermatologists and patients are seeking alternatives.

National report - While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ponders hydroquinone's future, manufacturers and physicians continue to emphasize that no bleaching agents come close to hydroquinone's effectiveness, and research doesn't support a ban.

Even though he has not yet launched his dermatology career, Craig Burkhart, M.D., is already making his mark in the profession.

Once a dermatologist receives a letter regarding a Medicare audit, it is best to take notice and get prepared, says Jack Resneck Sr., M.D., F.A.A.D., of Shreveport, La., who was audited two years ago.

: Simple steps can transform the office visit from one that is forgettable for the dermatologist, patient and staff to one that is unforgettably positive.

Over the span of a few lifetimes, the concept of retirement has undergone radical change in America. In my great-grandfather's time, retirement as we know it today didn't exist. He was a coal miner in Pennsylvania, where laborers worked until they died or became too old to wield a pick and shovel. There were no pensions, no paid vacations, no sick leave.

A part-time physician can add tremendous flexibility to your dermatology or cosmetic surgery practice. But a part-timer will come at a cost if you are not prepared.

Dermatologists should stop struggling and embrace the concept that work-life balance is not work and life as two separate things. Rather, balance is finding joy, happiness and fulfillment in everything you do, whether you are at work or not,

If you love what you're talking about and care about people you're talking to, you will have a passionate, terrific, one-of-a-kind presentation, according to Steven K. Shama, M.D., a dermatologist in practice in Brookline, Mass., and with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, here.

Unfortunately, things can go wrong in the practice of medicine. How a physician handles a problem, whether perceived or real, goes a long way toward influencing what course of action, legal or otherwise, the patient chooses to take.

Camouflage makeup has evolved, now offering dermatologists a relatively low-risk way to cover up conditions ranging from vitiligo to rosacea or melasma. In addition to creating a more natural-looking appearance, compared with the older "cake makeup" products, mineral makeup sometimes can even help to control acne breakouts.

The Pigmentary Disorders Academy's primary aim is to increase the medical community's knowledge and awareness about pigmentary disorders. The group is staying a steady path toward that goal. A number of important projects have been completed, others are underway, and more are being planned

The majority of melasma treatments are hydroquinone-based. However, a variety of other medicationsare clinically proven and have shown efficacy for treating melasma.

Fractional resurfacing is making its mark on hyperpigmentation, while other existing approaches are being refined and improved.

Relatively painless, quick procedures that involve minimum downtime for healing and generate quality results are dictating current trends in the treatment of pigmentary changes in the skin due to photoaging. Future trends will include patients using at-home light-emitting diode and intense pulsed light devices to maintain treatments between office visits.

By the Core for the Core is a new educational program on aesthetic procedures geared specifically to physicians-in-training in the core specialties of dermatology, plastic surgery, and ophthalmology.

New research has found that human beta-defensin 3 (HBD3) secreted by keratinocytes can kill pathogens within 15 minutes of contact. Internalization of the pathogen into the cell is not required for its destruction.

Green bottle fly larvae - maggots to the less squeamish - are the latest tool to be enlisted in the battle against MRSA. British physician Andrew J. M. Boulton says, "We frequently use larvae in diabetic foot ulcers, so there was no reason to believe that they would not work against MRSA."

Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc., the makers of Accutane, will appeal a multimillion dollar jury verdict awarded to a man who said his irritable bowel disease was caused by the medication. Aside for the financial considerations, physicians are concerned that the case will make it more difficult for suitable patients to use a very valuable medication.

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Juvéderm is a useful product and fills a void, but problems with needle separation - whether due to operator error or product/syringe design - has spooked some practitioners. Allergan is working to resolve the issue and in the meantime, offers tips for injection technique that can help alleviate the possibility of needle and syringe separation.

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