Skin & Allergy News articles from February 2009

Skin & Allergy News archives from February 2009

Specialists form psoriasis team.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new treatment paradigm is emerging for psoriasis--multidisciplinary clinics that care for patients who present with multiple symptoms. Most of the dozen or so of these clinics now scattered around the country...

Diode laser Tx clears dermatosis papulosis nigra: of the lesions, 98% cleared or improved.(NEWS)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2009... PHOENIX--A 532-nm diode laser was highly effective at clearing extensive dermatosis papulosis nigra lesions while avoiding the pigmentary complications that are the bane of conventional treatments for this disorder of darker skin, according to...

Number of people per active physician by specialty, 2007.(VITAL SIGNS)
February 1, 2009... Number of People per Active Physician By Specialty, 2007 (In thousands)) Rheumatology 66 Dermatology 29 Cardiovascular disease 14 Obstetrics and gynecology 8 Internal medicine ...

New treatment guidelines for PsA released.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- An international group of dermatologists and rheumatologists has published new recommendations for the treatment of the heterogeneous manifestations of psoriatic arthritis, but they caution that randomized data remain...

Ustekinumab approval delayed by FDA.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... The Food and Drug Administration has requested more information about ustekinumab before it is approved for treating moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, according to Centocor Inc., the manufacturer of the monoclonal antibody. In a...

Weight loss pegged as potential psoriasis Tx.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... Psoriasis and metabolic syndrome are both associated with high serum levels of leptin, according to a report in the Archives of Dermatology. Although association does not necessarily signify causation, it is possible that the...

ASDS, ASCDAS announce 2009 joint meeting.(NEWS)(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)(American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery)
February 1, 2009... The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery will hold their annual meetings jointly in Phoenix in October, the groups announced. The decision was driven largely by the...

Sagging economy creates new wrinkles for cosmetic surgery.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... PHOENIX -- Cosmetic surgeons are experiencing a major atrophy in business because of the national economic downturn. Both gross billings and patient volumes for cosmetic surgery were down by one-third in the past year, according to the...

VA researchers unable to find causal link between tretinoin and mortality.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... A recently reported association between topical tretinoin and increased mortality is not causal and most likely is due to chance, according to a recent report. The interim finding of an unexpected rise in lung cancer incidence and...

UnitedHealth agrees to close ingenix database.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... As part of an agreement with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, UnitedHealth Group has agreed to shut down a national billing database used by health plans to determine reimbursements to members who use out-of-network physician services....

Bimatoprost approved for eyelash lengthening.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... The Food and Drug Administration has approved bimatoprost for increasing the growth of eyelashes, a side effect of the glaucoma-treating drug that was first observed several years ago in clinical trials. The new indication for bimatoprost...

Anti-TNF, birth defect link controversy fueled by study.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... Data from a Food and Drug Administration registry suggesting an increase in birth defects among women treated with etanercept and infliximab have rekindled controversy over the use of tumor necrosis factor blockers in pregnancy. Authors of...

Topical lidocaine comes with risks, warns FDA.(NEWS)
February 1, 2009... The use of topical lidocaine products to mitigate pain has the potential to cause life-threatening events, according to a public health advisory issued by the Food and Drug Administration Jan. 16. "Before recommending a topical anesthetic...

Remembering Bernie Ackerman.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I remember when Dr. Albert Bernard (Bernie) Ackerman first visited Japan as a guest speaker at the annual meeting of the West Division of the Japan Society of Dermatology in 1982 ("Dermatopathologist Bernie Ackerman Dies at 72," January 2009,...

Seeking Rx for E-Prescribing.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... My practice has implemented Sure-Scripts in preparation for the 2009 Medicare bonus for e-prescribing ("Feds Push E-Prescribing With Medicare Bonuses," December 2008, p. 8). However, I have not been able to find out how to communicate with...

Private narratives.(UNDER MY SKIN)(Column)
February 1, 2009... Chuck's palms are rough and thick. "This started when I cut one palm at my job," he said. "I work at a nuclear plant." I tell Chuck he has psoriasis, adding that the cut may have triggered its onset but hasn't caused its persistence, much...

Reform requires 'cultural transformation'.(EDITORIAL)
February 1, 2009... As the 17th Surgeon General of the United States 2002-2006) and chairperson of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (www.fightchronicdisease.org), I have been working for nearly 2 years with the presidential candidates' policy teams to help...

Pain relievers.(EDITORIAL)(Cartoon)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "That's my diagnosis--but HEY, what do I know?"

Most defects don't justify permanent filler use.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
February 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS -- In Dr. David M. Duffy's opinion, the perfect cosmetic filler doesn't exist and probably never will. Current fillers on the market "are really a trade-off between results that don't last long enough and complications that last...

Avoiding dermal filler pitfalls begins with a mirror.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)(Report)
February 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS -- As part of her pretreatment consultation before providing dermal fillers, Dr. Ranella Hirsch hands a mirror to her patients and instructs them to advise her on their specific goals and expectations. "I can't tell you how many...

Diode lasers spark new liposuction technology.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAS VEGAS -- When Dr. Robert A. Weiss started using the SlimLipo liposuction unit for fat melting and fat sculpting, he was surprised to learn that most patients returned to work the day after the procedure. ...

Cellulite.(COSMECEUTICAL CRITIQUE)(Report)
February 1, 2009... Edematous fibrosclerotic panniculopathy, or local lipodystrophy, better known as cellulite, may be best characterized as a skin surface alteration, nodularity, or dimpling that occurs in most women, typically in the buttocks and upper thighs,...

Primer on fillers emphasizes variety, artistry.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
February 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS -- When using dermal fillers, think of yourself as an artist with a palette of colors, using this one here and that one there. "There is no ideal filler for all occasions; we need to have a range of fillers," said Dr. Alastair...

Vulvar granular cell tumors rarely recur.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
February 1, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO -- Vulvar granular cell tumors are biologically indolent lesions that may progress clinically over a decade or longer and most often occur in black patients, according to a recent review. Of 16 granular cell tumors of the...

Multiple organ transplant ups skin cancer risk.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
February 1, 2009... ORLANDO -- Patients who receive multiple solid organ transplants appear to be at significantly higher risk of developing cutaneous malignancy--specifically melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer--after their transplants, compared with patients...

Micrometastases don't hurt melanoma prognosis.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
February 1, 2009... ORLANDO -- It is possible that the presence of micrometastases on sentinel lymph node biopsy may have little clinical prognostic value when predicting the survival of patients with malignant melanoma, according to a review of 415 patients. ...

Negative stain still positive for rare malignancy.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO -- The diagnosis of blastic natural killer-cell lymphoma requires a dermatopathologist who knows the typical immunohistochemical patterns of the disease and is aware of exceptions to rules. Also called CD4-positive,...

Diagnostic conflicts test pathological persistence.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)(Case study)
February 1, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO -- When a dermatopathologist butts heads with a pathologist over a diagnosis, it helps to keep the patient in mind. "What do you do when your opinion differs radically from that of the contributing pathologist?" asked Dr. Dirk...

Most antimicrobial reactions found to be allergic.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
February 1, 2009... BOSTON -- The recent finding that adverse reactions to antimicrobial agents cause more than 142,000 emergency department visits per year in the United States, and that the highest rate occurs in children under 1 year of age should be a wake-up...

Birth control may impair natural defenses against herpes.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)(Clinical report)
February 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- Using hormonal contraceptives might weaken a woman's natural immunity to the herpesvirus, according to findings from a pilot study of healthy women aged 18-35 years. Findings from previous epidemiologic studies suggest that...

Avoid empiric therapy for vulvar skin disorders.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
February 1, 2009... LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. -- Empiric treatment with corticosteroids should be avoided in patients who present with vulvar symptoms such as burning, itching, pain, and dyspareunia, according to Dr. Andrew T. Goldstein. These patients should...

Catch lichen sclerosus early for best outcome.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
February 1, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO -- If left untreated, lichen sclerosus can lead to scarring, destruction of normal vulvar architecture, and even skin cancer, but if caught early and treated properly, complete remission is possible. "It's a wonderful disease...

Think Behcet's for recurrent aphthous ulcers.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
February 1, 2009... LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. -- The diagnosis of Behcet's disease must be considered in any patient with recurrent oral and vulvar aphthous ulcers, even if the deep, full-thickness ulcers in the mouth and vulva develop at different times. ...

Emerging treatments for vitiligo offer hope.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
February 1, 2009... PARIS -- Vitiligo can be a psychologically devastating disorder, but there are several effective therapies that can improve skin pigmentation and reduce the burden of this disease, according to Dr. Pearl Grimes. "Pigmentation significantly...

Topical dapsone hits market after label change.(ACNE)
February 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS -- After years of delay, topical dapsone gel 5% can now be prescribed for patients with mild to moderate acne, marking the first new chemically based drug treatment for acne in a decade. A sulfone drug, Aczone 5% gel has...

Free copies of acne booklet available.(ACNE)
February 1, 2009... Health care professionals can order free copies of "'Understanding and Managing Acne," a new educational booklet for patients. In words and pictures, the publication describes acne vulgaris, explains how it can be treated, and dispels common...

Severe, sudden acne calls for prednisone then isotretinoin.(ACNE)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAS VEGAS -- New patients may have to wait several months to see a dermatologist, but teenagers with profoundly severe sudden-onset acne should be seen right away, stressed Dr. Fred Ghali. These patients exhibit...

FDA says Humira ad misleading.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
February 1, 2009... The Food and Drug Administration said that Abbott Laboratories downplayed the risks associated with the psoriasis therapy Humira (adalimumab) in an ad intended for dermatologists. The ad was misleading because it "suggests that Humira is useful...

Phototherapy copays prompt action.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The National Psoriasis Foundation has written to insurance commissioners in six states to request that they encourage health plans to eliminate or reduce patients" copayments for phototherapy sessions. Members of a foundation task force on the...

Colorings must be declared.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
February 1, 2009... Many foods and cosmetics contain carmine and cochineal, but they have been hidden under the rubric of "artificial coloring" or "'colors added.'" The FDA has ruled that manufacturers must dearly state on labels that carmine and cochineal are in...

2009 predictions on cosmetic front.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... There will be an increase in horror stories about consumers having bargain cosmetic procedures, and Botox will finally get some competition this year, according to a list of predictions from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery....

Protect your data!(MANAGING YOUR DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE)
February 1, 2009... Last month I wrote about a dermatologist from the Midwest whose office was ransacked and then set on fire. I covered the steps necessary to file a timely and accurate insurance claim. No amount of insurance, however, will recoup one of his...

Health care spending was 16.2% of 2007 GDP.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
February 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- Growth in U.S. health care spending slowed in 2007 to 6.1%, the lowest annual growth rate since 1998. But at $2.2 trillion, or $7,421 per person, health care spending still represented 16.2% of the nation's overall gross...

Expect closer scrutiny of industry relationships.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
February 1, 2009... ORLANDO -- Physicians can expect to have their relationships with the pharmaceutical industry examined increasingly more closely, as government steps up its efforts to scrutinize their links with Big Pharma. Pharmaceutical company perks,...

Physician looks to the stars.(THE REST OF YOUR LIFE)
February 1, 2009... During summers as grade school students in Woodland Hills, Calif., Dr. Steven Reeder and his brothers would set up cots in their backyard and sleep beneath the stars, gazing at the cosmos. "We'd fall asleep gazing upward, using binoculars...

A breathtaking night is remembered.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The first time I went to summer camp, I earned a badge for the constellations. And to this day, I could probably still distinguish Auriga from Lepus, if only I could see them. You see, from a stargazing...

Neuropeptide for skin treatment.(PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2009... In January, the skin care brand Kinerase released its new [C.sup.8] Peptide Intensive Treatment, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles caused by repetitive facial expressions, especially around the eyes and forehead. This product is perfect...

V.A.C. wound dressing kit.(PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2009... The V.A.C. Simplace dressing kit is designed exclusively for use with KCI's V.A.C. Therapy System. The dressing contains several features to simplify application. The new spiral-shaped GranuFoam dressing is prescored, reducing the need the cut...

Portable skin resurfacing system.(PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2009... The eMatrix Skin Resurfacing System is a portable touch screen device that allows physicians to program dermatologic procedures requiring skin resurfacing. The device uses Matrix RF, the world's first RF-only technology for fractional ablation...

Photopneumatic-based acne Tx.(PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2009... The Profusion Skin Therapy (Isolaz Pro) System is available for acne treatment and skin rejuvenation. The system utilizes a two-step process. First, a photopneumatic device uses suction to remove the acne plug and delivers broadband laser light...

Hyperpigmentation treatment.(PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2009... Cosmelan M.D. Depigmentation Treatment is designed for the correction of resistant hyperpigmentation. Its prescription-only formula is a fast-acting combination of retinoic acid and hydroquinone. The product is compatible with all skin types,...

Anti-Wrinkle product line.(PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2009... The Rilastil Hydrotenseur Anti-Wrinkle line of skin care products is designed to treat the many causes of wrinkles. The line includes an eye contour cream, concentrate in drops, a moisturizing cream, and a nourishing cream. Each product...

Diagnosis: Renbok phenomenon.(CASE OF THE MONTH)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A 33-year-old man complained of patchy hair loss that started in his beard and spread to the rest of his body over the past 6 years. He had a history of chronic scaly lesions on his elbows and knees for 12 years. The...

Exploring the role of genetics in atopic dermatitis.(INTRODUCTION)
February 1, 2009... New research insights concerning genetic mutations associated with atopic dermatitis are improving our understanding of cutaneous barrier dysfunction and fueling new approaches to therapy in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis. Recent...

Filaggrin variants and susceptibility to atopic dermatitis.
February 1, 2009... The structural protein filaggrin plays a major role in the formation and maintenance of the skin's cornified envelope, or barrier. In response to deficiency, injury, or environmental insults, the barrier's protective proteins, including...

Impact of prevalent FLG mutations on atopic dermatitis risk.
February 1, 2009... The recognition that mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG) greatly increase susceptibility to atopic dermatitis created a vast potential for research to characterize with greater certainty the mechanistic pathways involved in the disease. ...

EpiCeram[R] emulsion, a multi-lipid, ceramide-dominant emulsion, demonstrates comparable efficacy to a mid-potent topical steroid for atopic dermatitis control.
February 1, 2009... Current therapy for atopic dermatitis includes use of topical steroids and immunomodulators, which may be associated with potentially unacceptable long-term side effects. The limitations of existing therapies have created a need for other...

Exploring population-specific genetics of atopic dermatitis.
February 1, 2009... Multiple studies have established that mutations in the gene encoding filaggrin (FLG) cause ichthyosis vulgaris and predispose individuals to atopic dermatitis. Most of the studies to date have been carried out in European populations. As a...

Genetics of atopic dermatitis: beyond filaggrin variants.
February 1, 2009... Filaggrin has a central role in maintaining skin barrier integrity and function. Mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG), including two prevalent variants and several rare ones, confer a strong risk for atopic dermatitis and allergen...

Common FLG variants provide incomplete explanation of atopic dermatitis genetics.
February 1, 2009... Studies have demonstrated a strong genetic component to atopic dermatitis. The linkage tracks to chromosome 1q21, which contains the epidermal differentiation complex. The complex consists of genes involved in the formation of essential...