Skin & Allergy News articles from June 2009

Skin & Allergy News archives from June 2009

Sun safety education forecast looks bright.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The future looks bright for sun safety education in the United States. National and local programs are being adopted slowly, despite the clinical evidence about the risks of skin cancer associated with sun exposure....

Higher vitamin D intake doesn't cut melanoma risk: supplements at greater doses may help.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2009... MONTREAL -- Increased vitamin D intake is not protective against melanoma, according to the results of the largest prospective cohort study conducted on the topic. "If you're worried about melanoma risk, I don't think popping a vitamin D...

Case of the month.
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A 47-year-old woman with long-standing systemic lupus erythematosus presented with a history of blistering since 1998. She also reported bullous lesions that caused scarring, milia, and loss of her fingernails. In...

Cause of mortality in two psoriasis studies conflict.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... MONTREAL -- Mortality rates are significantly increased in patients with severe psoriasis compared with the general population, according to two new studies. But studies have conflicting results regarding the cause of death, researchers...

Average fee for top five minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.(VITAL SIGNS)
June 1, 2009... Average Fee for Top Five Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Procedures Botox $391 Soft tissue fillers $630 Chemical peel $815 Laser hair removal $456 Microdermabrasion $200 Notes:...

PsA risk increases with obesity in psoriasis.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... MONTREAL -- Patients with psoriasis face an increased risk of developing psoriatic arthritis if they are overweight, based on prospectively acquired data from over 1,000 patients in the Utah Psoriasis Initiative. "The probability of...

Beer consumption found to boost psoriasis risk.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... MONTREAL -- Women who drank alcohol, especially those consuming at least five beers per week, were at increased risk of developing psoriasis, based on an analysis of the Nurses' Health Study. Compared to abstainers, women who drank alcohol...

AAD president-elect to focus on member needs.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... Dr. Ronald L. Moy, who will become president of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2011, wants to help dermatologists handle regulations and practice hassles during his term in office. Dermatologists need help as they face mounting...

Dysport approval brings competition for Botox.(NEWS FROM THE FDA)
June 1, 2009... The Food and Drug Administration has approved Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) for the treatment of cervical dystonia and glabellar lines, bringing competition to Botox (botulinum toxin type A). Reloxin, which was the proposed U.S. name for the...

Paralysis warning label now required for botulinum toxins.(NEWS FROM THE FDA)
June 1, 2009... The Food and Drug Administration announced that it will require all botulinum toxin manufacturers to add boxed warnings to the label that address the potential for paralysis-like symptoms resulting from the toxin's distant spread. The drug...

Golimumab receives FDA approval for psoriatic arthritis.(NEWS FROM THE FDA)
June 1, 2009... Golimumab, the first once-monthly injectable tumor necrosis factor--alpha antagonist, was recently approved for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, active psoriatic arthritis, and active ankylosing...

9-mm margins urged for melanoma excision.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... AUSTIN, TEX. -- The commonly accepted standard of using 5-mm margins for surgical excision of melanoma in situ may not be enough to dear the large majority of tumors, said Dr. Joy Kunishige. Speaking at the annual meeting of the American...

Polymorphisms show potential in melanoma.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... DENVER -- Vascular endothelial growth factor provides a potential new target for the prevention and/or adjuvant treatment of melanoma. Several specific VEGF polymorphisms were strongly associated with primary tumor thickness and ulceration...

Celecoxib may prevent skin cancer, study finds.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... MONTREAL -- A twice-daily dose of celecoxib given over a period of 9 months was associated with a 60% reduction in the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer, according to the results of a new study. "Inhibition of COX-2 [cyclo-oxygenase-2]...

Sentinel lymph node biopsy proves beneficial for some.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... AUSTIN, TEX. -- Conducting sentinel lymph node biopsies in melanoma can provide significant benefits, but it is not advisable for the majority of patients, said Dr. Christopher Bichakjian. The wisdom of conducting an SLNB in melanoma has...

MC1R called useful flag for melanoma risk.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... DENVER -- Identification of individuals possessing certain melanocortin-1 receptor gene variants may provide added value in detecting increased risk of melanoma. New evidence indicates the melanoma risk associated with melanocortin-1...

Drug combo hikes stage IV survival at 1 year.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... DENVER -- The combination of docetaxel, vinorelbine, and sargramostim appears to be more effective and considerably less toxic than conventional biochemotherapy in patients with stage IV melanoma, a phase II study suggests. Mean overall...

New acne guidelines stress psychological effects.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... Since acne is a chronic disease capable of causing serious psychological and social problems, it warrants early, aggressive treatment and prolonged maintenance therapy, according to updated treatment guidelines. The guidelines encourage...

New patients in big cities wait an average 22 days for appointment.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... New patients wait about 22 days on average to get an appointment with a dermatologist, according to a survey of wait times in 15 large cities. A new patient seeking an appointment for a routine exam to detect possible melanoma or...

High serum vitamin [D.sub.3] levels are linked to less skin cancer.(NEWS)
June 1, 2009... MONTREAL -- Higher serum levels of vitamin [D.sub.3] were associated with decreased prevalence of non-melanoma skin cancer, Dr. Jean Tang reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology "Sufficient serum vitamin...

The doctor will see you later.(UNDER MY SKIN)
June 1, 2009... I gave my name at the front desk of my new eye doctor. "Check in around the corner," said the clerk. Two front desks, apparently. The secretary at the second one handed me some pages of demographics and medical history to fill out. In the...

Is universal vaccination of boys the next step in fighting HPV? Boys and girls should be vaccinated.(POINT/COUNTERPOINT)
June 1, 2009... Widespread immunization of girls nd boys against human papillomavirus could fully eradicate types 16 and 18. If we miss half the equation by leaving the boys out of our vaccination strategy, that type of public health success will not be...

Is universal vaccination of boys the next step in fighting HPV? The evidence needs time to mature.(POINT/COUNTERPOINT)
June 1, 2009... The issue of immunizing males against HPV often comes down to whether they should receive the vaccine to protect females. Doing so is honorable and even reasonable, but at this point there is little evidence suggesting that this is cost...

Actinic keratoses follow regress, recur pattern.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
June 1, 2009... MONTREAL -- Actinic keratoses are dynamic lesions and their expression varies over time, based on the results of an 11-month study of the natural course of the lesions in people with extensive actinic damage. "At any one time, less than...

Peak lidocaine levels found safe during Mohs.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
June 1, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO -- The use of moderate to large volumes of dilute lidocaine for tumescent anesthesia during Mohs surgery on the face and neck was free of signs of lidocaine toxicity in a prospective single-center study. Of 19 patients who...

From ice to Surgicel, tips to help control Mohs bleeding.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
June 1, 2009... MIAMI BEACH -- Minimizing bleeding during and after Mohs surgery can be a challenge, according to Dr. Susan H. Weinkle. "In Bradenton [Fla.] where I practice, almost everyone is taking an anticoagulant," Dr. Weinkle said. As a Mohs surgeon...

Public rates plastic surgeons as best for cutaneous repair.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
June 1, 2009... AUSTIN, TEX. -- The public does not appear to perceive that Mohs surgeons are as capable as plastic surgeons when it comes to removing cutaneous lesions and repairing facial defects, according to a survey of 467 patients. Dr. Vinh Q. Chung...

Melanoma incidence climbs quickly between 1992 and 2004.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)
June 1, 2009... MONTREAL -- The incidence of melanoma in the United States increased rapidly over a 10-year period, regardless of tumor thickness and socioeconomic status, reported Dr. Eleni Linos. "This has implications for preventive screening and...

Of indoor tanners, men less aware of risk.(CUTANEOUS ONCOLOGY)(Survey)
June 1, 2009... DENVER -- Less than 12% of women and less than 7% of men who tan indoors are regular users of sunscreen, according to a national survey of white adults. Overall, women who use tanning parlors have a better understanding of the associated...

Fibrosis-targeting drugs promise sclerosis benefit.(DERMATOLOGY THERAPY)
June 1, 2009... DESTIN, FLA. -- Investigational therapies designed to target transforming growth factor beta may reverse fibrosis in systemic sclerosis, Dr. John Varga said at the Congress of Clinical Rheumatology. This paradigm shift could have significant...

Glitazones creating buzz for scarring alopecia.(DERMATOLOGY THERAPY)
June 1, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO -- Recent research on a possible new treatment for scarring alopecia has generated considerable buzz among hair disorder experts. The research, led by Pratima Karnik, Ph.D., and investigators at Case Western Reserve...

Antimalarials for skin disease: consider toxicity.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
June 1, 2009... SINT MAARTEN, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES -- The antimalarial agents hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, and quinacrine can effectively treat autoimmune connective tissue diseases and their cutaneous manifestations, but remember that these drugs can be...

Prednisone is 'revolutionary approach' to kerion clearing.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
June 1, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO -- A proposed new paradigm for the treatment of kerions holds that the best results come from treating the inflammation while ignoring the dermatophyte infection, at least initially. A short course of oral prednisone will...

Infliximab sparks remission in refractory urticaria patients.(DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY)
June 1, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO -- Infliximab appears to be an effective treatment for patients with refractory chronic urticaria. The tumor necrosis factor-alpha blocker induced sustained remissions in three of four treated patients for an average of 10...

Rosmarinic acid.(COSMECEUTICAL CRITIQUE)
June 1, 2009... Rosmarinic acid (alpha-o-caffeoyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl lactic acid) is a naturally occurring hydroxylated compound and analogue of caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid). Caffeic acid, which is one of the main hydroxycinnamic acids (a...

Long-pulsed laser speeds ecchymosis healing.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2009... NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. -- A long-pulsed 595-nm pulsed dye laser rapidly improved ecchymosis resulting from either cosmetic procedures or traumatic injury in a study of 10 patients. Postprocedural and traumatic ecchymosis is an extremely...

Acne scar patients may need ongoing laser tx.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2009... NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. -- Fractional laser resurfacing produced long-term results in a small study of patients treated for acne scarring or photodamage. Fractional deep dermal ablation is a newer modality that produces clinical improvement...

Nonablative fractional resurfacing dulls burn scar severity.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
June 1, 2009... NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. -- Non-ablative fractional laser resurfacing produced significant improvement in scar severity in a study of 10 patients with second- and third-degree burn scars. A total of five treatments delivered at 4-week intervals...

Remember three P's to perfect lip enhancement.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
June 1, 2009... MIAMI BEACH -- Remember the three P's of perfect lip enhancement--proportion, prone, and plumping--and you are more likely to get a satisfied patient who will use their new lips to refer other patients to your office. Always keep...

Study confirms photoaging repair with topical 5-FU.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)(Report)
June 1, 2009... MONTREAL -- Topical 5-fluorouracil used for the treatment of actinic keratosis can also promote dermal remodeling in photoaged skin, according to a small study. For years, clinicians and patients have noted that, in addition to treating...

Fractional Laser achieves long-term melasma improvement.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
June 1, 2009... NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. -- Improvement in melasma severity achieved by fractional photothermolysis lasted for a mean 13 months in five of eight patients, while the other three had recurrences in the first-ever study to follow these patients beyond...

Combination products ease facial correction.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
June 1, 2009... MIAMI BEACH -- Less pain on injection, less postprocedure swelling, and greater convenience are among the advantages of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine combination products, according to two studies and a live patient demonstration at the South...

Imiquimod boosts port wine stain laser therapy.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2009... NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. -- Topical application of imiquimod for 8 weeks following pulsed dye laser photothermolysis improved the efficacy of port wine stain treatment among 13 patients in a placebo-controlled study. Pulsed dye laser (PDL) is...

Neck scarring reported after fractional laser resurfacing.(AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY)
June 1, 2009... NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. -- Hypertrophic scarring of the neck has been seen in five patients who underwent ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing. The patients, who had received the laser treatment at four different practices...

New Web site seeks to up adult immunization rates.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)(Website overview)
June 1, 2009... The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases has unveiled a Web site that takes a multipronged approach to increasing the rate of adult vaccination in the United States. Revealed during a Webcast for reporters, www.adultvaccination.com...

Varicella vaccine may spark CNS disease, study finds.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
June 1, 2009... BALTIMORE -- Despite the introduction of the varicella vaccine, central nervous system disease continues to be associated with varicella zoster virus and in rare cases can even result from reactivated vaccine strains, a study of 26 California...

White House launches HIV/AIDS awareness campaign.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
June 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration recently launched the first major U.S. initiative against HIV/AIDS in more than a decade. The 5-year campaign, "Act Against Aids," is a joint effort of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,...

Investigational gel, condom reduce HIV spread.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
June 1, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO -- When used intravaginally in combination with a condom, the investigational microbicide PRO 2000/5 gel appeared to reduce HIV transmission by 30% in a large, international, randomized clinical trial. The finding, which fell...

Zoster vaccine, severe skin diseases don't mix.(INFECTIOUS DISEASES)
June 1, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO -- Immunization with the live attenuated herpes zoster vaccine (Zostavax) probably isn't worth the potential risks in patients with psoriasis or other chronic inflammatory skin diseases, Dr. Alice Gottlieb said. "My personal...

Practicing, painting, and keeping sane at 92.(THE REST OF YOUR LIFE)
June 1, 2009... Practicing medicine since 1942, Dr. Robert R. Canas credits his painting and sculpture hobbies with "keeping him sane." "I was a general surgeon for many years, and after the pressure in the operating room I would come home and be very...

FY 2010 budget includes health reform funding.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
June 1, 2009... The Obama administration plans to finance a portion of its ambitious health care reform plan through changes to the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including the bundling of payments for inpatient and postacute care. The new details were...

No word from CBO yet on Mohs.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
June 1, 2009... In November 2008, the Mohs Coalition, made up of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American College of Mohs Surgery, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and the American Society for Mohs Surgery asked the Congressional Budget...

AAD launches lexicon.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(American Academy of Dermatology)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The American Academy of Dermatology launched DermLex, an online database of dermatologic terms that had been in beta testing for several months (SKIN & ALLERGY NEWS, March 2009, p. 11). "With widespread electronic health record adoption on the...

Company would grow derm role.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
June 1, 2009... GlaxoSmithKline has offered $2.9 billion for Stiefel Laboratories Inc. If the deal closes, the combined entity would be one of the largest dermatology specialty companies in the world. The new company would still operate as Stiefel and continue...

HHS launches lupus campaign.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
June 1, 2009... The Department of Health and Human Services, in cooperation with the American College of Rheumatology and other health care organizations, has launched a national advertising campaign to educate women about lupus. "Despite its prevalence in the...

PhRMA revises trial standards.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
June 1, 2009... The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America has revised its voluntary standards for how drug manufacturers run clinical trials and communicate trial results. The new PhRMA standards call on drugmakers to register on a public Web...

New Web site pushes reform.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Website overview)
June 1, 2009... Doctors for America, a new grassroots physician organization, is launching a campaign to get physicians' voices heard on health care reform. The group's "Voices of Physicians" campaign has collected comments nationwide and put them on the Web...

Small promo items have influence.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
June 1, 2009... Subtle exposures to small promotional items, such as notepaper with printed logos, influences attitudes of medical students toward pharmaceutical brands, a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed. However, medical school policies on...

Listen up.(MANAGING YOUR DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE)
June 1, 2009... A recent claim against a New Jersey physician attracted considerable attention in the medical community, not because it resulted in a substantial jury award, but because the award was not covered by the doctor's malpractice insurance. It...

IOM guidelines aim to curb conflicts of interest.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
June 1, 2009... Physicians should stop accepting gifts or meals from industry representatives, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine that offers 16 recommendations aimed at limiting financial conflicts of interest in medicine. While...

ICD-10 will be complicated but more useful.(PRACTICE TRENDS)(International Classification of Diseases)
June 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- The upcoming ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure coding system is more complicated than its predecessor, ICD-9, but it will allow for a greater level of clinical detail and will be better able to keep up with advances in technology,...

Natl. Health Service Corps to get overhaul.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
June 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- With $2.5 billion in Recovery Act funding, major changes are in the works for the National Health Service Corps. And according to new Health Resources and Services Administration director Mary Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N., the money...

Consensus document defines 'meaningful use'.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
June 1, 2009... WASHINGTON -- Just what exactly does "meaningful use" mean? It sounds like a simple question, but there's a lot of money riding on the answer. The Recovery Act, formally known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, stipulates that...

Medicaid trumps Medicare in paying for health IT.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
June 1, 2009... While Medicare is almost always a better payer than Medicaid, one notable exception is the health information technology funding contained in the Recovery Act. For physicians applying for incentive money to purchase electronic health...

Feds offer free software to share data.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
June 1, 2009... The federal government has released free software that will enable health care organizations to exchange information over the Nationwide Health Information Network in the near future. The Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) is...

Laser comb for thinning hair.(Products)
June 1, 2009... The HairMax LaserComb is indicated for stopping hair loss and promoting hair growth. This handheld, precision-built medical device uses laser energy to deliver a stimulating effect that enhances the natural hair growth cycle, stimulates new...

Skin infection protection.(Products)
June 1, 2009... The Skinbiotics line of antibacterial products includes a Treatment Creme and Treatment Oil designed to help fight bacterial infections and fungal infections. The products include a combination of tea tree oil and oregano oil, which has been...

Lightening cream.(Products)
June 1, 2009... Blanche Skin Lightening Cream is available to help improve the appearance of age spots, dark patches, and pigmentation. The cream features 4% hydroquinone to lighten skin discolorations and improve skin clarity. The cream includes the exclusive...

Silver-based wound care gel.(Products)(American Biotech Labs LLC )(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to American Biotech Labs LLC to market its ASAP Wound Dressing Gel. This product is intended for the topical management of minor cuts, lacerations, abrasions, first- and second-degree burns,...

Emollient for hyperkeratosis.(Products)
June 1, 2009... Kerafoam Emollient Foam is indicated for softening, smoothing, and removing rough, scaling, hyperkeratotic skin associated with conditions such as xerosis, ichthyosis, skin cracks and fissures, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, keratoses, and...

Retinol serum.(Products)
June 1, 2009... The Retriderm line of topical vitamin A serums provides skin care in an aqueous suspension. The oil-free, protein-rich suspension allows for improved penetration and hioavailability of the retinol, and is formulated to reduce pigmentation and...

Sonic brush for nonfacial skin.(Products)
June 1, 2009... The Spot Therapy Brush Head is a new attachment for the Clarisonic PRO Skin Care System. The electric-powered, hand-held Clarisonic PRO applies the principles of the sonic toothbrush to skin care, and is available to skin care professionals and...

Facial contouring system.(Products)
June 1, 2009... The AccuLift facial contouring system is a minimally invasive procedure that restores and improves the appearance of the face from the forehead to the jaw line to the neck. It was developed to target problem areas such as under-eye bags,...

Diverse line of beauty products.(Products)
June 1, 2009... Votre Vu offers a complete range of products that span from everyday care and intensive care to at-home spa treatments to tailor to each individual's skin care concerns and needs. For the face, the company offers a gentle pearls scrub, a gel...

Medical groups pledge cost cuts to Obama.(PRACTICE TRENDS)
June 1, 2009... Leaders of several health care and labor organizations met with President Obama at the White House in May and proposed ideas to reduce the growth in health care costs by as much as $2 trillion over the next decade. In a letter sent to the...

The clinical efficacy and safety of tretinoin for the treatment of aging skin.(Clinical Update)
June 1, 2009... Improving the appearance of aging skin is an important objective for dermatologists and their patients. There are a variety of surgical techniques and skin care regimens that dermatologists can use to achieve the cosmetic goals of the patient....

The role of natural ingredients in skin care.(CLINICAL UPDATE)
June 1, 2009... The use of natural ingredients in skin care dates back to early civilizations. In the absence of modern manufacturing technology, products of nature formed the basis of skin protection and skin care. Civilizations recognized early on the...