Skin & Allergy News articles from October 2001

Skin & Allergy News archives from October 2001

Help Prepare Your Local Disaster Plan.
October 1, 2001... Your community is not prepared for a medical response to a terrorist attack. Public health experts interviewed after the terrorist bombings in New York and Washington advised civic-minded physicians to take three steps to improve local...

Dermatologists Would Register to Prescribe Accutane.
October 1, 2001... Many would deal with 'overregulation' in order to keep prescribing the drug. Many dermatologists are willing to enroll in a mandatory physician registry in order to continue prescribing Accutane, according to an unscientific telephone...

Ablative Laser Resurfacing Business Continues to Slide.
October 1, 2001... What went up has come down. The news media giveth, and the news media taketh away. That's one take-home point from the breathtaking rise and current decline in the business of ablative laser resurfacing. Soon after the technique was...

Tragedy Calls for Deployment of CDC Rapid-Response Program.(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)(relief for victims of World Trade Center attack)
October 1, 2001... A new rapid-response program within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that provides truckloads of medical supplies to disaster sites was activated for the first time in response to the terrorist attack on New York. The...

Stranded Surgeons Find Creative Ways to Reach New York Rescue.
October 1, 2001... DENVER -- Stranded 2,000 miles away and desperate to offer medical assistance after terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center surgeons at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology devised ingenious ways to speed overland to...

Studies Highlight Limitations of Accutane PPP.(pregnancy prevention program)
October 1, 2001... Interviews with 14 women who became pregnant while taking Accutane reveal that several women weren't using two forms of contraception, used leftover pills from a previous prescription, or had a false-negative pregnancy test before starting...

Hyaluronic Acid Works for Wound Care.
October 1, 2001... LAS VEGAS -- Chronic wound care may be the next application for hyaluronic acid, the tissue-derived polysaccharide whose uses already include osteoarthritis treatment and cosmetic augmentation. A recently introduced product consisting of...

Local Immunomodulation in Skin Tumors.
October 1, 2001... HELD JULY 21, 2001 ZURICH, SWITZERLAND Introduction Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer among Caucasians, and its incidence is rising. Although there are a number of therapies for treating the malignancy,...

OSHA Rule Is Driving the Switch to Safer Sharps.(to prevent needle-stick injuries)
October 1, 2001... A pointedly worded federal regulation may put physicians on the spot if their offices are still using conventional sharps instead of safer sheathed or retracting models that protect health care workers from needle-stick injuries. The...

Watch for Use of Three Herbal Gs in Surgical Patients.(gingko, ginseng, and garlic use need to be discussed by physicians and their patients)
October 1, 2001... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- There may bean alphabet soup of ingredients found in herbal remedies, but there are three beginning with G that absolutely need to be discussed with patients undergoing dermatologic procedures, Dr. James Q. Del Rosso said at...

A Time for Reflection.(on World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks)
October 1, 2001... On the evening of Nov. 9, 1938, the Nazis coordinated a brutal assault on Jews, their synagogues, and their property throughout Germany. Kristallnacht (or the Night of Broken Glass), as that fateful event came to be known, ostensibly was an...

Great Expectations.(taking the time factor for skin therapeutics to work under consideration)
October 1, 2001... One look at Paul told me that he needed help fast. Ugly, pus-filled cysts of acne fulminans disfigured his forehead and cheeks. To heal him and head off scarring meant starting isotretinoin at once. But Paul was already taking it. "Dr....

Choose Patients Carefully for Vitiligo Minigrafting.
October 1, 2001... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- Surgical management of vitiligo is far more likely to have an excellent cosmetic result in patients with stable, focal, unilateral disease than in patients with bilateral or generalized vitiligo, Dr. Rafael Falabella said at...

'Overtattooing' Technique Can Help Remove Pigment.(of original tattoo)
October 1, 2001... VAIL VALLEY, COLO. -- Dermatologists should be aware of "overtattooing," a pigment removal technique known to tattoo artists for decades, said Dr. Whitney D. Tope at a symposium on cutaneous laser surgery sponsored by SkinCare Physicians of...

Matching the Cutting Tool to the Task.(overview of different cutting tools available in laser surgery)
October 1, 2001... VAIL VALLEY, COLO. -- Cold steel, diamond knives, and lasers each have advantages and disadvantages as cutting tools, Dr. Roland Kaufmann said at a symposium on cutaneous laser surgery sponsored by SkinCare Physicians of Chestnut Hill (see...

Midface Region Is First to Show Signs of Aging in Black Patients.(facial aesthetic surgery techniques)
October 1, 2001... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- When considering facial aesthetic surgery in African American patients, focus on the middle. That advice, given by Dr. Monte O. Harris at the annual meeting of the National Medical Association, is based on the fact that...

Attractive Dressings Are Important and Other Surgical Pearls From Academy 2001 Meeting.
October 1, 2001... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- Never pass an instrument over the face of a patient, advised Dr. Roger Ceilley of Iowa City at the American Academy of Dermatology's Academy 2001 meeting. Dr. Ceilly places moist gauze pads over the eyes of any patient...

Two Superficial Peels Called Safe For Dark Skin.(microdermabrasion and the "blue peel")
October 1, 2001... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Microdermabrasion and the "blue peel" are two relatively superficial methods of skin rejuvenation that are safe for dark skin types, Dr. Stephen Gordon and Dr. Anthony Griffin said in separate presentations at the annual...

Asian Cultural Values Impact Cosmetic Surgery.
October 1, 2001... DENVER -- The psychological perspective of cosmetic surgery patients with traditional Asian cultural values can be complex and perplexing to many Western surgeons, Dr. John McCurdy Jr. said at the annual fall meeting of the American Academy of...

Laser Scans May Shorten Mohs Surgical Sessions.(laser plastic surgery)
October 1, 2001... VAIL. VALLEY, COLO. -- Confocal microscopy showed good correlation with traditional histologic analysis during Mohs surgery, but the current technology still does not provide sufficient accuracy for routine clinical use, Dr. Thomas E. Rohrer...

Radiofrequency Device Well Tolerated, Effective in Early Trials.(Thermage Inc.'s cutaneous laser surgery device well tolerated)
October 1, 2001... VAIL VALLEY, COLO. -- A device intended to deliver radiofrequency energy beneath the surface of the skin is showing promise in early clinical trials, according to a panel of dermatologists at a symposium on cutaneous laser surgery sponsored by...

Keep the Venous System in Mind When Treating Leg Veins.
October 1, 2001... VAIL VALLEY, COLO. Treating leg veins with lasers is much more complex than many physicians assume, said Dr. Mitchel Goldman at a symposium on cutaneous laser surgery sponsored by SkinCare Physicians of Chestnut Hill. "The most important...

New Tactics For Removing Light Hair.
October 1, 2001... VAIL VALLEY, COLO. - Light-colored, thin hair is the bane of laser hair removal, but the careful selection of equipment and parameters can help, Dr. Christine C. Dierickx and Dr. Eliot F. Battle Jr. said in separate presentations at a symposium...

Powered Liposuction Preferred by Patients.
October 1, 2001... NEW ORLEANS -- Dr. William P. Coleman III has seen the future and it is powered liposuction. Also called "liposculpting," the procedure is done with a powered cannula that contains a reciprocating high-speed rasp that constantly alternates...

Liposuction May Be Alternative to Mammoplasty.(for breast reduction)
October 1, 2001... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Liposuction is emerging as a very promising new approach to breast reduction, Dr. Christopher Zachary said at a meeting on cosmetic dermatology sponsored by the Skin Disease Education Foundation. Early reports suggest that...

Screen Melanoma Patients for Psychosocial Needs.
October 1, 2001... ZURICH, SWITZERLAND -- A brief screening tool developed in Germany can help identify melanoma patients who are in need of psychosocial intervention, Dr. Gerhard Strittmatter said at the 8th World Congress on Cancers of the Skin. Patients...

Merkel Cell Cancer Patients Still Face A Grim Prognosis.(skin cancer prognosis)
October 1, 2001... ZURICH, SWITZERLAND -- Despite efforts at improving locoregional treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma, the prognosis for patients with this rare, aggressive malignancy remains poor, Dr. D.P.P. Vooijs said at the 8th Congress on Cancers of the...

Serum S-100 Protein Signals Tumor Progression.(of malignant melanoma)
October 1, 2001... VENICE, ITALY -- Serum S-100 protein is a valuable tumor marker for progression of malignant melanoma and for monitoring response to therapy, according to several poster presentations at the Fifth World Conference on Melanoma. In one study...

Warn Patients of Phototoxicity With St. John's Wort.
October 1, 2001... NEW YORK -- Patients undergoing phototherapy should be cautious when considering using St. John's wort for depression. There have been case reports of pruritic rash, subacute polyneuropathy, and burning pain when the herb is taken during...

COSMECEUTICAL CRITIQUE: KINETIN.(wrinkle and skin abnormality treatment)
October 1, 2001... Kinetin is one of the newer Kingredients on the cosmeceutical shelf. Kinetin-containing products are purported to produce the same effects as retinoids--a reduction in fine wrinkling, hyperpigmentation, and roughness--but without the erythema,...

Recalcitrant Pressure Ulcers Require Creative Medication Use.
October 1, 2001... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- Resourcefulness and tenacity may be necessary in treating recalcitrant pressure ulcers, the bane of elderly and infirm patients, Dr. Stuart Brown said at the American Academy of Dermatology's Academy 2001 meeting. Dr....

All Antibiotic Adhesive Bandages Are Not Created Equal.
October 1, 2001... LAS VEGAS -- There are significant differences in the efficacy of the over-the-counter antibiotic adhesive bandages, Dr. Stephen C. Davis said at a symposium sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care. In a side-by-side...

Try a Systemic Drug + Calcipotriene for Psoriasis.
October 1, 2001... SAN FRANCISCO -- The combination of topical calcipotriene with systemic cyclosporine, acitretin, or methotrexate increases the overall treatment efficacy while allowing for lower doses of the systemic agents, Dr. Peter van de Kerkhof reported...

Tazarotene Gel Reduced Pitting And Onycholysis.(in fingernail psoriasis)
October 1, 2001... ANAHEIM, CALIF -- Onycholysis associated with fingernail psoriasis responded well to tazarotene 0.1% gel in a preliminary single-center study presented at the American Academy of Dermatology's Academy 2001 meeting. Dr. Richard K. Scher and...

Probiotics Cut Atopic Eczema in Infants by Half.
October 1, 2001... Probiotic treatment administered to mothers prenatally and to their infants for 6 months postnatally reduced later development of atopic disease by 50%, according to a Finnish trial that followed 132 subjects for more than 2 years. The...

Varicella Cases Down, Breakthrough Cases Up.
October 1, 2001... BALTIMORE -- The incidence of varicella cases and hospitalizations dropped by about 80% between 1995 and 2000 in several areas of the country being monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Jane Seward reported in a...

Look for Atypical Findings in Red, Scaly Infants.
October 1, 2001... MONTEREY, CALIF. -- The vast majority of infants with red scaly skin have common inflammatory skin disorders, but other possibilities must be considered when atypical features are present, Dr. Anthony J. Mancini said at a meeting sponsored by...

Mercury Poisoning Easy to Mistake for Kawasaki Syndrome.
October 1, 2001... COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO -- A child's red palms and soles may not be signs of Kawasaki syndrome, Dr. Bernice Krafchik said at the annual meeting of the Pacific Northwest Dermatological Society. When a young boy presented with lesions around his...

Dental Implants Can Be Cause of Oral Dermatitis.
October 1, 2001... HERSHEY, PA. -- Metals in dental implants can cause oral lichen planus or stomatitis, and dermatologists can confirm a metal allergy through dental history, visual observation, and patch testing. Gold and mercury, the most common metals in...

Reaction to Metal Orthopedic Implants Is Usually Local.
October 1, 2001... HERSHEY, PA. -- Metals in orthopedic implants rarely cause more than .a local, treatable dermatitis and are generally not to blame for joint failures, Dr. Joseph F. Fowler Jr. said at a contact dermatitis meeting. Implanted joints where...

Psoriasis Generally Mild in African Americans.
October 1, 2001... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- The prevalence of psoriasis is still relatively low in people with skin of color, but as these racial and ethnic groups grow in the United States, physicians will increasingly see patients from these groups with psoriasis,...

Dermatofibrosarcoma Is Not Rare in Children, Although Often Misdiagnosed.
October 1, 2001... ZURICH, SWITZERLAND -- Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is not a rarity in children, Dr. Ellen Mooney said at the 8th World Congress on Cancers of the Skin. This has traditionally been considered a tumor of adults and so is often omitted...

DNA Abnormalities Predict Progression to Oral Cancer.(oral leukoplakia progression to squamous cell carcinoma)
October 1, 2001... Patients with abnormal amounts of DNA in tissue samples taken from the white patches of oral leukoplakia are more likely to progress to squamous cell carcinoma than are patients with normal DNA, reported Dr. Jon Sudbo and colleagues at the...

Hire Students to Clear Accounts Receivable Backlog.(dermatology office management)
October 1, 2001... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- Medical practice specialist Inga Ellzey has a battle plan for physicians at war with insurance companies that stall on paying claims that clog physicians' ever-growing "accounts receivable" columns. Her soldiers are...

Insurer Downcoding Sparks Physician Lawsuits.
October 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- Physicians are getting bolder about challenging insurers over delayed or denied health care claims. Dr. John McMahan, an Illinois otolaryngologist, sued Employers Health Insurance Co., a subsidiary of Humana Inc., after the...

'Lesbian-Sensitive' Providers Now Listed at UCSF.
October 1, 2001... SAN FRANCISCO -- Concerns by lesbian employees of one university that they were having difficulty finding health care providers sensitive to lesbian health issues has led to the creation of a list of "lesbian-sensitive" providers. After...

CASE OF THE MONTH.(indeterminate cell histiocytosis)
October 1, 2001... BANFF, ALTA. -- Indeterminate cell histiocytosis presents in a variety of ways, but most often as multiple papules, small nodules, or plaques. The face and extremities are the sites that are most commonly affected. Indeterminate cells can...

Skin Adhesive Chisel Tip.(Dermabond topical skin adhesive)
October 1, 2001... Dermabond topical skin adhesive (2-octyl cyanoacrylate) is now available with a chisel applicator tip for precise control over liquid flow and delivery of a fine or broad line. The adhesive is ideal for emergency room use because it allows...

Marine-Based Moisturizer.(Sea Silk Oil-Free Moisturizer)
October 1, 2001... Sea Silk Oil-Free Moisturizer is a lightweight, moisturizing cream suitable for dehydrated, oily skin. The Sea colored cream contains seaweed biopeptides for skin elasticity and collagen synthesis, and omegaplankton for essential fatty acids....

Exfoliating Facial Care.(with Lubriderm Skin Renewal)
October 1, 2001... Lubriderm Skin Renewal with polyhydroxy acid (PHA) has introduced a collection of products that exfoliate while moisturizing the skin: Anti-Wrinkle Day / Night Cream, Anti-Wrinkle Facial Lotion with SPF 15, Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream, Firming Body...

Serum and Clarifying Mask.(Clarifying Clay Masque)
October 1, 2001... Clarifying Clay Masque is a nondrying formulation of natural earth clay and five hydroxy acids that exfoliate and dry excess oil, The masque also contains kaolin, bentonite, zinc oxide, aloe, and chamomile. Topical Vitamin-C High Potency Serum...

Precision Desiccation.(with the Electricator precision electrosurgical unit)
October 1, 2001... The Electricator precision electrosurgical unit performs desiccation, fulguration, and coagulation procedures. The handpiece, which is 20% smaller than other units, has multifunction jacks, bipolar forceps, an optional patient grounding plate,...

Antiaging Moisturizer.(Neova antioxidant therapy)
October 1, 2001... Neova antioxidant therapy with GHK copper peptide complex is a moisturizer that provides a combination of antioxidants and copper to protect skin from free radical damage and fight signs of aging. Available in a 1-ounce bottle, it can be...

Anti-Inflammatory Acne Lotion.(Vanoxide-HC)
October 1, 2001... Vanoxide-HC (benzoyl peroxide 5% and hydrocortisone .05%) is a topical, water-based lotion for the treatment of acne. The benzoyl peroxide dries the. skin and prevents the growth of bacteria, while the hydrocortisone fights inflammation and...