News

Careful examination of the nails recently helped reveal deliberate heavy metal poisoning in two murder cases, leading to the arrest of the perpetrators in two sordid who-done-it murder investigations.

Results of a new study suggest that mutations in a gene that helps drive immune response may lead to pustular psoriasis. The finding could lead to a more effective treatment for the condition.

Researchers have developed a new method for using immunotherapy to specifically attack tumor cells that have mutations unique to a patient’s cancer.

A phase 3 trial of brodalumab (AMG 827) for the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis demonstrated positive results, meeting primary and secondary endpoints.

Defects in the skin that cause eczema may also help to lower the risk of skin cancer, recent research suggests.

Results of a new study suggest that having an established dermatologist can make a big difference for patients with self-detected primary melanoma.

A combination therapy using laser-cision and pinhole method with CO2 laser may clear hypertrophic burn scars, according to results of a small study.

Jill Waibel, M.D., discusses lasers and light-based technology with Dermatology Times. Dr. Waibel, owner of Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute, will be a panel member at the laser roundtable discussion at the 2014 Vegas Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Dermatology meeting in June.

The electronic medical record (EMR) has become a fact of life for many dermatologists while others are hesitant to change the way they have practiced and have resisted switching to this form of record keeping. Daniel Siegel, M.D., discusses the ramifications of EMR adoption and outlines the path toward adoption of this technology.

Treatments for melasma often fail because they do not address both the dermal and epidermal components of the condition, an expert says.

Despite the initial inconvenience, a well-implemented electronic health record (EHR) system can improve patient care and office workflows, according to an expert.

Peer-reviewed data on cosmeceuticals is lacking, but some of the most thoroughly researched offerings include coconut oil and lignin peroxidase, according to experts who spoke at Cosmetic Surgery Forum.

Treating excess pigmentation without hydroquinone requires a multipronged attack, including thoroughly researched agents wherever possible, according to experts at Cosmetic Surgery Forum.

Histological reports on atypical or dysplastic nevi that include margin comments appear to have a significant impact on how the clinician will proceed regarding the potential re-excision of lesions, according to a recent literature review.

Tax planning is like medicine. Each area has become so complex that one can only hope to become an expert in one discipline.

Many of the current definitions of skin diseases used in dermatology have changed and morphed over the years, as clinicians learn more and amass volumes of new information regarding many different features, characteristics and associations of dermatologic diseases.

The newest fad in antiperspirant/deodorants worldwide is skin lightening of the armpits combined with moisture and odor control. The need for armpit skin lightening is most pronounced among the higher Fitzpatrick skin types, in which armpit pigmentation is common.

Physicians have greatly changed the ways in which they use photodynamic therapy (PDT) since it was introduced, according to an expert who spoke at the South Beach Symposium recently.

Currently available fillers and filler techniques are changing the way dermatologists approach volume loss in the midface and beyond, according to experts at Cosmetic Surgery Forum, held in Las Vegas.

When considering the pluses, minuses and makeup of currently available fillers, according to an expert speaking at Cosmetic Surgery Forum, dermatologists must rely on their own insights and industriousness rather than manufacturers’ messages.

Patients are online, looking for information about their symptoms and illnesses or tips for living healthier lives. With so much information out there, why would a dermatologist add to the incredible amount of online noise by starting a new blog? Here are nine specific reasons why dermatologists should blog.

Treatments that combine newer targeted therapies have begun to lift the “death sentence” that advanced melanoma formerly carried, an expert says.

Although skin cancers occur less commonly in skin of color (SOC), an expert says, their poorer prognosis reveals a need for increased education among patients and providers.

A new study demonstrates that while melanoma diagnoses in both men and women are increasing, middle-aged women are being diagnosed with melanoma at staggering rates, alarming researchers.

For dermatologists, key concerns created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other elements of healthcare reform include patient access and provider payments, says an AAD official. Fortunately, he adds, the varied and largely office-based nature of dermatology could provide unique advantages in the evolving regulatory environment.

Ever recount your favorite Super Bowl commercial with a friend after the big game? Or see the golden arches and think about a burger? And who would have thought the silhouette of a fruit would be synonymous with the rise of a smartphone? Well, behold the power of brand identity.

Field therapy in patients with multiple facial actinic keratoses (AKs) is important for preventing the development of new, clinically visible lesions and squamous cell carcinoma. Yet, for a number of reasons, including the need for prolonged topical treatment and poor tolerability, field therapy is widely underused.

A dermatologist had his laptop stolen from his car. The computer contained 8,000 patient records, but all were encrypted. The doctor sought legal advice, reached out to all patients notifying them of the potential breach of PHI, and hired a service to help protect his patients. Can his patients sue him?

Until recently, dermatology was an almost universally well-respected medical and surgical discipline. The scope of the specialty appears to be narrowing. If we relinquish the authority to manage skin disorders to concentrate on more lucrative pursuits such as selling products, we will cease to be relevant and our patients will suffer.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a challenging disease to treat; however, a better understanding of the disease and continued research has led to more clear-cut therapeutic options, according to an expert who spoke at the North American Clinical Dermatologic Society meeting.