News

Identifying the biochemical composition of moles rapidly with Raman spectroscopy may help dermatologists and general practitioners to diagnosis skin cancers. Technology being developed by Verisante, through its Verisante Aura device, a multimodality imaging and spectroscopy system, would assist physicians with the early detection of skin cancers.

The market is flooded with a sea of cosmeceutical products that can help to improve the quality and appearance of patients' skin. Most of the products available today do, in fact, work and are backed by solid science, but they should be part of an ongoing skincare regimen and should not be viewed as a panacea for aging skin.

Teledermatology is a growing component of the dermatology specialty, and many dermatologists say they'd be interested in participating in such programs. In this issue, we explore the potential benefits of using technology in this way - and why reimbursement remains problematic.

As third-party payer reimbursements for medical dermatological care decreased, many dermatologists started growing their cosmetic dermatology practices. When the economy took a nosedive a few years back, many doctors reported a drop in the demand for cosmetic procedures, but given the signs of economic recovery, On Call asked dermatologists if the demand is rebounding.

The EHR Incentive Program offers bonus payments for eligible professionals who make meaningful use of a certified system. Although the government's initiative is labeled under a single moniker, there are really two distinct programs for eligible professionals: Medicare and Medicaid. When you register for the EHR Incentive Program, you must choose one or the other.

Ever since Botox Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan) hit the market, it has gained enormous popularity in both the cosmetic and medical fields, and many other pharmaceutical and aesthetic companies have tried to produce additional botulinum toxins. Though Botox and Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA, Medicis) remain the most popular, others are surfacing.

Gail Wilensky, Ph.D., one of the most knowledgeable career health policy experts in Washington and someone who once ran the Medicare program, now says last year's passage of the healthcare reform law was a "wasted opportunity" because it did not include physician payment reform.

The aesthetic market is inundated with a gamut of fillers, many of which can be used for the same or similar cosmetic indications. But not all fillers are created equal, and a better understanding of the unique features of each individual product can help physicians choose their filler of choice for a given indication.

Intertriginous and scalp psoriasis has always been difficult to treat, mostly due to a lack of patient adherence. Using novel preparations as well as appropriate vehicles can significantly increase patient compliance and lead to improved treatment outcomes, according to one expert.

Patients desire cosmetic procedures that are noninvasive and offer minimal downtime and reliable results. Until recently, such options for facial and neck skin tightening were limited to broadband light and monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency devices. Introduction of an exciting application of ultrasound technology is changing this paradigm.

Dermatologists' toolbox of options for treating actinic keratosis (AKs) has two promising new tools, and another may be on its way to approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Mineral cosmetics have been popularized as better for sensitive skin, rosacea patients and acne prevention. Is there something magical about a mineral cosmetic? The answer is "no." Mineral cosmetics are simply powder cosmetics as opposed to lotions or creams. They are better for people with multiple sensitivities because they have fewer ingredients.

Preventing and treating extrinsic and intrinsic skin aging and photoaging requires attacking these processes at the cellular level, experts say. A lifetime of healthy skin requires evaluating one's diet and lifestyle choices and selectively using vitamins and supplements.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is commonly considered beneficial for predicting prognosis in patients with cutaneous melanoma, although there has been no documented survival value. A new analysis casts doubt on the value of this practice, however.

A series of technological innovations has led to near-real-time, in vivo, three-dimensional optical imaging of skin up to a depth of 1 mm – with potentially a depth of up to 2 mm with clearing methods.

Results of a recent study to determine the effectiveness of noncoherent blue light in the intralesional photodynamic therapy (PDT) of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) found the treatment to be beneficial for a certain subgroup of patients.

Many dermatologists would be eager to get involved with teledermatology, experts say - if only they could get paid for it. The snag is in federal rules pertaining to reimbursement. Currently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) operates under conflicting language in the rules regarding teledermatology.

Despite recent advances, topical and systemic treatments for infantile hemangiomas need more randomized, controlled trials to help guide treatment decisions. Topical medications generally work best for localized, superficial hemangiomas, says Maria Garzon, M.D., professor of clinical dermatology and clinical pediatrics, Columbia University, New York.

Succeeding in social media requires focusing on high-impact outlets, investing time and conveying a personal touch. Unlike word-of-mouth, today's social media allow people to connect with others outside of their traditional social circle without constraints of time or space.

Investigators are studying vismodegib (previously known as GDC-0449, Genentech), a new oral inhibitor of the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway, known to play an important role in basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The drug is showing promise in treating this type of cancer - the No. 1 skin cancer in the United States.

Dermatologist Richard P. McClintock Jr., M.D., always wanted to be a country doctor. So he went to Harvard Medical School, completed a dermatology residency and fellowship at Stanford School of Medicine and set up practice in Ukiah, Calif., a small town of about 15,000, some 120 miles from San Francisco. That was in 1967. He's still in Ukiah, and he has no plans to retire.

New and emerging systemic medications (such as the biologics) can be very useful in the treatment of patients suffering from moderate to severe psoriasis, particularly in those patients recalcitrant to other tried therapies. These potent medications can be associated with severe adverse events (Aes), however, and it is up to the clinician to carefully weigh the pros and cons of each medication before making decisions on therapy.

Since we have relatively few drugs in our therapeutic arsenal and care for hundreds of skin diseases, those few drugs tend to get utilized in situations far afield from their original intended use. Anecdotal data is published to validate what is often inappropriate therapy, and once in the literature or in the public domain after a lecture or seminar, it is almost impossible to expunge the spurious information unless there is some horrible side effect.

A patient brings a negligence cause of action against both her dermatologist and the covering physician. The basis of her case against Dr. Eye, her own personal dermatologist, is that he was in a "joint-venture" with the covering dermatologist. Is Dr. Eye, the operating dermatologist, liable?

An aggressive quality improvement program has helped more than 150 Veterans Affairs hospitals reduce the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by 62 percent in intensive care units and 45 percent in other units, the online New York Times reports.

A Mayo Clinic case study suggests that Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan) can benefit patients who suffer disabling headaches from low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), Medical News Today reports.

The Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) clearance to the ARTAS System, a device for harvesting hair follicles from the scalps of men with straight black or brown hair who have been diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia, Medical News Today reports.

LEO Pharma, the U.S. affiliate of Danish firm LEO Pharma A/S, is offering a copay program for many users of its Taclonex Ointment and Taclonex Scalp Topical Suspension (calcipotriene 0.005 percent, betamethasone dipropionate 0.064 percent) psoriasis medications.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Sylatron (peginterferon alfa-2b), an injectable drug for adjuvant treatment of melanoma, manufacturer Merck has announced.

New research suggests that the T-cell inhibitor abatacept (Orencia, Bristol-Myers Squibb) can be beneficial in treating the joint manifestations of psoriatic arthritis, with lesser effects on the disease’s skin component, MedPage Today reports.