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Although use of teledermatology is growing, such programs face obstacles, including a lack of federal reimbursement, experts say. Still, they agree that the ability to see faraway patients' problems can be a valuable adjunct to standard clinical care.

Somewhere between soap and water, fillers and facial peels, are skincare regimens that can help to maintain healthy, youthful skin. Most cosmeceuticals aren't required to have approval from the Food and Drug Administration, so they often lack complete studies to support their effectiveness. But they can still play a role in giving skin a younger, fresher appearance.

New low-power lasers for hair removal can deliver advances in efficacy, safety and patient comfort, according to recent studies. The LightSheer Duet diode laser (Lumenis) delivers high speed and vacuum technology with its low-power HS handpiece, offering a 22 mm by 35 mm spot size.

Sunscreen allergy may be on the rise in your practice because of the increased use of oxybenzone. Oxybenzone absorbs in the UVA range and is also used to photostabilize avobenzone. Its use has been increasing since the concept of photostabilization entered the sunscreen market.

Dermatology training programs continue to confront the practitioner shortage by courting residents likely to work in underserved markets, encouraging altruism and, increasingly, using nongovernmental money to fund residency slots, experts say.

Recently, a 78-year-old woman for whom I had cared in the past returned with a complaint of numerous growths on her neck. I informed the patient that I would be happy to remove her skin tags, but there was no medical indication to do so. The treatment would not be an insurance-covered service. She was not at all happy about this response.

A 2010 study shows that the use of Zyclara (imiquimod 3.75 percent, Graceway) following cryosurgery complements the efficacy of cryosurgery in the total reduction and complete clearance of actinic keratoses (AKs).

A new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has found that there is insufficient evidence to support major revisions in the dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D.

If you're like most Americans, you feel less secure about the U.S. economy. Certainly, this is justified. It's crucial that savvy investors - including physicians - learn from the past two years and adjust their investment behavior accordingly.

In a recent study, topical imiquimod 5 percent (Aldara, Graceway) showed efficacy against lentigo maligna (LM) (the in situ form of lentigo maligna melanoma), but the study's lead author cautions that long-term follow-up is crucial for patients treated with it.

Dermatologists and other physicians who treat Medicare patients escaped the 23 percent reimbursement reduction scheduled to take effect in December, and the pressure was on the lame-duck Congress in December to prevent the 24.9 percent cut slated for Jan. 1 from being implemented.

On Call asked dermatologists around the country whether they prefer to see the national healthcare reform legislation repealed or repaired. We also asked what they like - and dislike - most about the law.

Successful treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) often combines medical and surgical treatments, guided by increasingly sensitive symptom severity scales, according to one expert.

Experts in contact dermatitis are finding that good outcomes after patch testing might be more of a matter of how the results are used than anything else. According to Matthew J. Zirwas, M.D., director, Contact Dermatitis Center, Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, some new studies are revealing novel approaches for managing patients after patch testing that are more likely to benefit the patients.

Dr. Derm and his associates decided it was in the practice's best interests if he left. His access to network office materials should have been terminated Jan. 1, but it was not until Feb. 1 that it was done. In the meantime, Dr. Derm downloaded medical records of some of his former associates' family members.

Patients with repeated dermatitis of the skin surrounding the nail plate might benefit from a refresher course on the chemical agents commonly used to formulate various nail products and possible skin reactions associated with those agents, according to a physician.

The next time you see a patient presenting with a widespread, severely pruritic rash, ask them if he or she has been in any hot tubs lately. A common chemical used in hot tubs called potassium peroxymonosulfate could be the culprit. The rash tends to affect the back, calves and inner parts of arms.

Effectively treating metastatic melanoma remains a challenging task, and this is particularly true when the tumor spreads to the brain. Gamma Knife radiosurgery is one therapeutic modality that can treat metastatic lesions in the brains of carefully selected patients while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue and improving patients' quality of life.

Maintaining a high index of suspicion for sebaceous carcinoma is important in those patients who present with certain periocular lesions, because sebaceous carcinoma can be an aggressive tumor that's often misdiagnosed, says Marc Brown, M.D.

Fractional CO2 laser treatment offers a novel option for periorbital rejuvenation that results in minimal downtime and benefits skin texture and laxity as well as brow elevation, according to Dvora Ancona, M.D.

Alexander Gross, M.D., makes daily differences in the lives of his patients as a practicing dermatologist in Cumming, Ga. He also makes a big-picture impact on the professional as a whole, as chairman of the Georgia Composite Medical Board.

Evidence-based treatment options for moderate-to-severe pediatric atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are severely limited, according to specialists in the field, leading to the creation of a national collaborative by several pediatric dermatologists.

Knowledge of contact allergens during dermatologic surgery and in postoperative woundcare is important for all surgical and procedural dermatologists. Potential allergens found in cutaneous surgery include skin preparation substances, perioperative materials, and postoperative substances such as dressings and adhesives, an expert says.

The House of Representatives passed legislation Nov. 29 that temporarily halts the 23 percent cut in Medicare physician payments that was to take effect Dec. 1, MedPage Today reports.

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel has endorsed - albeit grudgingly - a novel device designed to help doctors evaluate atypical skin lesions, including melanoma, Medscape Medical News reports.

A new study by the National Institutes of Health suggests that a small percentage of people with dermatitis herpetiformis may eventually go into spontaneous remission, and be able to wean off medication and a gluten-free diet, Reuters Health reports.

The Australian state of New South Wales is attempting to tighten tanning bed regulations by calling for a ban on tanning bed usage by people under age 30 and by anyone with skin classed as very sensitive, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Nearly 95 percent of American physicians report that their patients have rationed or gone without medication or treatments in the past six months due to financial concerns, according to a survey conducted by MDLinx, one of the country’s largest doctor portals.

Up for Renewal : Dermatologists debate MOC-D requirements, recertification exam Formula for Delay : Medicare SGR fix may be further away as GOP captures House majority Special Report : Wound healing

Despite initial protests, dermatologists required to participate in maintenance of certification (MOC) programs generally view them as helpful tools for improving patient care, doctors say. However, even some MOC proponents question the effectiveness of the American Board of Dermatology recertification test in this regard, and the recent shift to a closed-book format.