News

Bristol, Tenn. - The Food and Drug Administration has approved Zyclara, a new cream made by Graceway Pharmaceuticals of Bristol, Tenn., for treatment of actinic keratoses, news source TriCities.com reports.

Washington - The Food and Drug Administration says Novartis AG and Astellas Pharma may need to expand warning labels on their eczema drugs following dozens of new reported cases of cancer and infection in children, Reuters reports.

Rolling Meadows, Ill. - Lawrence Field, M.D., has donated $100,000 to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) to start the Lawrence Field, M.D., International Dermatologic Surgery Educational Exchange Fund.

Petaluma, Calif. - Medical technology company Oculus Innovative Sciences is bringing Microcyn Dermatology HydroGel to the U.S. market, Business Wire reports.

Pediatric Dermatology : Growing pains beset this ‘new kid’ subspecialty Battling Back : Derms oppose healthcare reform’s new IPAB panel, lack of Medicare fix Special Report : Pediatric Dermatology

Patients undergoing cosmetic procedures may also have underlying cardiovascular (CV) issues for which they may need to take various therapeutic medications. Here, the cosmetic and medical sides of dermatology sometimes clash regarding the negative impact that these medications may have. It is the task of the astute physician to circumvent unwanted adverse events.

Physicians are looking for ways to control costs and increase income as malpractice premiums and practice overhead costs skyrocket and rates paid by insurers decline. Many physicians have exhausted cost-control measures, and most are not aware that they can increase their revenue by improving coding and overall claim processing and reviewing their payer contracts.

Wailea, Hawaii - The level of concern for neonatal dermatoses ranges depending on the type of condition, according to Julie V. Schaffer, M.D., director of pediatric dermatology, director of resident education, assistant professor of pediatrics and dermatology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York.

Recent changes to how dermatologists charge for Mohs and subsequent repairs have diminished reimbursement for those procedures. But some dermatologists are taking more of a financial hit than necessary because of simple, correctable mistakes, according to Inga C. Ellzey, M.P.A., R.H.I.A., C.D.C., president and chief executive officer, Inga Ellzey Practice Group, Casselberry, Fla.

As medical groups grow in size and doctors tend to migrate toward larger population areas, it’s often harder to find specialists in smaller towns. Particularly in lesser-populated states, such as Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming, a patient needing dermatologic care often has to drive hundreds of miles before finding a dermatologist.

Too many physicians over the past decade have sought cookie-cutter asset protection plans to give them some piece of mind that if they ever endure an outrageous malpractice case, they won’t lose everything.

You might say that Mark Procino is typical of America’s conservative savers. A middle-age electronics technician, he doesn’t trust the stock market. He faithfully contributes to his 401(k) each month, but he avoids any other investments in stocks. He has several certificates of deposit and a small money market account at his bank. Mark doesn’t like risk, so he wants to keep most of his financial future in what he regards as "safe" investments.

With interest in the new subspecialty of pediatric dermatology still less than robust, leaders in the field are looking at training requirements to see how they might be impacting recruiting. Meanwhile, the window is closing for a small but well-qualified group of physicians to be "grandfathered" into board certification.

Frizz-reducing products for the hair have become popular with the increased use of hair dyes among younger women. Permanent hair dye irreversibly damages the hair cuticle, allowing the hair to become frizzy. Hair serums are clear liquids applied to the hair for a variety of purposes, including frizz reduction.

Basal cell carcinoma is a skin tumor that is quickly diagnosed, easily managed and curable if treated quickly. However, according to one specialist, metastatic BCC likely occurs much more frequently than currently reported, and dermatologists should consider metastatic lesions and address them accordingly.

The slide preparation lab seems a logical extension of dermatology practice, yet few dermatologists tap into this revenue-producing option. Adding a histopathology component to your practice generates long-term revenue to help make up for dwindling reimbursement and aesthetic devices.

As consumer interest in the roles of nutrition and cosmeceuticals in skincare continues to increase, it behooves dermatologists to be knowledgeable on these topics. An understanding of the mechanism of action and theoretical benefits of cosmeceutical ingredients is fundamental for designing effective skincare protocols and providing appropriate explanations on the rationale for their use, experts say.

Dermatologists say they will vigorously oppose many portions of the newly passed healthcare reform bill, although they say it's too soon to determine exactly how. Chief objections are the bill's creation of an independent payment advisory board (IPAB) for Medicare and lack of a fix for Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR), sources say.

Fibrocell therapy is an innovative autologous cell therapy that is showing promise in the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles typically seen in photodamaged and photoaged skin. It also holds promise for treating depressed scar tissue, as it can revolumize the target area.

Pediatric patients seek many of the same cosmetic procedures that their parents desire. The question, according to one expert, becomes whether dermatologists and others should perform cosmetic procedures on patients who are still growing - physically and mentally.

Internet-based patient portals are Web sites with real horsepower. In addition to posting static information, such as office hours, physician and staff profiles and a list of services, portals deliver functionality to patients. These points of virtual access to your practice generate patient satisfaction because they provide convenient, 24-hour, self-service options to handle many interactions with your practice.

Pediatric dermatology has achieved important milestones in recent years, including board certification. However, the small dermatology subspecialty stands at a crossroads in 2010. Faced with a significant shortage of physicians choosing a career in pediatric dermatology, those committed to the subspecialty's survival are searching for solutions.

New York City dermatologist Lance H. Brown, M.D., is immersed in the specialty. The solo practitioner offers patients every aspect of dermatologic care - from Mohs and dermatologic surgery to general and cosmetic dermatology to allergy and patch testing. He sees patients of all ages at his office in the Union Square/Greenwich Village area, which is home to or accessible to a diverse population.

Variations in the DNA sequence of genes that play a role in determining skin pigmentation could be used to identify people at risk of developing melanoma targets for future research, the author of a recent study says.

International report - Dermatologist David Colbert, M.D., left his busy New York City practice and journeyed to Haiti just weeks after January’s devastating earthquake to help in whatever ways he could.

Two years ago, Dr. Cancer saw a patient with a biopsy-proven BCC of the right helix. The patient, during initial consultation, also brought a photo of the involved area. Because the patient was so anxious about her upcoming surgery, Dr. Cancer suggested she take an anti-anxiety medication prior to surgery.

Treating dermatologic issues associated with pregnancy often requires individualized treatments combining various agents, an expert says.

A novel genetic testing technique allows for patients who experience hair loss of any severity to know whether their condition is likely due to androgenetic alopecia.

Since there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against prophylatic surgery for patients with congenital melanocytic nevi, physicians need to tailor management based on factors such as the size, thickness and locations of lesions for each patient, an expert says.

Psoriasis in adults is among the most-researched inflammatory skin diseases. Yet treatment options for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and psoriasis in children represents a largely unmet medical need, according to an expert.