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Q. What is the difference between an azelaic acid gel and an azelaic acid cream?

San Francisco - The key to effectively treating toenail and fingernail onychomycosis may lay in the delivery system rather than in the drug itself, according to preliminary results of an open-label feasibility study of a 4 percent clotrimazole lacquer formulated with the drug delivery technology CPE-215 (15 percent).

Maui, Hawaii -- Joseph B. Bikowski, M.D., speaking at the annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar, offered anecdotal information for 15 common facial issues, based on what has worked in his Pittsburgh-area dermatology practice.

Nearly all of us use and depend on computers for running and operating our medical offices. I doubt there are many of us who could successfully operate our practices without this evolving technology, which adds not only to

About five years ago, I set up a Web site for my dermatology practice. My Web site was useful not only as a source of information for patients and potential patients but also as a source of information for pharmaceutical companies and other businesses I deal with.

San Francisco -A novel night firming product containing niacinamide, dexpanthenol, tocopherol acetate, and hydrolyzed wheat protein strengthens the stratum corneum better than nine other commercial firming and moisturizing products, according to transepidermal water loss studies performed by Procter & Gamble.

San Francisco -A cross-sectional survey of twins suggests that genetic effects are most important in the development of photodamage.

Maui, Hawaii - Canadian physicians in their fifth year of using a hyaluronic acid filler called Restylane can't help but smile -- and neither can their patients.

Orlando - To prevent pressure ulcers in long-term care facilities, clinicians and staff must adopt a multifactorial approach that accounts for everything from diet to patient movement to continence control, according to George Taler, M.D., C.M.D.

San Francisco - Recent advances in wound dressings, including the introduction of new moisture retentive dressings, the concept of sequential dressing therapy, and products mitigating the hostile wound environment, have been significant developments for enhancing healing of chronic cutaneous wounds, Tania J. Phillips, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

San Francisco - Diclofenac sodium 3 percent in hyaluronan 2.5 percent gel (Solaraze Gel) offers a useful alternative for topical treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs) in patients with multiple lesions, John E. Wolf Jr., M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

San Francisco - The presence of leukoplakia in the oral cavity may be a harbinger of malignancy. Dermatologists must be able to identify these lesions and manage patients appropriately to help prevent a largely avoidable cancer.

San Francisco - Little scientific literature has been published about the use of alternative medicines for dermatologic purposes during pregnancy, but dermatologists need to be aware of at least two therapies that their patients may be using: a cream made from licorice root for the treatment of melasma, and a cream made from gotu cola that may prevent stretch marks, Scott M. Dinehart, M.D.. said.

San Francisco - Which drugs can be used safely used during pregnancy? According to Valerie Hanft, M.D., patients and their doctors can assess the risks of the many different drugs available over the counter and by prescription by first referring to the FDA pregnancy safety rating for the drug in question.

Bal Harbour, Fla. - Serious drug eruptions are rare; however, in their daily practice dermatologists are often confronted with symptoms, such as rashes, and might be confused about whether the causes are infection- or drug-related, Ronald C. Hansen, M.D., said at the annual Masters of Pediatrics Conference, hosted by the University of Miami School of Medicine.

Maui, Hawaii--Updated Soriatane (acitretin) label information will equip prescribers with the most current data about this systemic retinoid and enhance their ability to use it safely and effectively, Ronald W. Gottschalk, M.D., said at the annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar, sponsored by the Skin Disease Education Foundation.

San Francisco - The majority of current treatments for bullous pemphigoid (BP) are not supported by evidence from solid randomized controlled trials, according to Emory University researcher Seaver L. Soon, M.D.

San Francisco - Monotherapy with tacrolimus 0.1 percent ointment (Protopic) is an effective and generally well-tolerated treatment for moderate to severe chronic red face, Wayne H. Fujita, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

While leaders of both political parties say they want to provide Medicare patients with meaningful coverage for prescription drug expenses, major philosophical differences threaten to make that objective extremely difficult to achieve.

Syneron Medical Ltd. announced the FDA granted 510K marketing clearance to its Polaris LV system for vascular lesion treatment.

San Francisco -- Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis can receive efalizumab (Anti-CD11a) continually with no increased toxicity for approximately one year, an ongoing open-label trial shows.

Ponder this oh-so-common catch-22. Have you ever requested authorization from an insurance company to do a procedure on a patient and received a comment that they won't approve the procedure, but they will consider payment after the procedure has been performed? Or have your patients been denied approval when they have a medically necessary or medically related condition that should be legitimately approved?

Marge and Sam Smith, the hypothetical principals in a dermatology practice, recently returned from attending a meeting in another state. During the course of that three-day event, the Smiths made a lot of contacts, absorbed a number of great ideas, and even ordered a few things that they felt would benefit their dermatology practice.

San Francisco - Topical photodynamic therapy is effective in improving the signs of aging, particularly when associated with actinic keratoses but even in their absence, according to Dany J. Touma, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, and director, Boston University Center for Cosmetic and Laser Surgery.

San Francisco - Rapid relief of pruritus of atopic dermatitis can be obtained by combining a mid-potency topical corticosteroid and calcineurin inhibitor, and tolerability of the combination is very good, according to James Q. Del Rosso, D.O., clinical assistant professor of dermatology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas.

San Diego - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a supplemental new drug application for Valtrex (valacyclovir HCl) caplets (Glaxo SmithKline) for the suppression of recurrent genital herpes in HIV-infected individuals. Once daily dosage has been shown to reduce the transmission of symptomatic genital herpes in healthy heterosexual monogamous couples by more than three-quarters, according to Lawrence Corey, M.D.

The use of biologics to treat psoriasis is on the move. A couple of systemic medications have received FDA approval for psoriasis and related conditions, and several more are in the pipeline. Although the drugs are reputed to cause fewer and less serious side effects than traditional psoriasis treatments, that doesn't mean side effects don't exist, and that makes them an issue for some doctors and patients alike.

We have recently been in the extended process of recruiting a full-time clinical academician to staff busy resident-run clinics. While we wait for lightening to strike and successfully identify such an individual, several excellent community dermatologists, as a favor to our program, have volunteered to provide staff coverage until the position is filled.

Q: I see patients at this home for the elderly. It's not a skilled or intermediate facility, but there is a mini-clinic set up where various physicians come in and see patients who live there. It's kind of an assisted living place.

San Francisco -- Alitretinoin 0.1 percent gel (Panretin) appears to be an effective modality for improving the appearance of photoaged skin and may have an added benefit for treating some benign and precancerous lesions common in aging skin, according to preliminary results of a pilot trial conducted by investigators from the Cosmetic Center of the University of Miami.