Orlando Dermatology Conference January 2014

The Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference, held Jan. 17-20 in Orlando, Fla., has several changes in store for 2014. Among those, according to Conference Chair James M. Spencer, M.D., are an increased focus on dermatology residents; a roster of presenters, including plastic surgeons and industry executives; a solid mix of presentations in medical, surgical and esthetic dermatology; and a special look at the impact of healthcare reform.

For those who are not attending, a few speakers from the upcoming conference offer Dermatology Times readers take-home points from their presentations.

The lineup

Something that differentiates the Orlando Dermatology conference from other dermatology meetings is its focus on residents, according to Dr. Spencer, professor of clinical dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, and in private practice in St. Petersburg, Fla.

“There is a special spot for 150 residents to come to learn the future of dermatology,” Dr. Spencer says. “For example, we have a whole day of esthetic training for the young dermatology practitioner. (There will be) live demos and hands-on training for young dermatologists.”

Also new: plastic surgeons and industry representatives will be offering their insight.

“I think it’s really nice to have somebody from another field in to give us their perspective. (Plastic surgeon) Michael Kane from New York is going to be speaking on injectables. I, for one, am looking forward to hearing the plastic surgery perspective,” Dr. Spencer says. “This year’s faculty includes lead investigators for recently FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-approved injectables and several products that are in the pipeline. These experts will get their crystal balls out and share their thoughts on where the dermatology industry is going.”

In addition to presentations about clinical and esthetic dermatology, the meeting will feature healthcare reform workshops.

The big reveals

Dr. Spencer will give a presentation on actinic keratosis (AK).

“I think the important thing for dermatologist to know is the vast majority of actinic keratoses don’t get treated, which is a real shame because we have the opportunity to prevent cancer. We give lip service to prevention but so rarely do we really do anything about it,” Dr. Spencer says.

According to the dermatologist, there is a growing number of choices in AK treatment, from new medicines, such as ingenol mebutate gel (Picato, Leo Pharma), to new options with old medicines - namely, imiquimod.

“(Picato) is the new kid on the block, and it’s a very short duration treatment. Most of our AK treatments are weeks to months and Picato is two to three days,” Dr. Spencer says. “The other new thing that has happened in AK therapy is imiquimod, which is not a new drug, now is in several different concentrations.”

Another area where there is a notable advance in treatment is in rosacea. Dermatologist Whitney P. Bowe, M.D., is discussing the topic in her talk, “What’s new in acne and rosacea?”

“Up until this time, we had no prescription therapy to offer rosacea sufferers who complained of facial redness. With the FDA approval of Mirvaso (brimonidine topical gel 0.33 percent, Galderma), we have a prescription topical gel that works to treat persistent facial erythema, causing blood vessels in the face to constrict for almost a full day after one application. It’s a game-changer,” says Dr. Bowe, who is a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Deborah S. Sarnoff, M.D., a clinical professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, offers practical tips in her lecture, “Six Steps to Creating The ‘Perfect’ Lip.”

“Too often, we see lips that are over-injected, creating ‘trout pouts’ or duck lips. I believe these deformities are not created by bad doctors, but rather good doctors who have never been properly trained,” Dr. Sarnoff says.

Her three tips for Dermatology Times readers are:

1.     Patient should be supine and the physician should stand at the head of the table behind the patient. “Lips will be ‘upside-down’ but, in my opinion, you can be more objective and achieve better symmetry and proportions,” she says.

2.     It’s not all about the vermillion. Build up the philtrum columns to restore architectural pillars to the cutaneous portion of the upper lip, as to create an aesthetically pleasing cupid’s bow.

3.     Mirrors don’t lie. Use a hinged three-way, hand-held mirror that shows the patient her lateral view (profile), as well as frontal. Lateral projection is as important as vertical height to create natural lip proportions.

For more information on the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical conference, visit orlandoderm.org or contact Amy Wilder, senior marketing associate and lead, SanovaLive, at 646-736-4334 or info@orlandoderm.org.

Disclosures: Dr. Bowe is a consultant for Galderma, but to date her consulting has been limited to acne related products only. Dr. Spencer is an investigator for Leo Pharma’s Picato.