Dermatology News and Research

Latest Dermatology News and Research

Teenagers sunbake despite skin cancer knowledge

A teenager’s world is paved with warning signs. Whether the signs urge teens to avoid drinking, smoking or even tanning, the message is the same – sooner or later, the consequences of their actions will catch up with them. When it comes to tanning, teenagers know that tanning can cause skin cancer but choose to tan to “look good” anyway, according to a new survey by the American Academy of Dermatology.

2 May 2005

Increasing exposure to either natural or artificial ultraviolet (UV) light should not be recommended as a supplemental source of vitamin D

Based on data reviewed by a consensus conference convened by the American Academy of Dermatology Association to examine the relationship between sunlight, tanning booths and vitamin D, renowned medical experts agreed that increasing exposure to either natural or artificial ultraviolet (UV) light should not be recommended as a supplemental source of vitamin D.

2 May 2005

Adults are much more likely to protect their children from the sun than themselves

Adults with children or grandchildren know that protecting their little ones from the sun is essential to preventing painful sunburns. But while parents and grandparents are busy slathering kids with sunscreen and arming them with hats and protective clothing, they are not as likely to practice this same behavior when it comes to protecting themselves, according to a new survey by the American Academy of Dermatology.

2 May 2005

Shade structure grants help make it safer to have fun in the sun

With warm, sunny weather outside, no one wants to find themselves cooped up indoors, especially children. But heading outdoors without adequate sun protection can lead to a sunburn that lingers long after the outdoor fun has ended. Sunburns are known to have a cumulative effect and can lead to future skin cancers including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

2 May 2005

Sex, age and sun exposure linked to frequency of sunburns

In Danish volunteers, sunburn was typically associated with female sex, younger age, high risk behaviors like sunbathing, and long hours exposed to the sun, according to an article in the April issue of Archives of Dermatology.

19 Apr 2005

Dermatologists use patterns to recognize melanoma

Dermatologists depend on overall pattern recognition and comparison rather than specific analytic criteria to distinguish melanoma lesions (malignant skin cancer) from harmless skin moles, according to an article in the April issue of Archives of Dermatology.

19 Apr 2005

New optical method will help diagnose various types of skin cancers

A new optical method that can image subsurface structures under skin has been demonstrated by scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

12 Apr 2005

Experts call for improved access to treatment for psoriatic arthritis

MPs gathered at the House of Commons on Tuesday (April 5th) as experts and patient groups urged members of parliament to lobby for improved access to treatment for patients with psoriatic arthritis, a little known and poorly understood condition in which patients experience symptoms of both psoriasis and arthritis.

6 Apr 2005

Promising results reported for HIV patients suffering from facial wasting

Physicians from leading plastic surgery and dermatology practices report positive results from HIV patients participating in a clinical trial of Radiesse synthetic injectable implant on facial wasting. The trial is intended to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of this widely used tissue augmentation therapy as a treatment for the facial changes that socially stigmatize many HIV-infected patients.

23 Mar 2005

Study suggests combination therapy could stop spread, halt growth of melanomas

Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine have identified the mechanism by which the most mutated gene in melanoma, called v599EB-Raf, aids melanoma tumor development demonstrating its importance as a therapeutic target.

22 Mar 2005

Ultraviolet instant cameras may help change sun protection behaviors

Photographs that reveal hidden skin damage from ultraviolet (UV) exposure from the sun, combined with information on sunless tanning alternatives, was effective in encouraging sun protection behaviors in a small group of college students, according to an article in the March issue of Archives of Dermatology.

22 Mar 2005

Radiopharmaceuticals and lasers produce sound to treat and detect cancerous moles

When treating skin cancer, differentiating between melanoma and healthy moles can be difficult. Doctors must know the shape of the cancer and how deep it is before treating the problem. Now, a skin care specialist at the University of Missouri-Columbia has teamed with MU engineering and internal medicine professors to develop a better identification and treatment process.

1 Mar 2005

Fractional rejuvenation, the latest in non-ablative (non-invasive) laser skin rejuvenation

The skin can be damaged in many different ways – some are environmental, such as sun exposure, while others are the result of conditions such as acne or melasma. While this damage affects only small areas of the skin, past skin rejuvenation procedures treated large areas of the skin whether it was damaged or not.

22 Feb 2005

Cell phones useful and feasible for visualizing leg wounds

Use of cell phones to send images via e-mail to consulting physicians at remote locations appears to be a feasible approach for visualization of chronic leg ulcerations, according to an article in the current issue of Archives of Dermatology.

21 Feb 2005

Exercise and dietary changes vital in taking and keeping off weight that is associated with many chronic health problems

When the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine recently announced that Americans should exercise an hour a day to fight the country’s growing obesity epidemic, collective groans could be heard in big cities and small towns everywhere.

20 Feb 2005

Biologic therapies are changing the way dermatologists treat psoriasis

Recently approved and investigational biologic therapies are changing the way dermatologists treat psoriasis, a chronic disease that physically and emotionally challenges 4.5 million Americans. As more research is conducted into the effectiveness of these biologics, they are showing great promise for improving the health and well-being of patients with psoriasis.

20 Feb 2005

Scientists identify genes that promote the growth and recurrence of skin cancer

Andrzej Dlugosz, M.D., a professor of dermatology in the U-M Medical School, and colleagues at the University of Michigan and the National Cancer Institute examined the functions of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in basal cell carcinoma – the most common form of cancer – and uncovered a subset of tumor cells that were resistant to inhibition of the Hedgehog pathway.

10 Jan 2005

First program to apply RNA interference (RNAi) technology to asthma

Sirna Therapeutics, Inc. has announced the first program to apply RNA interference (RNAi) technology to asthma, a highly prevalent, chronic disease accounting for an estimated $13 billion in healthcare costs in the United States, a number which is forecast to grow considerably by the end of the decade.

7 Jan 2005

First LED device to receive approval for a medical claim associated with cosmetic improvement of aging and sun-damaged skin

Light BioScience announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared GentleWaves Light Emitting Diode (LED) Photomodulation System for the non-invasive treatment of periorbital (eye area) wrinkles and rhytids.

5 Jan 2005

At-home hand dermatitis treatment with oral medication and use of a portable tanning effective treatment for hand eczema

An at-home hand dermatitis treatment with oral medication and use of a portable tanning unit appears to be as effective as a hospital-based treatment in reducing the symptoms of hand dermatitis, according to an article in the December issue of The Archives of Dermatology.

20 Dec 2004