Dermatology News and Research

Latest Dermatology News and Research

Oral medication alitretinoin effective in treating moderate or severe hand dermatitis

Use of the oral medication alitretinoin was effective in treating moderate or severe hand dermatitis in nearly half of patients previously unresponsive to standard treatment, according to an article in the December issue of The Archives of Dermatology.

20 Dec 2004

Wiping out a protein in skin cancer cells could significantly stall melanoma tumor development

The protein, Akt3, appears to be responsible for promoting tumor cell survival and development in 43 percent to 60 percent of non-inherited melanomas.

13 Dec 2004

Lupus drug may also be useful in treating psoriasis

A new drug candidate previously shown to reduce harmful side effects of the autoimmune disease lupus also may be useful in treating psoriasis.

13 Dec 2004

Chronic stress may speed up the onset of skin cancer

Does stress speed up the onset of skin cancer? The answer, in mice anyway, appears to be "yes." Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center say that chronic stress may speed up the process in those at high-risk for the disease.

8 Dec 2004

Dermatologists recommend adding an E to the ABCD acronym for recognizing early melanomas

One more letter should be added to the alphabetic list of warning signs of melanoma, a potentially deadly skin cancer, according to a group of NYU School of Medicine dermatologists and their Australian colleagues.

8 Dec 2004

Researchers identify biomarkers that could lead to more accurate diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus

University of Pittsburgh researchers have identified biomarkers that could result in earlier and more accurate diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a devastating disease that affects as many as 1.5 million Americans, and occurs 10 to 15 times more frequently in women.

4 Nov 2004

New Drug Application for Velac accepted for filing by the FDA

Connetics Corporation, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on dermatology, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted for filing the Company's New Drug Application for Velac

25 Oct 2004

Common antibacterial and antifungal ingredient used in tooth paste may protect against skin cancer

According to new studies, sanguinarine was shown to enhance production of proteins that induce cell death, or apoptosis, in cells damaged by ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation.

21 Oct 2004

Patients with stable vitiligo may achieve good repigmentation with skin transplants using skin taken from normally-pigmented areas of their own bodies

Patients with stable vitiligo, a skin disorder characterized by patches of lighter colored, or depigmented skin, may achieve good repigmentation of these areas with skin transplants using skin taken from normally-pigmented areas of their own bodies

18 Oct 2004

Myths and facts about weight loss and liposuction

For many Americans, weight loss can seem like a lost cause, especially when diet and exercise fall short of helping them achieve their ideal physique.

13 Oct 2004

Warning signs and the latest treatment options for rosacea

For most people, a flushed face is a typical reaction to emotions ranging from excitement to embarrassment and sometimes even anger.

13 Oct 2004

Dermatologists now have many treatment options that can significantly reduce the appearance of scars or make them disappear all together

The scar you received when you fell off your bike at age 12 or from a recent car accident may be a constant and painful reminder of the event. While you may not feel any physical pain from these wounds, scars can make you feel self-conscious or embarrassed, particularly if they are located on exposed skin.

13 Oct 2004

Options for women experiencing hair loss

Each year, women spend countless hours and dollars on their hair. It can play a major role in a woman’s self-confidence and self-esteem, making female pattern hair loss a potentially debilitating condition, socially and emotionally. But it doesn’t have to be.

13 Oct 2004

Melanin is not only good for you, it also can be bad

Blondes and redheads not only are more susceptible to skin cancer, but the source of their skin and hair pigmentation, melanin, actually magnifies the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays, according to a study published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

13 Oct 2004

Nanotechnology company pSivida granted European patent

Nanotechnology company pSivida has announced that its UK operating subsidiary pSiMedica Limited has been granted a further patent for BioSiliconTM.

13 Oct 2004

Laser therapy and tacrolimus ointment best for vitiligo

Patients with vitiligo, a skin disorder characterized by patches of white, or de-pigmented skin, had better repigmentation of these patches when they were treated with a combination of laser therapy and tacrolimus ointment than patients treated with laser therapy alone

21 Sep 2004

Researchers work to defeat acne by understanding it better on a molecular level

To defeat an enemy, you must first understand it, or so the saying goes. And for nearly every teenager and young adult, acne is a formidable foe, causing damage to their skin and their self-image that can leave long-lasting physical and emotional scars.

2 Sep 2004

Researchers discover that DNA fragments destroy melanoma cells

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have discovered that small DNA fragments or oligonucleotides that resemble the telomere (chromosome end), also called T-oligos, can cause human melanoma cells to undergo extensive apoptosis (cell death), while surviving melanoma cells become more differentiated and therefore less aggressive.

1 Sep 2004

More physicians in graduate medical school than ever

In the 2003 - 2004 academic year, there were 99,964 active medical residents, the highest number ever recorded by the National GME Census. The survey also noted the greatest number of residents entering U.S. medical education programs for the first time (n = 22,444).

1 Sep 2004

Cell biologists may have discovered a new effective therapy for psoriasis

About two million Germans suffer from psoriasis (from the Greek psora meaning ‘itching, scratching’). In this incurable disease the regeneration of the epidermis is speeded up enormously: whereas it normally renews itself in just under four weeks, this period is cut to four to seven days in psoriasis patients.

16 Aug 2004