by Elissa M. Schwartzfarb, BS, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida;

Dot Weir, RN, CWON, CWS, Clinical Director, The Wound Center at Osceola Regional Medical Center, Kissimee, Florida;

Walter A. Conlan III, MD, CWS, Medical Director, The Wound Center at Osceola Regional Medical Center, Kissimee, Florida;

Paolo Romanelli, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida;

Robert S. Kirsner, MD, PhD, Vice-Chairman and The Stiefel Laboratories Professor of Medical Dermatology, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida Read the rest of this article »

by Michael H. Gold, MD, Medical Director, Gold Skin Care Center and The Laser & Rejuvenation Center, Nashville, Tennessee; The Laser & Rejuvenation Center, Nashville, Tennessee

Amy Pope, PA-C, The Laser & Rejuvenation Center, Nashville, Tennessee Read the rest of this article »

by Amy Forman Taub, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois; Founder/Director of Advanced Dermatology, Skinfo, SkinQRI, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Erin C. DeVita, CST, CMSLO, CCRC, Advanced Dermatology, SkinQRI, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Abstract

Introduction: Many laser and light devices have reported to be successful in the treatment of the flushing, background erythema, and telangiectasias that characterize erythematotelangiectatic rosacea including pulsed dye laser, potassium titanyl phosphate, intense pulsed light, and dual-wavelength lasers. A technology called ELOS (electro-optical synergy) combines pulsed light or laser with bipolar radiofrequency. This combination, developed in 2000, was based on the premise that these two forms of energy could be synergistic. One such device (Aurora SRA—skin-rejuvenation advanced handpiece, Syneron Medical Ltd., Yokneam, Israel) has a light spectrum of 470 to 980nm, energy up to 45J/cm2, and a range of radiofrequency energy of 5 to 25J/cm3 and is indicated for the treatment of vascular and pigmented lesions. Methods: We attempted to quantify the improvement of moderate-to-severe type-1 rosacea after three and five full-face treatments with this modality. Twenty-one patients with moderate-to-severe rosacea underwent five monthly full-face treatments with this device. The patients were evaluated with high-resolution photographs (Canfield Visia CR, Canfield, Fairfield, New Jersey) and self-evaluated via the National Rosacea Society’s official “Scorecard.” Results: Erythema and telangiectasia (physician assessed) as well as flushing and global status (patient assessed) achieved improvement that was statistically significant. Five treatments were no more effective than three, although the photographs reveal subtle improvements. There were no significant adverse events. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the combination of optical and RF energies is effective for the treatment of rosacea. ELOS, as well as other vascular-focused lasers and light sources, provides an important treatment option for patients who fail medical therapy, reach a plateau in their response to medical therapy, or wish to avoid chronic oral therapy. Read the rest of this article »

by Sanjay Bhambri, DO; Chief Resident, Dermatology, Valley Hospital Medical Center, Las Vegas, Nevada;

Avani Desai, MD, Dermatology Resident, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York;

James Q. Del Rosso, DO, FAOCD, Clinical Associate Professor (Dermatology), University of Nevada School of Medicine and Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Dermatology Residency Director, Valley Hospital Medical Center and Las Vegas Skin and Cancer Clinics, Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada;

Narciss Mobini, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Dermatology, and Medicine, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada Read the rest of this article »

A discussion of data from clinical studies with a gel formulation of clindamycin
phosphate 1.2% and tretinoin 0.025%

by James Q. Del Rosso, DO, FAOCD Read the rest of this article »

by Neal D. Bhatia, MD

The more recent availability of multiple vaccines has raised questions regarding the role of the dermatologist in recognizing potential candidates for vaccines and in making specific recommendations. This article addresses some general questions regarding vaccines and specifically focuses on questions related to the currently available human papillomavirus vaccine. Read the rest of this article »