Mole checks and Melanoma detection

Strategies for early melanoma detection: Approaches to the patient with nevi. Goodson AG, Grossman D. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 May;60(5):719-35; quiz 736-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2008.10.065. Mole checks are the « bread and butter » of many dermatologists. The article summarizes the concepts of practical situations that arise when checking the skin or moles for melanoma: Should we…

Photodynamic therapy is painful: any way around it ?

Pain associated with aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy of skin disease. Warren CB, Karai LJ, Vidimos A, Maytin EV. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 Dec;61(6):1033-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.03.048. Photodynamic Therapy (or PDT) is a treatment involving the application of a photosensitizing substance (aminolevulinic acid (ALA), methyl-aminolevulinate MAL) for a few hours before shining a light for a few…

Welcome to the Skin Planet !

The skin microbiome: current perspectives and future challenges. Chen YE, Tsao H. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Jul;69(1):143-55. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.01.016. Different bacteria, fungi and viruses live on the skin. The type of microorganisms as well as their density depends on « environmental » factors. « Tropical » areas include the skin folds such as axillae, inquinal folds… ‘Desert » areas…

Metastatic lung-cell cancer treatment with Erlotinib: its cutaneous side effects and practical management advice

Erlotinib-related skin toxicities: treatment strategies in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Kiyohara Y, Yamazaki N, Kishi A. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Sep;69(3):463-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.02.025. Targeted treatments against cancers have enhanced therapeutic properties as compared with older treatments. But with this also comes an array of new unwanted side-effects which are the results…