5-Fluorouracil in the Treatment of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Hypertrophic (HTSs) and keloid scars are common dermatological complaints produced by disruption of the normal wound-healing process. Despite a wide array of therapeutic options available to treat these lesions, HTSs and keloids continue to pose a significant challenge to clinicians in everyday practice. The chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a well-known treatment option reserved for recalcitrant HTSs and keloid lesions. We present clinicians with a comprehensive review of the published data concerning the use of 5-FU in the treatment of HTSs and keloids. The current evidence suggests that 5-FU is a safe and practical alternative for the treatment of HTSs and keloids as it may substantially improve the appearance of proliferative scars and reduce the chance of recurrence. This therapeutic option is most effective in conjunction with adjuvant therapy such as corticosteroids. Additional randomized controlled clinical trials with large sample sizes should be conducted to corroborate the existing efficacy and safety data in patients with HTSs and keloids. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13555-016-0118-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

The role of nicotinamide in acne treatment

Safe and effective treatment options for acne vulgaris are needed to address side effects and increasing rates of antibiotic resistance from current treatments. Nicotinamide is a vitamin with potent antiâ inflammatory properties that could offer a potential treatment option. We aim to summarize the relevant literature on the role of nicotinamide in acne vulgaris and discuss the next steps necessary to move this approach into clinical practice. We searched PubMed for clinical studies using nicotinamide for treatment of acne vulgaris. We summarized the 10 studies that met our search criteria. Six of eight studies using topical nicotinamide led to a significant reduction in acne compared with the patient’s baseline or performed similarly to another standardâ ofâ care acne treatment. Both studies using an oral supplement containing nicotinamide resulted in a significant reduction in acne compared with baseline. No major adverse side effects were noted. Our review suggests that topical and oral nicotinamide has an unclear effect on acne vulgaris due to the limited nature of the available literature. Additional studies are needed comparing nicotinamide to other firstâ line acne treatments and evaluating the efficacy and side effect profile of nicotinamide over an extended period of time.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138875/1/dth12481_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138875/2/dth12481.pd

Women in medicine and dermatology: history and advances

The history of women in medicine has been marked by many challenges and achievements. Although the role of women in the "art of healing" can be traced back many centuries, only males are traditionally highlighted in history. Across antiquity, access to medical education was denied to females. Dermatology is a medical specialty in which women displayed particular skill and proficiency. Gradually, determination and competence allowed women to lay claim in an essentially male-dominated world. This article presents a brief review of the performance, progress and achievements of women in the history of medicine and dermatology

Lasers in dermatology and medicine

The rapid evolution of laser technology makes this up-to-date review of its medical applications a welcome and highly practical addition to the literature. Its comprehensive content covers everything from dermatology to gynecology to neurosurgery

Topical Imiquimod in Conjunction With Nd:YAG Laser for Tattoo Removal

Inclusion criteria includes: patients of both genders with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV who are 18-65 years of age and who has 2 tattoos from 2 to 10 cm in diameter, of similar age which contains black and/or blue ink in areas that can be covered. Exclusion criteria includes: tattoos in chronically sun exposed areas, larger than 25 cm2,pregnancy,breast feeding state, immunosuppressed patients, history of autoimmune or connective tissue disorders, hypersensitivity to imiquimod, active sunburn, current tan, use of coumadin, aspirin , vitamin E or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents for the past 10 days