Recent Developments

Eczema Prevalence Linked to Daycare
Children who spend their earliest years in daycare may be at higher risk of eczema than kids cared for at home, according to a new German study (Allergy. e-Pub August). Since previous studies have indicated that eczema is more common among children who attend daycare, investigators examined whether being in daycare before age two, along with several other potential risk factors, influenced eczema risk. They followed 3,097 children from birth to age six. Results showed that early daycare attendance was the only factor independently associated with eczema risk. Children in early daycare were 56 percent more likely to have the skin condition than children who didn't attend daycare before age two. The effect seemed to weaken as children got older. While the study didn't look at why early daycare could increase eczema risk, the researchers say that in daycare children may be exposed to more allergens and microorganisms than at home. Children in daycare also could be more stressed, which could promote the development of eczema.

A Tan You Can Endorse
Use of sunless tanners and skin cancer education may decrease the amount of time individuals spend in the sun…at least for a while, a new study suggests (Arch Dermatol e-Pub September). Researchers tested whether offering sunbathing women free samples of self-tanning lotion and sunscreen could heighten awareness of the harms of UV. They set up a tent on a beach and invited 250 women in. Half of them got free cosmetics samples unrelated to skin health, while research assistants—self-tanned, but without financial ties to manufacturers—handed out sunless tanners along with a bit of skin cancer education to the others. After two months, the women given sunless tanners reported a 33 percent decrease in sunbathing, compared to 10 percent in the control group. They also got fewer sunburns and wore more protective clothing, although those effects had vanished when they were contacted one year later.

New EMR System Available
Dermatologists looking to invest in EHR have another option to consider, with the recent launch of Electronic Medical Assistant at the Summer AAD Meeting in Chicago. Designed by practicing dermatologists, EMA takes a new approach to patient information capture and processing, incorporating the latest in internet and touch-screen technologies to save both time and money, the developer says. EMA is accessible over the internet, which minimizes installation time and the cost of local equipment and removes the need to manage local information technology installations. For more information, visit www.modernizingmedicine.com.

Fraxel for AKs
The FDA recently granted 510(k) clearance for the fractional laser system, Fraxel re:store Dual (Solta Medical, Inc.) to treat actinic keratoses. In addition to the 1550nm deep-penetrating Erbium fiber laser featured on the original model, the new device also incorporates a superficial 1927nm Thulium laser for the treatment of AK. By switching a button on the new dual device, clinicians can choose the desired wavelengths for the particular clinical indication. According to the company, the dual option offers improved patient comfort, faster clearance of pigmented lesions, shorter treatment durations, and ability to treat larger surface areas during a single session. Clearance was granted based in part on data from a six-month study of 21 patients with AK, each of whom underwent a series of two to four Thulium laser treatments, spaced two to four weeks apart. Results showed that the regimen yielded a mean 83.5 percent decrease in AK lesions on the face and other regions such as the arms, hands, and chest. Researchers also observed improvements in skin texture and pigmentation.