News Related to Skin Problems & Treatments

1. New Psoriasis Drug Passes Hurdle
   

   April 17, 2008 -- A novel immune-suppressing drug appears to effectively treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, according to a new report published in The Lancet. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects about 7.5 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of

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2. Psoriasis: 7 New Genetic Clues
   

   April 3, 2008 -- Scientists have discovered seven genetic variations linked to psoriasis. If confirmed in other studies, those gene variants may make good targets for new psoriasis drugs, note the researchers, who included Anne Bowcock, PhD, genetics professor at Washington University School of Medi

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3. Why DEET Bugs Mosquitoes
   

   March 13, 2008 -- Got insect repellent containing the chemical DEET? Scientists now know how DEET keeps mosquitoes at bay. And that knowledge could lead to even better bug repellents. DEET masks the smell that draws mosquitoes to your skin, according to researchers at New York's Rockefeller Universi

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4. Allergens May Weaken Eczema Skin
   

   Feb. 28, 2008 -- Dust mites and cockroach allergens may make it harder for eczema-damaged skin to heal, South Korean researchers report. In their lab, the researchers made extracts of household dust mites and cockroach allergens. They tested the dust mite extract on six healthy adults who didn't hav

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5. Gene Clue May Spur New Baldness Drugs
   

   Feb. 26, 2008 -- New treatments for hair loss and for unwanted hair may be on the horizon, thanks to two new gene studies. Those studies center on the P2RY5 gene. Mutations in that gene are linked to a hereditary hair loss condition called hypotrichosis and to hair texture, two new studies show.   T

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6. FDA Checks Reports of Botox Risks
   

   Feb. 8, 2008 -- The FDA today announced that it's investigating rare reports of serious adverse events linked with Botox, Botox Cosmetic, and Myobloc. The most serious cases, in which patients died or were hospitalized, occurred in children with cerebral palsy who got botulinum toxin for severe arm

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7. 6 Genes Linked to Frequent Cold Sores
   

   Jan. 31, 2008 -- Six genes may make frequent outbreaks of cold sores more likely, University of Utah researchers report. That cold sore gene discovery may lead to new drugs to treat cold sores caused by the herpes simplex virus, say Maurine Hobbs, PhD, and colleagues. Hobbs' team studied DNA from 42

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8. Morgellons Disease Stumps Experts
   

   Jan. 17, 2008 -- A mysterious skin problem is erupting all over the country -- and it's caught the CDC's attention. It's been called Morgellons disease, and health officials don't know what to make of it. More than 11,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere have reported the same symptoms: itchy, sever

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9. Enbrel Works for Kids With Psoriasis
   

   Jan. 16, 2008 -- The itchy, red, and silvery skin patches that are the hallmark of psoriasis were constant companions for Maria Anichini from the age of 6. At times they covered almost every inch of her body, causing her to choose long sleeves and pants even in the broiling heat of summer so people

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10. 1 Million Shingles Patients in U.S.
    

    Jan. 10, 2008 -- There are about a million shingles patients in the U.S., and almost all of them seek shingles treatment each year, new government statistics show. Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the chickenpox virus. Shingles causes a painful rash with blisters, and the pain can l

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