Electrosurgery--have we forgotten it?

The recent appearance of lasers has made electrosurgical methods almost obsolete. They seem to be routinely avoided by both dermatologists and their patients. In this paper, the benefits of electrosurgery are emphasized, pointing out that these are easy to master, efficient and low-cost procedures. An overview of the five types of cutaneous electrosurgery (electrodesiccation, electrofulguration, electrocoagulation/electrocutting, electrocautery, and electrolysis) is provided. Special attention is given to the use of electrosurgery in patients with electromedical implants. When performed with care, electrosurgery remains a safe, efficient and low-cost treatment option.     

Nursing research: what is it and how can dermatology nurses use it?

The International Council of Nurses (2007) defines nursing research as a systemic inquiry that seeks to obtain new nursing knowledge for the benefit of patients, families, and communities and includes all aspects of health that are of interest to nursing including health promotion, disease prevention, and care during illness and recovery or towards a peaceful death. There is an increased amount of clinical research available to nurses and now we are challenged to utilize this knowledge to improve patient care. Just like Florence Nightingale, nurses today need to make observations, collect data, and use the analysis of that data to support and guide current nursing care.     

Malassezia—Can it be Ignored?

Genus Malassezia comprises of 14 species of “yeast like fungi,” 13 of which are lipophilic and 1 is nonlipophilic. They are known commensals and in predisposed individuals they commonly cause a spectrum of chronic recurrent infections. They rarely also cause serious illnesses like catheter-related blood stream infections, CAPD associated peritonitis etc., Though these fungi have been known to man for over 150 years, their fastidious nature and cumbersome culture and speciation techniques have restricted research. Since the last taxonomic revision, seven new species have been added to this genus. Their ability to evade the host immune system and virulence has increased the spectrum of the diseases caused by them. These agents have been implicated as causal agents in common diseases like atopic dermatitis recently. Though culture-based research is difficult, the new molecular analysis techniques and facilities have increased research in this field such that we can devote more attention to this genus to study in detail, their characteristics and their growing implications implications in the clinical scenario.     

Healthy Hair: What Is it?

Shiny hair with a smooth texture and clean-cut ends or tapered tips is generally perceived to be healthy. Hair texture and shine relate to hair surface properties, whereas the integrity of hair ends relates to the hair cortex. Hair can be straight, wavy or curly, blonde, black, brown, red, gray white, and its natural variations are important to our identity. Manipulation of the normal structure of the hair shaft is epidemic and dictated by culture, fashion, and above all, celebrity. Although cosmetic procedures are intrinsically safe, there is potential for damage to the hair. Loss of lustre, frizz, split ends, and other hair problems are particularly prevalent among people who repeatedly alter the natural style of their hair or among people with hair that is intrinsically weak. This may be due to individual or racial variation or less commonly an inherited structural abnormality in hair fiber formation. Hair health is also affected by common afflictions of the scalp as well as age-related phenomena such as graying and androgenetic alopecia. Hair products that improve the structural integrity of hair fibers and increase tensile strength are available, as are products that increase hair volume, reduce frizz, improve hair manageability, and stimulate new hair growth.     

Skin imaging: is it clinically useful?

Non-invasive skin imaging techniques have proliferated over the last decade. Whilst most have a research role, some are routinely used in dermatology clinics. Of these, the skin surface microscope (dermatoscope), a diagnostic aid for pigmented lesions, has had most clinical impact. Such devices, when linked to a videomicroscope for computer analysis, have been dubbed as 'mole scanners'. Mole scanners are increasingly available on a commercial basis even though computer diagnosis of pigmented lesions is currently no better than diagnosis by human experts. Meanwhile, other imaging techniques, such as high-resolution ultrasonography, spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography, may yet find a role in diagnosis and disease monitoring.