Patients appear to have clear preferences in the equipment used for medical photography and acceptable applications of smartphones, highlighting the importance of feedback in shaping patient-physician interactions. In light of patient opinions on camera preferences, it may be prudent to make a conscientious effort to refrain from using smartphones as a camera in the clinical setting until patient concerns regarding its use can be addressed.

The ASDS consensus documents on sclerotherapy will be helpful in educating their members on safe and effective sclerotherapy of varicose and telangiectatic leg veins.

Video is an excellent medium for medical education, both for clinicians and for the public. YouTube has emerged as one of the largest sources of freely accessible content. It is our intent to provide a preliminary discussion of the growing role of videos in medical education, sources of this video content, and the format of surgical video content on YouTube. Additionally, we will highlight the limitations and pitfalls that clinicians and the public should be aware of when viewing online video content. Several sources of both patient- and clinician-directed videos are easily accessible from the Internet and DVDs today. Medical professionals, students, and patients now have mobiles and instantaneous access to a growing collection of video content. A brief list of online video sources to view and learn dermatologic surgical techniques is provided. Given the increasing ease of creating and posting high-quality video content, this list will continue to grow, providing dermatologic surgeons with an ever-increasing wealth of visual knowledge. Although YouTube is a dominant source of publicly accessible videos, clinicians and consumers should be aware of the source and intent of the video content before accepting the content. Although it is easy to post content on YouTube, it is difficult to verify sources and the credentials of the people posting the videos. Therefore, the viewer should filter content with a discerning eye, embracing the concept of caveat emptor--or buyer beware.

No abstract

Acne vulgaris is a disease of the pilosebaceous unit and the most common inflammatory dermatosis worldwide. It is also associated with significant economic burden. Limitations of conventional topical and systemic treatments include long treatment course, intolerable adverse effects, antibiotic resistance, and patient compliance. Therefore, laser and light-based interventions present as alternative options over the past decade and have been used in combination with conventional pharmacological therapies and other physical modalities. An updated overview on the use of lasers and light-based devices in acne management is presented to help clinicians understand the safety and efficacy of these treatment options. The effectiveness of neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) for treating acne is supported by more high-level studies compared with other laser devices. There is limited evidence to support the use of CO 2 lasers, potassium titanyl phosphate lasers, and 1565-nm non-ablative fractional lasers for treating acne. Among light devices, photodynamic therapy is the most studied, showing higher efficacies than some of the conventional topical and oral acne therapies. Intense-pulsed light and blue light therapies also show favorable outcomes. A limitation is that most studies are non-randomized and lack a control group, and report on a variety of device settings, treatment regimens, and outcome measures, making it challenging to summarize and generalize findings. Although the use of laser and light devices to treat acne is promising, further work with randomized controlled study designs and larger sample sizes will provide improved guidance on the application of these modalities.

No abstract

The iPad is a useful reference tool for patient education in cosmetic consultations. In this article, we plan to (1) discuss how the iPad can be implemented and used by patients and physicians in consultations, (2) compare the advantages and disadvantages of the iPad with other forms of technology, (3) discuss the optimal way of using the iPad for patient care, (4) see how this tool complies with privacy regulations, and (5) look at other uses of the iPad in the patient care setting. There has been positive feedback from both patients and physicians regarding the addition of the tablet computer during consultations. In addition to showing patients pictures of cosmetic procedures, the iPad also has various multimedia capabilities such as videos and drawing tools that are useful in optimizing patient satisfaction, increasing clinical efficacy, and improving the overall patient experience.

No abstract