FDA Warns of Wart Removers Catching Fire

Some freeze-away wart treatments pose fire hazard.

Hello again and welcome back to my dermatology blog. A recent consumer report has shown some concern about the safety of in-home wart removal products, which are proving to be quite flammable.

Warts are the result of human papillomavirus (HPV) and are very common. They are usually small and blister-like, resemble a cauliflower, and are most commonly found on the hands or feet. While they may disappear on their own, some may linger and require treatment. There are many over the counter products available that can aid in wart removal including creams, tapes, injections, and more. If in-home treatments do not work, many turn to other procedures with guaranteed results. Cryosurgery is very common and involves freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen. Today, there is more HPV awareness than ever before. Vaccines such as Gardasil are available and are used to prevent many of the most common types of HPV.

Recently, the FDA put out a warning about wart freezing products catching fire during in-home use. Since 2009, there have been 14 reports about cryogenic wart removers catching fire and causing blisters or burns to the skin. The products available for in-home use are very similar to what you would receive at a dermatologist’s office, minus the controlled environment and skilled professional administering the treatment. While the label comes with a clear warning cautioning users to its flammability, FDA nurse consultant Karen Nast, RN, is worried that people may not be aware of how little it takes to ignite these products. She claims that while flames and cigarettes are the obvious threat, curling and straightening irons can be enough to send the product up in flames.

Since wart treatment is generally inexpensive, I encourage you to consider treatments performed in your doctor's office, or at least consulting with your dermatologist before taking action on your own.

Learn more about affected brands in the FDA’s official statement: http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm381429.htm

Thanks for reading!
Sudhir Polisetty

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Tips for Dry Winter Skin

Welcome back to my blog. My name is Sudhir Polisetty and I am a dermatologist at The Dermatology Center in New Albany, Indiana. With record breaking cold temperatures and wind chills sweeping the country last week, I got a lot of questions about dry winter skin. It’s common for skin to dry out during the winter and this can lead to itching, cracking, flaking, and bleeding in certain cases. Fortunately the USNews and World Report recently shared a few tips for preventing and treating dry skin.

Avoid Long, Hot Showers

One tempting way to escape cold weather is to relax in a long, scalding hot shower. As Dr. Stephen Stone of the American Academy of Dermatology notes, “Being in the water for a long time and using hot water can be extremely drying to the skin.” Keep skin from drying by making efforts to take shorter showers using only warm water.

Consider Skin Cream

Applying a skin cleanser following a shower might help reduce itching while moisturizer, ointments, and creams are also shown to be more effective than skin lotion. Instead of rubbing skin cream, which can cause irritation, gently pat the cream onto your skin.

Know Your Skin Care Products

If you use soap, deodorant, or products that contain fragrances, these products will often cause irritation if your skin is already dry. Evaluate the ingredients of any skin care products you use to make sure that product is not exacerbating the problem.

Use Proper Hand Washing Techniques

Washing hands too frequently during winter can dry out the skin, so consider alternating between a washing hands and using hand sanitizer. Additionally, get into the habit of applying moisturizer or hand cream after washing hands.

If dry skin continues to be an issue, make an appointment with your dermatologist. He or she will be able to prescribe stronger ointment or diagnose underlying health conditions, such as eczema.

Thanks for reading,

Sudhir Polisetty

Learn more about me on my MD.com profile, or read more of my dermatology blog posts on Wordpress: http://sudhirpolisetty.wordpress.com/blog/

Most Dermatology Residency Programs Offered Cosmetic Training

Welcome back to my blog. My name is Sudhir Polisetty and I am a dermatologist practicing in New Albany, Indiana. Although I do not address cosmetic dermatological procedures, I recognize that it is a very important dermatology specialty. According to a new article in JAMA Dermatology, cosmetic dermatological surgical training is offered by most dermatology residency programs in the United States.

Researchers conducted the study by e-mailing a survey to 114 American dermatology residency program directors (PDs). The primary goal of the survey was to determine which resources are available for cosmetic dermatology training in the United States, though it also sought to gauge overall PD attitudes towards cosmetic dermatology training during residency. Other questions focused on strategies that training programs used to overcome all barriers seen in resident-performed cosmetic dermatology procedures, such as discounted prices.

46 percent of the contacted group responded to the survey (53 PDs). According to the results, all but three programs (94%) provided cosmetic dermatology training using botulinum toxin while 47 of the 53 (89%) offered training with hyaluronic acid fillers. 60 percent of the surveyed programs offered discount pricing for some cosmetic procedures, with the most frequently discounted procedures being:

• Botulinum toxin (94% discounted)
• Hyaluronic acid fillers (84%)
• Vascular lasers (53%)
• Hair removal lasers (38%)

When asked for their general attitudes on cosmetic dermatology training in residency programs, 38 percent of respondents believed it should be necessary. 17 percent of respondents believed it was appropriate for residents to gain hands-on training with cosmetic dermatology procedures while only 27 percent said residents should not be required to perform any cosmetic procedures.

The researchers concluded that while most programs offer hands-on cosmetic dermatology training, there are several barriers to training. They believed procedural competency is imperative to ensure patient safety. Ideally I would like to see a survey with a higher response rate, as 53 PDs is a small sample size.

You can learn more about the survey and its findings on Healio: http://www.healio.com/dermatology/aesthetic-cosmetic-surgery/news/online/%7B0325e9df-5b1b-4bce-a29e-e78df23dacde%7D/most-dermatology-residency-programs-offered-cosmetic-training

Thanks for reading,

Sudhir Polisetty

Learn more about me on my about.me page, or by viewing my MD.com profile: http://sudhirpolisetty.md.com/