Robin A ASHINOFF

Increasing evidence supports the association of squamous cell carcinoma of the finger and nail bed with human papillomavirus infection. We treated 12 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the finger and nail bed, none of whom was originally diagnosed as having a malignant lesion. Half of the patients were referred for carbon dioxide laser ablation of what was believed to be a recalcitrant verruca vulgaris. Our objective was to evaluate these lesions for the presence of human ...

Tattoos are placed for different reasons. A technique for tattoo removal which produces selective removal of each tattoo pigment, with minimal risk of scarring, is needed. Nonspecific methods have a high incidence of scarring, textural, and pigmentary alterations compared with the use of Q-switched lasers. With new advances in Q-switched laser technology, tattoo removal can be achieved with minimal risk of scarring and permanent pigmentary alteration.There are five types of tattoos: ...

BACKGROUND: The Q-switched ruby laser (QSRL) (694 nm) has been used successfully in the removal of tattoos and a variety of cutaneous pigmented lesions. The frequency-doubled Q-switched neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser (QSNd:YAG) (1064 and 532 nm) has also been shown to be effective in the treatment of tattoos, however, little has been published regarding the QSNd:YAG laser in the removal of cutaneous pigmented lesions.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to compare the ...

BACKGROUND: With the emergence of new laser and dermatologic procedures, the need for more effective topical anesthesia continues to grow. There are now several topical anesthetics that are being used prior to laser and surgical procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the degree and duration of anesthesia produced by four commonly used topical anesthetics, we performed a prospective study investigating the efficacy of EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics), ELA-Max, 4% tetracaine gel, ...

EMLA cream (Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthetics) is a new topical anesthetic composed of 25 mg lidocaine and 25 mg prilocaine in an oil-in-water emulsion cream. It has been found to be very effective for local anesthesia prior to venepuncture, minor surgical procedures, and pulsed dye laser (PDL) therapy for port-wine stains (PWS) in children. However, since EMLA may cause vasoconstriction of cutaneous vessels, we tried to determine whether pretreatment with EMLA decreases the efficacy ...

We present the case of two patients with an unusual form of discoid lupus erythematosus that was confined almost exclusively to the palms and soles. In both patients this form of discoid lupus erythematosus did not respond to conventional therapies, which included topical steroids, intralesional steroids, prednisone, quinacrine hydrochloride, hydroxychloroquine sulfate, colchicine, and dapsone. Both patients were then treated with azathioprine. One patient dramatically improved with ...

BACKGROUND: Both dermabrasion and high-energy pulsed carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing can improve the appearance of surgical scars. Although the results of these two procedures have been compared using historical data, a prospective evaluation has never been performed in humans.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively compare the clinical effects of dermabrasion and high-energy pulsed CO2 laser resurfacing in the revision of surgical scars.

METHODS: Facial surgical scars in four patients were ...

Anthralin is an effective topical treatment for active psoriasis; however, its mechanism of action is unknown. Both TGF-alpha and its receptor, the EGF receptor, are overexpressed in active psoriatic plaques and might, therefore, play a role in psoriatic epidermal hyperplasia. In order to assess whether anthralin might act via alteration of this growth factor pathway, we examined the in vitro effects of pharmacologic concentrations of anthralin on cultured normal human keratinocytes. ...

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) arising on the genitalia are exceedingly rare with an unclear pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To better understand risk factors, tumor characteristics, and the possible role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the development of BCC of the genitalia.

METHODS: 1543 records of Mohs micrographic surgery performed during a 6-year period were reviewed to identify cases of BCC arising on the genitalia. Tumor tissue was analyzed for HPV DNA by in situ ...

BACKGROUND: There is no single optimal treatment for multiple facial actinic keratoses. The existing therapies such as topical 5-fluorouracil, chemical peels, cryotherapy, dermabrasion, and CO2 laser resurfacing can produce prolonged recovery time or are often operator dependent.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate another therapeutic modality which provides a shorter recovery time with uniform results. We performed a prospective pilot study investigating the use of ...

Strawberry, or capillary, hemangiomas are common vascular neoplasms, with an incidence of approximately 2.6% in neonates. They usually develop in the first few weeks of life, so that between 1 month and 1 year the incidence rises to between 8.7% and 10.1%. These lesions may grow quite large in the first year of life, and they may ulcerate or obstruct a vital organ or function. The great majority will spontaneously regress after the first year of life. Parents are often alarmed at the ...

Twelve children, 6 to 30 weeks of age (average 14.9 weeks), with port-wine stains of the head and neck were treated with the flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser at 585 nm and 450 microsecond pulse duration. Ten of 12 patients (83%) showed more than 50% lightening of their port-wine stains after 2.9 treatment sessions (2.9 +/- 1.4 [+/- standard deviation]). Forty-five percent of the patients demonstrated 75% or more lightening of their lesions after a mean of 3.8 treatments (+/- 1.6). No ...

BACKGROUND: Warts are a therapeutic challenge. New studies indicate that pulsed dye laser therapy may be effective, with clearance rates of 72 to 93%.

OBJECTIVE: To determine clearance rate in pulsed dye laser treatment of warts and compare our rate to those of other published studies.

METHODS: Thirty-three patients with 96 warts received pulsed dye laser treatment for recalcitrant plantar, digital, peri- and subungual, and body warts.

RESULTS: Forty-eight percent of patients had ...