American Academy of Dermatology 44th Annual Meeting Highlights

At the 44th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in 1985, a wide range of dermatological topics were discussed among the 4,820 registered physicians. Key highlights included the use of minoxidil for alopecia areata, with Dr. Vera Price reporting a 30% success rate of cosmetically acceptable hair growth using a 3% solution over one year, although Dr. John Wilkinson reported lower success rates. Other significant discussions covered the effectiveness of isotretinoin and etretinate for skin conditions and psoriasis, respectively, the role of oncogenes and human papillomaviruses in skin cancer, and updates on AIDS. Various treatments for dermatological conditions were summarized, such as the use of acyclovir for hairy leukoplakia and Kaposi's sarcoma lesions, the Dermascan device for less scarring in laser treatments, EMLA for pain relief, and miconazole with hydrocortisone for seborrheic dermatitis. Additionally, the document mentioned the effectiveness of dapsone for infantile acropustulosis and the use of dexamethasone-dimethylsulfoxide for circumscribed scleroderma, although it noted resistance in older patients for granuloma anulare perforans and potential allergic reactions to collagen implants like Zyderm.