“Actinic keratoses are rough, scaly lesions that commonly occur on sun-exposed areas of the skin. The prevalence of the condition increases with age. Actinic keratoses are thought to be carcinomas in situ, which can progress to squamous cell carcinomas. The decision to treat can be based on cosmetic reasons; symptom relief; or, most importantly, the prevention of malignancy and metastasis. Treatment options include ablative (destructive) therapies such as cryosurgery, curettage with electrosurgery, and photodynamic therapy. Topical therapies are used in patients with multiple lesions. Fluorouracil has been the traditional topical treatment for actinic keratoses, although imiquimod 5% cream and diclofenac 3% gel are effective alternative therapies. There are too few controlled trials comparing treatment modalities for physicians to make sound, evidence-based treatment decisions.”

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For a guide to current HIV related clinical research in the San Francisco bay area, Click here to download a PDF of HIVCare News.

The following is a listing of some of our more recent clinical trials (no longer enrolling).

LAST year, Coppertone rolled out two easy-to-use sprays with its highest-ever sun protection factor: SPF 70+. Not to be outdone, Neutrogena offered its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch lotion in SPF 85 strength, that year’s big gun.

This sun season, Banana Boat is retaliating with a pair of SPF 85 sprays, which it trumpets on its Web site as “our highest SPF level in a continuous spray formula.”

But now, SPF creep has hit the triple digits with Neutrogena’s SPF 100+ sunblock, leading some dermatologists to complain that this is merely a numbers game that confuses consumers.

The parade of stratospheric SPFs is “crazy,” said Dr. Barbara A. Gilchrest, a dermatology professor at Boston University School of Medicine. “For a normal person who is fair-skinned and concerned about skin damage and photoaging,” Dr. Gilchrest said, “it’s really in my opinion tremendous overkill.”

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Medscape (7/30, Waknine) reported that the Food and Drug Administration “has approved injectable poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra Aesthetic, Sanofi-Aventis US) for use in immune-competent people to correct shallow to deep nasolabial fold contour deficiencies (’smile wrinkles’) and other facial wrinkles in which” the “deep dermal grid pattern (cross-hatch) injection technique is appropriate.” The FDA granted approval based “on data from a randomized, comparative, evaluator-blinded, parallel-group, multicenter study (n = 233) showing that use of the product yielded greater improvements in wrinkle correction at 13 months compared with human-derived collagen, as determined by wrinkle assessment scores.” The substance “is administered as a single treatment regimen of up to four sessions at three-week intervals,” and “should not be used in patients with hypersensitivity to product components or in those with known history of or susceptibility to keloid formation or hypertrophic scarring.”

• Download and fill out the Sculptra Patient Access Program form.  Make sure you sign the form (located at in the middle of the second page). Click here.
• Provide proof of income.

You may fax the information to 415-575-7503,

or you may mail to:

4053 18th Street
San Francisco, Ca 94114

If you have questions, please feel free to contact us at 415-575-7500.

Please note: Sculptra and other cosmetic procedures are performed at the above 18th street address.