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May 27
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Pigmentary Impact of Acne: SOCU Video Interview

By Sessions

pigmentary impact of acne

“Our patients hate these marks. They hate them more than they hated their acne to begin with.”  — Hilary Baldwin, MD, FAAD

Don’t miss this insightful interview on the pigmentary impact of acne, conducted by Next Steps in Derm in partnership with Skin of Color Update. Dr. Baldwin reviews how her management of acne and post‑inflammatory pigmentary changes has evolved. She shares practical, clinic-ready guidance including:

  • Whether to take an acne‑first approach or treat acne and hyperpigmentation simultaneously
  • Why “scars” is often the wrong term for certain post‑acne pigmentary changes
  • How she safely incorporates new over‑the‑counter topicals into patients’ routines to address pigmentary alteration

If you treat acne in patients with skin of color (or anyone troubled by persistent pigmentation), join us in Chicago June 6 and 7 for the Pigmentary Disorders Exchange Symposium. Sessions will address the pigmentary sequelae of inflammatory skin conditions, including acne and atopic dermatitis, as well as the latest in the management of pigmentary conditions, including melasma and vitiligo.

May 15
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Unique Skin Conditions in Asian Patients: SOCU Session Summary

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Asian skin dermatology

Here’s a summary of key clinical pearls from the Skin of Color Update lecture by Hye Jin (Leah) Chung, MD, MMSc, FAAD, on managing dermatologic conditions in Asian patients:

  • Asian skin: higher ceramide content but greater propensity for reactivity → prioritize efficacy while minimizing irritation and PIH.
  • Melasma: emphasize photoprotection (tinted sunscreens to block visible/blue light) and gentler topicals (azelaic acid, kojic acid, topical TXA) over irritant triple combinations or cysteamine.
  • Oral tranexamic acid (TXA): Dr. Chung’s protocol — 325 mg BID × 3 months, then 325 mg daily × 3 months, then 6‑month drug holiday. Obtain thorough history and baseline thrombophilia testing (protein C/S, factor V Leiden, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies) before initiation.
  • Lasers and pigment: low‑fluence Q‑switched or picosecond Nd:YAG for subcellular photothermolysis; consider picosecond/Q‑switched for deep dermal pigment (ABNOM). 1927 nm can help PIH via controlled epidermal/papillary dermal coagulation.
  • Scars: CROSS with TCA for ice‑pick scars; consider ablative CO₂ for papular scars (or needle + electrosurgery where laser unavailable).
  • Device safety: favor microneedling, fractional RF microneedling, and fractional picosecond modalities; use high‑energy/low‑density settings if performing fractional ablative/nonablative treatments to reduce PIH risk.

The write-up was written by Jay Nguyen, DO, and posted to Next Steps in Derm.

May 07
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Atopic Dermatitis in Skin of Color: SOCU Video Interview

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atopic dermatitis in skin of color

Next Steps in Derm, in partnership with Skin of Color Update, sat down with Raj J. Chovatiya, MD, PhD (associate professor, Rosalind Franklin University/Chicago Medical School), to discuss diagnosing and treating atopic dermatitis in patients with darker skin tones.

Watch to learn:

  • Practical tips Dr. Chovatiya shares with trainees for recognizing AD in skin of color
  • How differences in presentation can influence treatment choice
  • His patient-centered approach (“Patients aren’t textbooks!”)
  • How to interpret the latest AD research for clinical care

Whether you teach, consult, or see a diverse clinic population, this conversation will sharpen diagnostic skills and therapeutic decision‑making.

Apr 21
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Scarring Alopecias: SOCU Interview with Dr. Susan Taylor

By Medical Dermatology

scarring alopecias

Scarring alopecias require early, effective treatment to stop progression and prevent further permanent hair loss. In an interview with Next Steps in Derm, in partnership with Skin of Color Update, Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, shares the latest research in the understanding of scarring alopecias and how that’s influencing the therapeutic pipeline. Dr. Taylor, the Bernett Johnson Endowed Professor of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, outlines current and future treatments, including JAK inhibitors, metformin, and vitamin D.

For more on hair loss, join us on Saturday, June 27, for Hair and Scalp Disorders: The Rx Pad and Beyond, a virtual, one-day conference. The program provides a full-spectrum perspective on hair and scalp management, from diagnosis to therapeutics to nutrition and lifestyle factors. Led by co-chairs Adam Friedman, MD, and Amy McMichael, MD, every session emphasizes practical tools, decision-making, and real-world implementation. Register today!

Apr 13
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The AD, HS, and CHE Treatment Landscape

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dermatology drug approvals

Unprecedented momentum in dermatology: The past 18 months have brought a wave of FDA approvals that meaningfully expand options for inflammatory skin disease—many supported by trials with substantial representation of patients with skin of color.

At Skin of Color Update, Conference Co-Chair Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, FAAD, highlighted several advances that matter for clinical care and health equity.

Key updates include:

  • Tapinarof 1% cream for atopic dermatitis (now approved for ages ≥2) with diverse trial cohorts and comparable efficacy across racial groups.
  • Roflumilast 0.3% foam for plaque psoriasis (scalp/body) with rapid itch relief.
  • Ruxolitinib extended to children ≥2 years for mild-to-moderate AD.
  • Delgocitinib cream approved for moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema.
  • Lebrikizumab showing improvement in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in Fitzpatrick IV–VI patients.
  • Nemolizumab approved for AD ≥12 years.
  • Bimekizumab for moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa.
  • Dupilumab gains indications for chronic spontaneous urticaria and bullous pemphigoid.

These approvals are already shaping updated AD guidelines, which strongly recommend new topicals, biologics, and JAKs for moderate-to-severe disease. Read the full session summary written by Dr. Riyad Seervai to explore the data and subgroup findings.

Apr 07
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CSU in Patients With Skin of Color: SOCU Video Interview

By Sessions

chronic spontaneous urticaria in skin of color

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is deceptively intermittent — and that can mean missed or delayed diagnoses, especially in patients with darker skin where subtle changes are harder to spot.

In a Next Steps in Derm interview at Skin of Color Update, Dr. Mona Shahriari (Yale) calls CSU “the rash that ghosts you” and shares practical tips for recognizing CSU in patients with skin of color.

Watch and learn:

  • How CSU can present differently on darker skin and what to look for
  • What’s new in the CSU toolbox — diagnostic approaches and emerging management strategies
  • Clear, pragmatic recommendations for antihistamine use and when to escalate care

This is essential for those who want to reduce diagnostic delays and improve outcomes in diverse patient populations. Tune in to hear Dr. Shahriari’s insights and actionable takeaways.

Mar 26
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Traction Alopecia in Children: SOCU Video Interview

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traction alopecia

Traction alopecia is a common subtype of alopecia in children and one that requires culturally sensitive care, according to Brandi Kenner-Bell, MD, FAAD. In this Next Steps in Derm video interview from Skin of Color Update, Dr. Kenner-Bell says clinicians should first understand a child’s haircare practices and cultural styling preferences before offering recommendations.

In the video, Dr. Kenner-Bell shares ways for dermatology clinicians to work collaboratively with children and their parents to protect hair health while respecting cultural practices. She shares tips she’s learned in her own practice at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, including questions to ask at a traction alopecia office visit.

Mar 12
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Diet and HS: JDD Buzz

By Medical Dermatology

Diet and HS

A review in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology highlights diet as a promising adjunct in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) management, with emerging evidence that targeted dietary changes may reduce inflammation and disease severity.

In this interview with Next Steps in Derm, the study’s authors outline the main takeaway: Several dietary strategies may benefit some patients. Avoiding dairy and brewer’s yeast has been associated with symptom improvement, likely by reducing hormonal and immune triggers linked to follicular plugging and inflammation. Diets that lower systemic inflammation—such as the Mediterranean diet and very-low-calorie ketogenic diet—have shown encouraging results in small studies. Limiting leucine-rich foods (e.g., meat, eggs, and dairy) may also help by reducing mTOR-driven pathways involved in HS lesion formation.

Addressing micronutrient deficiencies is another low-risk strategy. Supplementation with vitamin D or zinc in deficient patients has produced clinical improvement in some cases. In addition, intermittent fasting, including Ramadan-style fasting, has been associated with reduced inflammatory markers and lesion severity in a subset of patients.

Although most studies are small and further research is needed, the findings support diet as a personalized, noninvasive adjunct to medical therapy. Clinicians should move beyond general advice and consider discussing specific dietary patterns—such as Mediterranean, dairy-free, or brewer’s yeast–free approaches—with patients seeking to optimize HS control or reduce reliance on systemic medications.

Feb 24
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Genetic Ancestry and Skin Disease: From the SOCU Poster Hall

By Medical Dermatology

genetic ancestry and skin disease

Skin of color dermatology is evolving beyond race-based categories as researchers explore connections between genetic ancestry and skin disease.

Research outlined in a poster presented at Skin of Color Update found that genetically inferred ancestry predicts gene expression differences more accurately than self-identified race, with more than 8% of highly expressed genes—and more than 19% of skin-related genes—showing variation between ancestry groups. These differences, including genes linked to conditions such as lichen planus and skin cancer, may influence disease risk, severity, and treatment response.

In this Next Steps in Derm commentary, poster author Emily Uh, BS, shares the clinical impact of these and other findings about genetic ancestry and skin disease. While genetic ancestry should complement—not replace—clinical evaluation and consideration of social factors, ancestry-informed research may help advance precision dermatology and improve care for diverse populations.

For more articles on skin of color dermatology, including research summaries and video interviews with leading experts, visit the Skin of Color page of Next Steps in Derm.

Feb 04
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Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Patients with Skin of Color

By Sessions

hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is one of the most difficult-to-treat, chronic inflammatory diseases in dermatology, particularly for patients with skin of color. At Skin of Color Update, Tiffany Mayo, MD, led a case-based discussion highlighting earlier recognition, holistic management, and existing and emerging therapies for HS. She emphasized a simple, highly sensitive screening question to reduce diagnostic delays, which currently average 7–10 years, and reviewed the complex immunologic pathogenesis and systemic comorbidities associated with HS.

This session summary outlines practical takeaways, including the importance of reducing patient stigma by reframing misconceptions about causation, while setting realistic expectations — HS is a chronic, noninfectious disease requiring long-term management. Updated U.S. and European guidelines now support a structured, severity-based approach to treatment, incorporating both flare management and maintenance care. Dr. Mayo’s session emphasized holistic, patient-centered care and emerging therapies that can help reduce delays and improve outcomes.

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