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Maddi Hebebrand is an associate editor of 

and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in May 2024. She attended Baldwin Wallace University, studying Media Production and Film, and is now finishing her Masters in Digital Media through Ohio University. When she's not writing, Maddi loves to read, attend concerts and spend time with her family.

Articles

The study identified 2 fungal profiles in AD patients, with 1 subgroup exhibiting distinct fungal dysbiosis.

The Mycobiome Connection: How Fungi Influence AD

Kaitlyn Bader is the assistant managing editor of 

 and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in June 2022. She attended Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in literary studies with minors in creative writing and film studies. Prior to health care news, Kaitlyn worked in industrial marketing. She enjoys cooking, reading, and tending to her house plants.

Asha Patel Shah, MD, MBA, FAAD, discusses recent research on retinol and retinoid bioactivity when layered with moisturizers highlighted at AAD 2025.

“Open Sandwich” Moisturization Regimen Does Not Affect Bioactivity of Retinols and Retinoids 

Marie Bosslett is the assistant editor of 

 and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in October 2024. She attended Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with minors in marketing and writing. When she’s not writing, Marie enjoys going to concerts, reading on the beach, and spending time with friends and family.

Participants from the parent DELTA 1 and 2 studies maintained their disease control and observed a decrease in pain and itch over 52 weeks of treatment.

DELTA 3 Showcases Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Delgocitinib for Chronic Hand Eczema

Researchers have identified elevated eosinophil levels as a potential marker for chronic urticaria in pediatric patients.

New Study Reveals Risk Factors for Persistent Urticaria

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In this article, Drs. Lawrence Eichenfield and Jessica Sprague review some of the most significant findings and developments in pediatric dermatology from the last year beginning with the availability of biologic agents for pediatric psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

Pediatric dermatology updates

Final Thoughts: The Importance of Comparative Studies in AD

Panelists offer concluding insights and emphasize the critical role of comparative studies in advancing atopic dermatitis treatment strategies.

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As treatment guidelines, medical treatments, and patient perspectives change, so too has the demographic makeup of the dermatology specialty.

In 1970, the Association of American Medical Colleges estimated that women comprised just 6.9% of the dermatology workforce. Since then, a 2021 

International Journal of Women’s Dermatology

 study estimates that number has increased more than 7-fold, with women now making up 49.9% of the specialty.

 This number is projected to steadily rise; for more than 20 years, women have represented the majority of dermatology residents (> 60%), indicative of a continually narrowed gap.

Despite this progress, gender disparities persist—particularly in leadership roles. While women now account for 50% of medical school graduates and 36% of practicing physicians, they remain underrepresented in key positions. Only 13% serve as hospital system leaders, 14% as chief medical officers, and 27% as chief executive officers. In academia, women hold just 20% of department chair positions and 18% of dean roles.

“Within dermatology and the broader medical community, recognizing the invaluable contributions of women clinicians is essential. We honor the legacy of pioneering women who paved the way for so many others, including providers and patients across all facets of health care,” said Christopher Bunick, MD, PhD, editor in chief of 

 and associate professor of dermatology and translational biomedicine at Yale School of Medicine. “My own mother was a private practice clinical endocrinologist for over 35 years and the inspiration behind my love for medicine and patient care. I have witnessed the power of women in medicine from a very young age thanks to my mother, and from that experience I can wholeheartedly admire and celebrate the achievements of today’s women in dermatology who are barrier-breakers and an inspiration for others.”

, to discuss her inspiring career, life lessons, and her recent nomination for the Women’s Dermatologic Society Legacy Award. 

Read more in this month’s “Letter From the Editor in Chief”

. In honor of celebrating Women’s History Month and the second annual National Dermatologist Day on March 13, 

 spoke with some of the remarkable women advancing patient care, pioneering research, and mentoring the next generation of clinicians.

, a founding board member and medical director of the Acne Treatment and Research Center and an associate professor of dermatology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center, is one of the many women within the field that embody leadership for the next generation of clinicians. Baldwin, a frequent lecturer and visiting professor, has been awarded numerous honors for excellence in her career, including the Exceptional Women in Medicine Award, the Top Doctors award, the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Service, and the Outstanding Physician Award.

, personifies innovation in variety of specialties, practicing dermatology after previously co-founding the High-Risk Skin Cancer Transplant Clinic at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas, a clinical initiative to serve patients who are immunosuppressed after solid organ or bone marrow transplant. Today, Griffin serves as the editor and chief of the 

Journal of Dermatology for Physician Assistants

, the official peer-reviewed journal of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA).

, believes all skin concerns are unique and should be addressed as such. Spizuoco, president of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology and an associate clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has a passion for innovation and technology, a topic she is honored to contribute to through her work.

These outstanding female clinicians—MDs, DOs, PAs, and more—who exemplify leadership, expertise, and dedication in dermatology, are among the many women contributing innovations to the field. Their voices reflect the innovation driving dermatology forward.

Regardless of their location, specialization, or experience, their answer to 1 question remained the same: 

What is the most rewarding part of your career?

, an adult and pediatric clinician, active lecturer at conferences, previous president of the Colorado Dermatological Society, and member of the 

“Helping people. Helping people to feel confident. Helping people to feel like their best self.” 

 editorial advisory board member and former president of SDPA, agreed: 

“Whether through early detection, effective treatment, or simply providing reassurance, our work makes a significant difference.”

, an NCCPA-certified clinician with over 10 years of experience in dermatology and orthopedics, summed up the sentiment shared by many clinicians: 

“I take being someone’s confidant and trustee very sincerely.... I love getting to know people and making them feel welcome, comfortable, and educated on their diagnosis. But most importantly, I love lifting people up and creating a feeling of ‘together, we’ve got this.’”

 recognizes the importance of continually highlighting the passion and achievements in dermatology, with female researchers, leaders, and clinicians playing an important role in dermatological innovation. Although the specialty has come a long way in diversification, there is still much progress to be made. Women represent 75% of entry-level health care positions, yet they hold only 32% of C-suite roles—and just 4% of those are women of color.

Although dermatology trends above the curve with nearly 50% of its workforce being women, individuals from populations underrepresented in medicine—including those with skin of color—make up only about 7.4% of female dermatology faculty in the US.

 With the US Census Bureau projecting that nearly half of the population will have skin of color by 2050, increasing diversity in research, clinical trials, and faculty is essential for true representation and equitable care.

 Ideally, the future of dermatology will be composed of clinicians from all backgrounds, ethnicities, races, and genders united by a shared dedication to patient-centered care.

, Medical Director of Trillium Creek Dermatology

Why did you choose the field of dermatology?

I fully intended to be an obstetrician-gynecologist as there were very few women in this field in the 1970s. I developed an eruption during this process and had to seek dermatological care from Edmund Lowney, MD, PhD, chief at The Ohio State University. During the visit, I remarked that I didn’t like dermatology as we only had a 2-week exposure during the whole 4 years. He persuaded me to at least respect the field and added 2 months to my curriculum. Today, after 47 years in dermatology, I still am passionate and thankful for the opportunity I was given.

What is one patient interaction that you found particularly impactful?

My psoriasis patient who struggled with the disease for decades.... When the biologics became available, it was the first time she was clear. She still imagined herself…having plaques and hiding from her husband when she was undressing. We cried together. Today, it is one of the most gratifying sessions to witness atopic and psoriatic patients clear for the first time in their lives due to the miracle of biologics.

, Founder of Dermatology Consulting Services and Lead Researcher

Why did you decide to pursue dermatology?

I started my career as a mechanical engineer and found that I missed the human element. This led me to medical school, where I wanted to be a pediatric cardiologist; however, I found it challenging not to be able to observe the diseased organ. During my dermatology rotation, I found that seeing the skin disease fulfilled my engineering need to observe the problem. I was immediately attracted to dermatology and have loved being a dermatologist ever since.

I once had a patient with severe atopic dermatitis who told me early in my career that she wished she could unzip and take off her skin every night before she went to bed. She wanted just one moment of peace and rest from her intractable itching. Her comment helped me to always remember the tremendous burden of skin disease.

, Past President of the Colorado Dermatologic Society

I wanted to go into dermatology because I was inspired by my own dermatologist growing up. It seemed like she could always help me with my issues, and it seemed fun to be in a specialty where you can fix most of what you see.

A few years ago, I met a 35-year-old woman with a 20-year history of alopecia areata. She had always worn a wig. She had never felt comfortable dating. She was the first patient that I started on an oral JAK [Janus kinase] inhibitor (off-label tofacitinib) for alopecia areata, and she completely regrew all her hair, she started really living her life to the fullest, and she was just transformed. She got married 2 years ago! She is thriving. I still see her as a patient to this day, and it always brings tears to my eyes thinking about her journey.

Physician Assistants in Leadership and Advocacy

, President of Society of Dermatology Physician Associates

I began my career as a physician assistant in emergency medicine, where I developed my procedural skills, particularly in suturing and wound care. After 7 years, I transitioned to family practice, where I discovered a growing passion for dermatologic conditions and skin-related procedures. The combination of my procedural expertise and my fascination with treating skin diseases naturally drew me to dermatology, allowing me to blend my technical skills with my interest in providing long-term, patient-centered care. I truly feel I’ve found my professional home in dermatology.

One patient interaction that stands out to me occurred during a routine skin exam. As I was assessing the patient, I noticed a large wedding ring hanging on a chain around her neck. I paused and asked if it belonged to her husband, to which she replied, “Yes.” The ring had clearly been well loved and worn over many years. The patient shared that her husband had passed away about 6 months prior after battling ALS [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]. She explained that this particular day had been especially difficult for her, and my simple acknowledgment of her husband’s ring made her feel comforted. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the simplest acts of attention can make a world of difference.

Humans’ perceptions of themselves mainly focus on the surface, and many dermatological diseases can be secondary to an underlying problem. As a PA [physician assistant] in dermatology, it is rewarding to be able to diagnose and treat a patient’s disease and self-esteem. However, the true impact comes from patient education. Education is an essential foundation for understanding anything in life, and being on a journey with a patient who becomes knowledgeable is very impactful. It empowers them to take control of their health and well-being.

One patient interaction that significantly influenced my career was when I diagnosed melanoma in a patient who was unaware of its presence. This experience reinforced my belief in the importance of total body skin exams and community outreach. It also highlighted the value of our role in promoting annual checkups, as many patients perceive them as unnecessary. This interaction underscored the crucial role we play in early detection and effective treatment, further solidifying my commitment to patient care.

Ashrafzadeh S, Peters GA, Buzney EA, Lee H, Asgari MM. Gender differences in dermatologist practice locations in the United States: a cross-sectional analysis of current gender gaps. 

. 2021;7(4):435-440. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2021.04.003

Chesak SS, Salinas M, Abraham H, et al. Experiences of gender inequity among women physicians across career stages: Findings from participant focus groups. 

. 2022; (1):359-368. doi:10.1089/whr.2021.0051

Berlin G. Women in the healthcare industry: An update. News Article. McKinsey and Company. March 30, 2023. Accessed February 14, 2025. 

https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/women-in-healthcare-and-life-sciences-the-ongoing-stress-of-covid-19

Narla S, Heath CR, Alexis A, Silverberg JI. Racial disparities in dermatology. 

. 2023;(5):1215-1223. doi:10.1007/s00403-022-02507-z.

Vespa J, Medina L, Armstrong D. Demographic turning points for the United States: population projections for 2020 to 2060. United States Census Bureau. March 2018. Revised February 2020. Accessed February 14, 2025. 

https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/demo/p25-1144.pdf

The dermatology field has seen a significant increase in female representation, with women now comprising nearly half of the workforce. Despite this progress, gender disparities remain, particularly in leadership roles. Women hold a minority of top positions in healthcare and academia. Celebrating Women's History Month, the article highlights the achievements of female dermatologists who are advancing patient care and research. The importance of increasing diversity in dermatology is emphasized, as underrepresented groups remain a small fraction of the workforce, despite demographic shifts in the U.S. population.

Join Dermatology Times in celebrating the women who make this field shine through their patient interactions, clinical insights, and research.

Bridging the Gender Gap: Women Leading the Way

A novel systemic review and meta-analysis has analyzed procedural treatments for periorbital hyperpigmentation, or dark eye circles.

 Through this analysis, it was found that lasers and combination therapies are the most effective and satisfactory treatments for dark eye circles. Intense periorbital hyperpigmentation can be emphasized based on skin laxity, vascular congestion, and the anatomical structure of the face.

All literature published up to February 2023 in major databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was searched. Investigators used key words like “infraorbital dark circles,” “infraorbital hyperpigmentation,” “periorbital dark circles,” “periorbital hyperpigmentation,” “dark eye circles,” and “under-eye dark circles.”

After an initial search of 278 records, 33 studies featuring 1320 patients were included in the final count. Twelve were one-arm studies, 17 were two-arm studies, and 4 were three-arm studies. Most of the trials were conducted in Iran, Egypt, India, the United States, and China.

Clinicians recorded procedure parameters, scoring methodology, clinical improvement, pre-and post-treatment pigment scores, patient satisfaction levels, and adverse events. The therapies were divided into the following categories;

Lasers and light therapies like fractional CO

Combination therapies (microneedling + chemical peels or fillers + lasers)

The most effective methods were lasers and combination treatments, with 82% and 75% of patients experiencing excellent or good improvement, respectively. This is defined as improvement of > 50%. The CO

 laser was the most commonly used laser.

Chemical peels (63%), carboxytherapy (54%), and PRP (44%) were less effective. Additionally, only 25% of chemical peel users had “excellent” results but there was a higher rate of 37% for “good” improvement. There was only one study each that focused on fillers and autologous fat injections, so the analysis is limited. However, in those trials, 94% and 74% of participants saw a marked improvement, respectively.

In terms of patient satisfaction, combination therapies had the highest rates, with 49% of participants reporting an excellent rate of > 75%. Laser treatments were predominant in the good satisfaction rate category, with more than half of patients being satisfied with their therapies. Chemical peels (24%) and PRP treatments (17%) had limited patient satisfaction.

All therapies had some mild and transient adverse effects. The lasers were associated with short durations of burning, erythema, discomfort, swelling, pain, and edema. However, these were reduced when CO

 laser was combined with PRP. Additionally, Q-switched and picosecond Nd:YAG lasers had higher rates of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation compared to carboxytherapy and the picosecond 755-nm laser. But combined laser treatments also had reduced healing times.

This review does have some limitations including the lack of uniform measurements and high heterogeneity across all the studies.

“Efforts to reduce this variability through subgroup analysis and stratification by specific treatment settings and geographic location were unsuccessful, indicating the presence of complex, possibly unmeasured variables affecting treatment outcomes,” the authors wrote. “This suggests that caution is needed when interpreting these results due to the potential masking of true treatment effects.”

Future research with more objective assessment methods can help validate these existing results. Furthermore, larger sample sizes, longer follow-ups, and split-face designs can better represent the populations impacted by periorbital hyperpigmentation. 

This literature is the first of its kind to comprehensively review procedural treatments.

 With these findings, the researchers emphasize the significance of personalized treatment approaches that will fulfill patient and clinician needs and expectations.

1. Pour Mohammad A, Zeinali R, Jafary P, Mortaja M, Jafarzadeh A, Goodarzi A. The first systematic review and meta‐analysis of pharmacological and nonpharmacological procedural treatments of Dark Eye Circles (periorbital hyperpigmentations): One of the most common cosmetic concerns. 

2.Maghfour J, Olayinka J, Hamzavi IH, Mohammad TF. A Focused review on the pathophysiology of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

 2022;35(3):320-327. doi:10.1111/pcmr.13038

2. Sawant O, Khan T. Management of periorbital hyperpigmentation: An overview of nature-based agents and alternative approaches. 

A comprehensive review and meta-analysis evaluated procedural treatments for periorbital hyperpigmentation, identifying lasers and combination therapies as the most effective. The study analyzed 33 studies with 1,320 patients, categorizing treatments into lasers, chemical peels, PRP, carboxytherapy, fillers, microneedling, and combinations. Lasers and combination therapies showed the highest improvement rates, while chemical peels and PRP were less effective. Patient satisfaction was highest with combination therapies. The review highlighted limitations such as study heterogeneity and called for future research with more objective assessments and larger sample sizes to validate findings.

A comprehensive evaluation of therapies found that lasers were most effective with high rates of patient satisfaction.

Analyzing Current Procedures for Periorbital Hyperpigmentation

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Unraveling the Molecular Mechanism of Clindamycin Binding in Cutibacterium acnes and Resistance Development: Insights From Cryo-EM

Cryo-EM reveals molecular mechanisms of clindamycin resistance in Cutibacterium acnes, highlighting key mutations affecting antibiotic binding.

Povorcitinib Demonstrates Promising Phase 3 Results for Hidradenitis Suppurativa Treatment

Incyte’s phase 3 STOP-HS trials demonstrated significant efficacy and safety of povorcitinib in moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa.

Social Media “Hacks”: DIY Sunscreen, Slugging, and More With Chris Tomassian, MD

Tomassian noted unrealistic beauty standards fueled by social media filters and edited images have led to distorted expectations.

Climate Change, Pollution’s Growing Impact on Dermatology

Experts stressed the importance of dermatologists engaging in climate advocacy and adopting sustainable practices, as their actions may inspire others to follow suit.

Medical Device Ialuxid Gel Is Successful in Treating Mild to Moderate Acne

Patients observed a 56% reduction in lesions after 56 days of treatment with only mild adverse events.

Cryo-EM has elucidated the molecular mechanisms behind clindamycin resistance in Cutibacterium acnes, identifying mutations that impact antibiotic binding. Incyte's phase 3 STOP-HS trials have shown povorcitinib to be effective and safe for moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa. Social media's influence on beauty standards is causing distorted expectations, according to Chris Tomassian, MD. Dermatologists are encouraged to engage in climate advocacy and sustainable practices. Ialuxid Gel has proven effective in reducing acne lesions with minimal adverse effects.

Catch up on dermatology news, highlights, and insights from the past 24 hours.

Jessica Sprague, M.D.

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