Derm Dash at Winter Clinical Miami 2026 with James Del Rosso, DO

In this live, quick-hitters interview at this weekend’s Winter Clinical Miami, Dermatology Times Assistant Editor, Marie Bosslett, sat down with James Q. Del Rosso, DO, board-certified dermatologist, Mohs micrographic surgeon, and research director at JDR Dermatology Research in Las Vegas, Nevada. Del Rosso shared candid perspectives on mentorship, clinical priorities, ingredient awareness, and evolving trends in dermatology.

When asked which conference speaker he would confidently refer a patient to, Del Rosso highlighted several respected colleagues across career stages. He described Mark Lebwohl, MD, as a senior leader and “brilliant dermatologist” with deep experience, praised Lisa Swanson, MD, for her expertise in pediatric dermatology, and identified Diego Ruiz da Silva, MD, as a rising talent. He also offered an honorable mention to Nick Brownstone, MD, underscoring the breadth of strong faculty at this year’s meeting.

On the topic of ingredient scrutiny, Del Rosso pointed to cocamidopropyl betaine as a potential but underrecognized cause of contact dermatitis. He noted that while scalp symptoms may be absent, rinse-off exposure can trigger facial dermatitis, reinforcing the importance of careful label review in patients with persistent or unexplained eruptions.

Looking ahead to the rest of this year, Del Rosso expressed hope for continued advances in chronic inflammatory diseases, particularly hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). While acknowledging major progress in psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, and vitiligo, he emphasized the persistent physical pain and quality-of-life burden associated with HS and the need for deeper mechanistic understanding and more effective therapies.

Reflecting on advice he’d give to his resident self, Del Rosso emphasized financial literacy and disability planning—areas often overlooked in training but critical for long-term career stability. He encouraged young dermatologists to prepare not only clinically but also financially for the realities of practice.

Finally, he identified one skin care trend he would “magically erase”: the commercialization of insecurity among adolescents. While reaffirming the importance of foundational skincare and photoprotection, he cautioned against marketing that fuels appearance-related anxiety in young patients.

Del Rosso closed by nominating Gary Goldenberg, MD, as the next colleague to take on the Derm Dash challenge! What other questions do you have for top derms today? Who else should we nominate? Let us know on social media or by emailing us at [email protected].