Stress Awareness Month: How Clinicians Manage Their Stress – Part 1

April is Stress Awareness Month, and while dermatologists spend their days treating the skin-deep effects of stress in their patients, they're not immune to it themselves. At the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, Dermatology Times asked clinicians how they personally manage the pressures of a demanding specialty. Their answers were candid, varied, and often surprisingly relatable, a reminder that even the most seasoned physicians are working to find balance.

For Diego Ruiz Dasilva, MD, the answer is simple: family. "It's really family. This is what it comes down to," he said, describing soccer games, beach trips, and movie nights with his wife and 2 young children as his most reliable reset. "I'm always thinking about [dermatology], and I'm passionate about it, but it's nice to get a little break."

Alexa Kimball, MD, MPH, offered both a tactical and reflective approach. On the practical side, she emphasized building time buffers into your day to prevent avoidable stress. But equally important, she said, is self-awareness: "Understand when that's happening to you, and figure out how to take the 30 seconds to just remember the people around you want you to be at your best."

Margo-Angeliki Gkini, MD, MSc, PhD, spoke to the universal nature of clinician stress, noting that busy clinics and demanding schedules affect everyone. She credited an emotional intelligence course she completed last year with giving her concrete techniques to shift perspective. Her core advice: pause. "Take a pause, for a few minutes, just relax," she said. "Offer to ourselves a break that is definitely required."

Helen He, MD, recently took up snowboarding and is embracing the learning curve. "I am learning how to snowboard right now, which I think is perfect because we're in Colorado," she said. "I'm a total beginner. I'm falling on my butt a lot, but I do feel myself improving, so it's been a lot of fun."

For Todd Schlesinger, MD, he’s a firm believer in movement and community. He can be found at the gym most mornings, including at AAD, and emphasized the importance of eating well and moderating alcohol. But his biggest de-stressor may be his colleagues: "That social engagement is actually a very big de-stressor."

Hope Mitchell, MD, echoed the exercise theme, noting she works out 3 to 5 times a week, incorporating both Pilates and weight training. "Prioritizing self is very important," she said.

And David Oberlin, MD, offered perhaps the most candid response of all: "Copious amounts of botulinum toxin. Sunscreen, retinols, Botox—I think those are the best tools to manage stress."

Whether it's time with loved ones, movement, mindfulness, or a well-timed cosmetic treatment, these dermatologists prove that managing stress is just as personal and important as the care they provide their patients.

Stay tuned for more stress management tips from Steven Daveluy, MD; Mary Spellman, MD; Brian Kim, MD; and Lauren Madigan, MD.