The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges for medical students applying to residency programs. In this episode, Candrice R. Heath, MD (@DrCandriceHeath), talks to Virginia Alvarado Jones, MD, MS (@GinaAlvaJones), and medical student Victoria Humphrey (@VictoriaSHumphrey) about their experience navigating the dermatology residency Match process during this application cycle. They provide tips and takeaways for the next group of applicants, including how to adapt to the virtual...

Ethnic minorities and patients living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas are disproportionately impacted by a growing national shortage of dermatologists. In this resident takeover, Sophie A. Greenberg, MD (Twitter: @sophiegreenberg; Instagram: @sophiegreenbergmd), talks to Soraya Azzawi, MD, about how dermatology residency can serve as an opportunity to address barriers to equitable care in these populations and enact change within the specialty: “There is a stark regional...

This week, Amber Atwater, MD, the immediate past president of the American Contact Dermatitis Society, reviews some highlights from the meeting, which was held in March. Dr. Atwater, associate professor of dermatology at Duke University, Durham, N.C., discusses the 2021 “Contact Allergen of the Year,” a chemical that has been linked to reactions associated with shin pads and is an emerging allergen that was the topic of a recent report in Dermatitis. Joining Dr. Atwater, Raina Bembry, MD,...

Recent studies have highlighted poor representation of darker skin types in dermatology textbooks and online resources. Vincent A. DeLeo, MD, talks to Jules B. Lipoff, MD (@juleslipoff), about the general paucity of images of skin of color in learning resources as well as an overrepresentation of darker skin types in material about sexually transmitted infections. “We should be teaching our students and our residents. It shouldn’t be just a skin of color lecture. Skin of color should through...

In 2019, the two CPT codes for skin biopsies were replaced with six new codes that specify biopsy technique and associated procedural complexity. Vincent A. DeLeo, MD, talks to medical student Sheena Desai and Rebecca I. Hartman, MD, MPH, about this CPT change and its effect on the frequency of shave versus punch biopsies in both private and academic practices. “The average dermatologist needs to be cognizant of the fact that changing reimbursements may hypothetically influence [the]...

COVID-19 affects multiple organ systems, and skin manifestations are prevalent. Dr. Vincent DeLeo talks to medical student Lauren Schwartzberg and Ann Lin, DO, about both common and rare cutaneous presentations of COVID-19. “I think it’s important to look at the unexplained rashes a little differently now than ever before the COVID era ... a thorough history of COVID-19 exposures and perhaps even COVID-19 testing should be considered,” Ms. Schwartzberg notes. They also discuss differences in...

Recent surveys show that dermatologic examinations tend to neglect the genital area. In this resident takeover, Sophie A. Greenberg, MD (@sophiegreenberg), talks to Margaret Maria Cocks, MD, PhD (@Margaret_Cocks), about the lack of focus on the genital area in the total-body skin examination (TBSE), especially in female patients, and the paucity of training on genital examinations in residency. “While [melanoma] is rare, a lot of the time when genital melanomas are identified, they’re often...

Dr. Murad Alam, professor of dermatology and chief of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery in the department of dermatology at Northwestern University, Chicago, discusses recently released evidence-based recommendations on preventing and treating adverse events from injectable fillers. A recent paper outlines recommendations from an American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) multidisciplinary task force. The paper was published in the February issue of Dermatologic Surgery (Dermatol Surg....

Medical professionals play an important role in educating the public about COVID-19 vaccination. In this episode, Dr. Candrice Heath (@DrCandriceHeath) talks to A. Shadi Kourosh, MD, MPH (@AskDermMD), and Maritza I. Perez, MD, about the impact of the COVID-19 vaccine on dermatology practices. Dr. Kourosh explains how dermatologists can counsel patients on timing of cosmetic procedures such as fillers in relationship to vaccination. They also discuss skin reactions. “I think a take-home...

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine largely was underutilized in dermatology. Vincent A. DeLeo, MD, talks to George Han, MD, PhD, about the progression of the reimbursement process and the roadblocks encountered with the expansion of telemedicine. “To me, telemedicine really represents the opportunity to make a dent in access to care ... expanding our access to care, especially in underserved areas in places where a lot of people have barriers, people of lower socioeconomic status,...

To truly increase diversity in dermatology, students of color need to be encouraged that dermatology is achievable. In this resident takeover, Sophie A. Greenberg, MD (@sophiegreenberg), talks to Nicole A. Negbenebor, MD (Instagram: @naijalatte), about her personal experience navigating dermatology residency as an applicant of color. “Dermatology is such a wonderful field and I feel that it has had the ability to impact so many different people, different socioeconomic statuses, different...

Lorenzo Norris, MD, host of MDedge Psychcast, talks with Scott A. Norton, MD, MPH, MSc, and John Koo, MD, about delusions of infestation, weighing in on the diagnosis and management of patients with this challenging disorder, and more. Dr. Norton is a dermatologist and preventive medicine specialist at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. Dr. Koo is professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, and is a dermatologist and...

Mobile applications are useful to educate medical students and trainees; however, there is no objective method to assess their quality. Vincent A. DeLeo, MD, talks to Babar Rao, MD, about determining the usefulness and credibility of dermatology educational apps including factors such as affordability, accuracy, and ease of use. “I think we will be dependent on digital learning, so the only way to really move forward is to get involved. ... I think we have to get involved and make sure that...

Access to dermatologic care in rural areas is a growing problem. Dr. Vincent DeLeo talks to Robert T. Brodell, MD; Cindy Firkins Smith, MD; and medical student Alexandra Streifel about the influence of rural clinical experiences during residency, which may increase the likelihood of trainees establishing a practice in these isolated areas. “Rural areas are tremendously underserved. [Patients] are waiting months to get appointments. And so if we can increase the number of rural dermatologists,...

In the news: Dermatologist survey spotlights psoriasis care deficiencies in reproductive-age women Expert panel addresses gaps in acne guidelines                                         * * * There is strong evidence for a relationship between diet and various skin conditions. In this resident takeover, Daniel R. Mazori, MD, talks to Sophie A. Greenberg, MD (@sophiegreenberg), about the role of diet in acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. Because patients and parents of pediatric...

In the news: Pityriasis rosea carries few risks for pregnant women Adjuvant nivolumab plus ipilimumab shows strong results in resected stage IV melanoma *  *  * Because psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) can greatly affect quality of life in pediatric patients, the development of treatments with low-side effect profiles and less laboratory monitoring is essential. Vincent A. DeLeo, MD, talks to Amy S. Paller, MD, and Jennifer B. Scott, MD, about biologics approved for psoriasis and AD...

In the news: Baseline body surface area may drive optimal baricitinib responses Avoiding atopic dermatitis triggers easier said than done                                   * * * * * * * * *  Psoriasis patients often have additional comorbidities that put them at higher risk for developing COVID-19. In this episode, Candrice R. Heath, MD (@DrCandriceHeath), talks to Mark G. Lebwohl, MD, about the benefits of continuing biologic therapies for psoriasis during the COVID-19 pandemic. They...

Dermatology News: Swedish registry study finds atopic dermatitis significantly associated with autoimmune diseases Guidance issued on COVID vaccine use in patients with dermal fillers                                               *  *  *   Dermatologic adverse events can present differently in patients with skin of color (SOC) than in White patients. In this episode, Candrice R. Heath, MD (@DrCandriceHeath), talks to Sarah J. Noor, MD, and medical student Dulce Barrios about how skin...

This year's top peer-to-peer interviews focus on diversity in residency training, the response to COVID-19 in academic dermatology, and tips for preparing for virtual residency interviews.  1. Diversity in residency training  2. Academic dermatology's response to COVID-19    3. Preparing for virtual residency interviews  Email Dermatology Weekly at [email protected]  

Dermatology News: Beware a pair of dermatologic emergencies in children: https://bit.ly/37mGA2d Preadolescent acne: Management from birth requires increasing vigilance: https://bit.ly/34mCWn0   *  *  *   Managing vitiligo can be difficult for both patients and physicians. In this episode, guest host Seemal R. Desai, MD, (@SeemalRDesaiMD) talks to Pearl E. Grimes, MD, about how to better classify vitiligo disease status and parameters that impact treatment choice. “There are some aspects...

Dermatology News: International expert group agrees on redefining psoriasis severity https://bit.ly/3a6a7PJ ‘Impressive’ results with neoadjuvant T-VEC in advanced melanoma: https://bit.ly/39UEwA3 CDC shortens COVID-19 quarantine time to 10 or 7 days, with conditions: https://bit.ly/3qGIGSn *  *  * Procedural interventions in pediatric patients require special tools. Vincent A. DeLeo, MD, talks to Craig N. Burkhart, MD, MS, MPH, about dermatologic procedures in children, such as laser...

Dermatology News: Expanded indications likely for apremilast: https://bit.ly/3lx1zTZ Neoadjuvant immunotherapy combo produces high response rate in melanoma: https://bit.ly/33Dx0Wr Blood glucose on admission predicts COVID-19 severity in all: https://bit.ly/39yJjXS *  *  * Advances in noninvasive skin imaging present new opportunities for inclusion and equitable treatment of patients with skin of color. In this episode, Candrice R. Heath, MD (@DrCandriceHeath), talks to Josèe Smith and...

Dermatology News: Merino wool clothing improves atopic dermatitis, studies find: https://bit.ly/3fFHQQI Tildrakizumab for psoriasis shows durable efficacy over 5 years: https://bit.ly/3l1Z0c9 AMA takes on vaccine misinformation, physician vaccines, racism: https://bit.ly/33ee0O2 *  *  * Nail unit squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is difficult to diagnose or suspect clinically because of its tendency to present as nonspecific nail plate changes. The tumors usually are painless and...

Dermatology News: Low threshold to biopsy atypical lesions may ID vulvar melanoma early, experts say https://www.mdedge.com/dermatology/article/231855/gynecologic-cancer/low-threshold-biopsy-atypical-lesions-may-id-vulvar Chronic inflammatory diseases vary widely in CHD risk https://www.mdedge.com/dermatology/article/231815/cad-atherosclerosis/chronic-inflammatory-diseases-vary-widely-chd-risk ‘Hospital at home’ increases COVID capacity in large study ...