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A string of (clinical) pearls about drug-induced linear IgA disease
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Aug. 6, 2018 Linear IgA dermatosis patient with urticarial eruption of the trunk. ... Credit: ... JAAD The late sage Wallace Clark taught me that once a diagnosis is secured, thinking ceases. Admittedly in cases of drug-induced linear IgA dermatosis (DI-LAD) that I have encountered
Session handouts and meetings archive
Handouts ... 2025 Innovation Academy, Chicago, IL, July 10-13 2025 Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, March 7-11 2024 Innovation Academy, Seattle, WA, August 1-4 2024 Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 8-12 2023 Innovation Academy, Tampa, FL, August 10-13 2023 Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 17-21 Sessions ... 2025 Innovation
AAD letter to the Wall Street Journal in response to “$500,000 Pay, Predictable Hours: How Dermatology Became the ‘It’ Job in Medicine”
American Academy of Dermatology President Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD Letter to the editor originally submitted to the Wall Street Journal ... on Nov. 20, 2024 ROSEMONT, Ill. (Dec. 2, 2024) — On behalf of the American Academy of Dermatology and its 21,000 members, I am writing to express very serious concerns
Cyclosporine reaches the top of the SJS/TEN leaderboard
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Oct. 16, 2017 ... A, Sheet-like detachment, blisters, and raw erosions on back of patient with Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis. B, Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation accentuated in areas where detached epidermis was not left in situ. ... Credit: ... JAAD The first commentary in DI&I for 2017
CME & session evaluation archive
Claim CME & submit session evaluations ... Claim CME credit and submit session evaluations for attending previous Academy meetings: ... 2026 Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, March 27-31, 2025 Innovation Academy, Chicago, IL, July 10-13 2025 Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, March 7-11 2024 Innovation Academy, Seattle, WA, August 1-4 2024 Annual
What's new in dermatology?
Experts break down diagnoses you didn't know about 10 years ago ... Feature ... By Emily Margosian, Assistant Editor, March 1, 2022 The history of medical diagnosis traces back to ancient Egypt, where the first recorded examples can be found in the writings of Imhotep dating 2630–2611 BC. In the
AADA hosts largest Capitol Hill skin cancer check in a decade
On May 15, the AADA hosted its 10th annual Capitol Hill Skin Cancer Check and Health Fair with the Congressional Skin Cancer Caucus. This event was our largest to date, hosting 198 Hill staffers and 11 members of Congress, performing 127 skin checks, and providing 75 Reveal camera image results.
Prioritizing patient satisfaction
Answers in Practice ... By Emily Margosian, Assistant Editor, March 1, 2024 DermWorld ... talks to Vinod Nambudiri, MD, MBA, EdM, FAAD, associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School, about strategies for improving patient satisfaction. Vinod Nambudiri, MD, MBA, EdM, FAAD ... DermWorld: Tell us about your practice. Dr.
Herpes zoster, immunosuppression, and vaccination: Far from a blistering pace
By Warren R. Heymann, MD July 5, 2016 Do you recognize the name Chris Gueffroy? He was the last person shot trying to escape from East Berlin, before the wall came down. I had long promised myself that I would get Zostavax when I turned 60. Now 61, I am
Humbled again: Alopecic and aseptic nodules of the scalp
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD November 3, 2021 Vol. 3, No. 44 "To confess ignorance is often wiser than to beat about the bush with a hypothetical diagnosis." - Sir William Osler I confess. I had never heard of alopecic and aseptic nodules of the scalp (AANS) and have
The rosy reality of coffee
Ronnie and me enjoying our rosacea prevention tour of Madrid in 2012 ... By Warren R. Heymann, MD Nov. 5, 2018 To paraphrase Justice Kavanaugh, I loved coffee. I still love coffee. I have probably been drinking coffee since my time in utero. My mother was a coffee addict; she
Dyeing for a “new” topical agent for psoriasis? Think indigo
By Warren R. Heymann, MD April 9, 2018 Despite the magnificent revolution of biologics for psoriasis, topical agents remain the cornerstone of treatment, either alone, or in combination with phototherapy or systemic treatments. Patients clamor for "natural" products and are increasingly steroid phobic (please see "Countering Corticophobia with Assistance from
What are keratoacanthomatous lesions of the legs in mature women?
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Dec. 11, 2017 ... Right thigh, keratoacanthomatous atypical squamous proliferation. (Hematoxylin-eosin stain; original magnification: ×10.) ... Credit: ... JAAD I have an increasing number of patients asking me questions about proliferating keratoacanthoma-like lesions on their shins. "Why am I getting these? Are they cancer? Why
Does the JAK inhibitor baricitinib raise the bar on treating lupus?
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Aug. 20, 2018 Cutaneous lupus in dermatomal distribution. Erythematous papules in a dermatomal distribution along the patient's left lower extremity. ... Credit: ... JAAD Undeniably, the JAK inhibitors have been at the forefront of advances in immunologically-based diseases, including alopecia areata, vitiligo, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis,
Happy 4th of July from DI&I
By Warren R. Heymann, MD July 3, 2018 George Washington contracted smallpox when he was 19 years old. Although he nearly succumbed to the disease, he survived with pockmark scars and life-long immunity. (1) He and other founders recognized the severity of smallpox and its threat to their independence and
COVID-19 dermatology registry
Thank you for agreeing to take part in this important effort on behalf of the American Academy of Dermatology and the International League of Dermatologic Societies. Our hope is that information you and others provide will help us understand dermatologic manifestations of the COVID-19 virus, as well as skin reactions
Battling bugs...that aren't there
Go to AAD Home ... Go to AAD Home ... Menu ... Dermatologists embrace empathy, antipsychotics to help patients with psychocutaneous disease ... Dermatologists embrace empathy, antipsychotics to help patients with psychocutaneous disease ... By Jan Bowers, contributing writer Dermatologists are well equipped to diagnose and treat all manner of
Welcome to Dermatology World Insights and Inquiries
By Warren R. Heymann, MD March 13, 2019 Vol. 1, No. 1 Keeping up with clinically relevant dermatologic literature has become an increasingly daunting task. The time constraints facing dermatologists (and all physicians) have multiplied, as have administrative demands, burdens of electronic records, etc., challenging even the most time-efficient, organized
Your Dermatologist Knows media wins 2024
A key part of Your Dermatologist Knows is pitching stories to media outlets in hopes they’ll run news stories sharing information about the wide breadth of knowledge dermatologists have to their readership. We consider every new story published as a result of our pitches as a win, regardless of whether
Academy physician leaders meet with federal legislators
On June 4, AADA physician leaders met with legislators in Washington, D.C., as part of the House Call on the Mall fundraiser hosted by the National Republican Congressional Committee and Rep. John Joyce, MD, FAAD (R-PA). During the event, AADA leaders reiterated the importance of Medicare physician payment reform. ...
Shingles and the battle of the bulge
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Sept. 11, 2019 Vol. 1, No. 27 I thought I knew herpes zoster (HZ, shingles) inside and out — from patients’ experiences, my late mother’s herpes zoster ophthalmicus (I could not believe how devastatingly awful she appeared arriving back from Europe!), to my recent vaccination
AADA hosts 10th annual Capitol Hill Skin Cancer Check and Health Fair
Moving the needle ... By Apoorva Stull, Senior Manager, Advocacy Communications, May 1, 2024 DermWorld ... breaks down the latest highlights of AADA advocacy activities at the federal and state legislative and regulatory level. On May 15, the AADA hosted its 10th annual Capitol Hill Skin Cancer Check and Health
DI&I encore: Better than a back scratcher?
By Warren R. Heymann, MD March 30, 2017 The potential toxicity of the combination of topical ketamine/amitriptyline/lidocaine (TKAL) was discussed in a recent entry detailing the encephalopathic findings in an octogenarian Parkinsonian man with atopic dermatitis who was treated with the compound. I concluded: "As our therapeutic options for recalcitrant
The “rope” sign is knot pathognomonic: Autoimmunity ties the etiologies together
By Warren R. Heymann, MD July 8, 2016 The "rope" sign is a dramatic finding presenting as a linear to curvilinear cords ("cordonifom") on the lateral chest. It was originally described as an uncommon, but specific feature of Interstitial Granulomatous Dermatitis with Arthritis (IGDA), and has been considered pathognomonic for
Alarming but benign: The enigma of acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD Sept. 8, 2021 Vol. 3, No. 36 "The patient, a fat baby thriving on its mother’s milk, was suddenly attacked by purpura, urticaria and localized edema, lasting about ten days. There were only systemic symptoms from the result of pain. At first the bowels
Taking biologics to heart
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Oct. 16, 2016 Comorbidities related to psoriasis have dominated the dermatologic literature for more than a decade since Joel Gelfand published his seminal paper (1). In my 2008 commentary for ... Dialogues in Dermatology , I stated that "It remains to be determined if treating
How to check for bedbugs
Board-certified dermatologist’s tips ROSEMONT, Ill. (March 14, 2024) — Bedbugs can make you itch just by thinking about them. These tiny, reddish-brown insects that feed on blood are notorious for infiltrating hotel rooms and luggage, hitchhiking their way back to a new home virtually undetected. ... "Understanding what to be
Not just for boys: X-linked erythropoietic protoporphyria
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Sept. 7, 2017 I was anxiously awaiting the results of erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels obtained from a 4 year-old boy who avoids sunlight because his "skin hurts" when not in the shade. Until I read the article by Balwani, et al (1), I was unaware of
Educating the public – Summer meeting coverage
AAD Summer Meeting and dermatologists’ summer skin care tips make the news ... So far, a total of ... 38 news stories covering the ... 2021 AAD Summer Meeting and new dermatologic research impacting patient treatment and care made headlines that have been seen more than 41 million times. ...
Angiosarcomas and morbid obesity: An enormous problem
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Feb. 26, 2017 Localized lymphedema. A, Case 7 showed many polypoid lesions that varied in size and were localized throughout the vulva, pubis, and perineum. B, Case 9 showed multiple small polypoid lesions with cauliflower-like morphology in the penis and scrotum. C, Case 3 showed
Academy presence elevated during awareness months and days
Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Hair Loss Awareness Month shine in particular. ... Part of the Academy’s robust public education involves utilizing various awareness months and days throughout the year to share information with the public that is relevant to the awareness campaign in question. ... Two of the most successful
January 31, 2024
Derm World Weekly - A Publication of the American Academy of Dermatology | Association ... IN THIS ISSUE / Jan. 31, 2024 ... Dupilumab vs. upadacitinib for atopic dermatitis DermWorld Insights and Inquiries : Early-onset hypertension associated with extensive capillary malformations — A new worry to raise dermatologists’ blood pressure
Advocacy Update Feb. 4 2025
IN THIS ISSUE / Feb. 4, 2025 Physician champions introduce Medicare physician payment fix in House Academy joins coalition urging less regulatory burdens in Medicare Advantage and Part D program AADA urges CMS to improve MVP framework Become an AADA Advocacy Key Contact Support dermatology champions in Congress through SkinPAC
Advocacy Update May 5, 2026
IN THIS ISSUE / May 5, 2026 Advocacy win: United Healthcare delays referral program penalties Dr. Gross attends political event on behalf of SkinPAC New Medicare physician payment reform legislative efforts AADA presents at FDA nonprescription drugs access public meeting Payer Advocacy Advocacy win: United Healthcare delays referral program penalties
Preventing payment appeals
Cracking the Code ... Dr. Miller, who is in private practice in Yorba Linda, California, represents the American Academy of Dermatology on the AMA-CPT Advisory Committee. ... By Alexander Miller, MD, October 3, 2016 Prior Cracking the Code columns have focused upon common billing errors and appeals strategies. However, a
Skin Cancer Awareness Month campaign reaches billions!
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and in 2024 the Academy once again undertook a robust effort to spread awareness to the general public. Similar content did very well in 2022, did even better in 2023, and shows no signs of stopping in 2024! ... During the month, the Academy
Time to break up with your old break room
Physician and staff burnout are on the rise, giving more reason to think about the non-clinical, non-administrative space of the practice — the staff lounge otherwise known as the break room. This space can often go neglected because it may not be valued the same way as the other areas
Taking the challenge: Social media, adolescents, and the skin
By Albert C. Yan, MD June 12, 2019 Vol. 1, No. 14 Patterned skin injury can raise the specter of non-accidental trauma. However, over the past decade or so, striking examples of patterned skin injury have emerged among adolescents and pre-teens that share certain features: these are self-induced voluntarily; the
Advocacy Update Dec 9, 2025
IN THIS ISSUE / Dec. 9, 2025 AADA endorses annual inflationary update to Medicare payment legislation Upcoming formulary prior authorization changes to Blue Cross Blue Shield’s federal employee coverage Podcast highlights advocacy on dermatopathology payer and regulatory challenges AMA offering $1 million in community health program grants Peter Friedman, MD,
On the front lines in Connecticut
Derm World Weekly - A Publication of the American Academy of Dermatology | Association ... DW Weekly talked to Caroline Nelson, MD, from Yale School of Medicine, about her experiences serving in the internal medicine unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. DW Weekly : I understand that you have been serving
Dupilumab: The first year
By Warren R. Heymann, MD ... Jan. 8, 2018 A patient with severe atopic dermatitis has benefited from dupilumab. ... Credit: Warren R Heymann ... When introduced as dermatologist to a new acquaintance, I’m sure you have heard: "Dermatology is a great field — you don’t cure anybody, so
Hair straightening and acute renal injury: The latest data straight up
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD April 3, 2024 Vol. 6, No. 14 The global hair straightener market has experienced significant growth, with a market size of US$ 587.9 million in 2022, projected to be US$ 759.9 million by 2028. (1) I expected the market to already be in the
The importance of spreading skin cancer awareness
From the President ... Dr. Alam is the Academy’s current president. ... By Murad Alam, MD, FAAD, May 1, 2026 Dear members, ... The Academy is dedicated to public education and takes its role as one of the largest sources of skin, hair, and nail health care information seriously. As
PASI 100 and the perfection paradox
By Warren R. Heymann, MD June 27, 2016 I am not a psychiatrist, but over the years I have concluded that my patients’ happiness is more supratentorial than epidermal. ... As we approach perfection, imperfections take on far greater importance. Some examples: ... In medical school, I spent many Sunday
A Trumpian analysis of infliximab-induced follicular mucinosis: Something’s going on here
By Warren R. Heymann, MD July 10, 2016 Williams et al presented two cases of biopsy-proven facial follicular mucinosis (FM), apparently induced by infliximab, with a normal tissue CD4/CD8 ratio of 2/1 and the presence of CD7, thereby ruling out CTCL. The first case was a 23 year-old man with
Advocacy Update Feb. 18 2025
IN THIS ISSUE / Feb. 18, 2025 AADA, house of medicine demand reversal of Medicare cut and provide a pay boost AADA highlights need for Medicare physician payment reform at House Committee on Ways and Means hearing Dermatology addresses new CLIA requirements for lab directors Legislators reject pharmacists’ effort to
Advocacy Update Mar. 18, 2025
IN THIS ISSUE / Mar. 18, 2025 AADA outraged that Congress passed government funding without doc fix AADA advocates for dermatologists in CLIA lab director requirements FDA testing confirms minimal benzene in most benzoyl peroxide acne products, some voluntary recalls issued Add your voice and become an AADA Advocacy Key
Early-onset hypertension associated with extensive capillary malformations: A new worry to raise dermatologists’ blood pressure
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD Jan. 31, 2024 Vol. 6, No. 5 The recent passing of Mikhail Gorbachev reminded me of the teaching value of his port wine stain. The following brief article published in the ... Washington Post in 1987 reflects the state of knowledge 36 years ago.
The AAD’s robust public education strategy
Taking care of dermatologists so that they can take care of their patients...and their practices. ... From the President ... Dr. Taylor is the Academy’s former president. ... By Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, May 1, 2025 Dear members, ... As you may know, the Academy’s public education efforts successfully
Glucose monitors: Not as sweet as they seem
By Christen M. Mowad, MD Oct. 9, 2019 Vol. 1, No. 31 ... The next contact allergen of the year has been announced early by the American Contact Dermatitis Society and it is an acrylate, isobornyl acrylate. (1) This chemical is a photopolymerizable monomer that has been used in industrial
Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis: Six decades of progress
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries ... By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD, March 1, 2026 Vol. 8, No. 3 Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) is a quizzical disorder. In 1965, Ise and Ofuji described the case of a 42-year-old woman who "repeatedly developed crops of small pustules on the face, the trunk,
The concept of atrophoderma of pasini and pierini as morphea may be falling off a cliff
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Nov. 6, 2017 ... Clinical photos of idiopathic atrophoderma of Pierini and Pasini. ... Credit: ... JAAD Diagnosing Atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini (APP) is reasonably straightforward — it usually presents in adolescents and young adults, more often in females, with sharply defined, single or
As molecular knowledge of PROS expands, lesions contract
By Warren R. Heymann, MD April 19, 2018 PIK3CA patient showing hemifacial hypertrophy. ... Credit: ... JAAD Somatic activating mutations in the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT/mTOR pathway manifest as heterogeneous segmental overgrowth phenotypes Historically, the clinical diagnoses in patients with PIK3CA activating mutations have included Fibroadipose Hyperplasia or Overgrowth (FAO), Hemihyperplasia Multiple Lipomatosis
Coming to grips with lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD May 18, 2022 Vol. 4, No. 20 As a medical student, I was introduced to the concept that bilaterally symmetrical palpable purpura is leukocytoclastic vasculitis until proven otherwise. Although that bromide has served me well over the years, with experience, vasculitis perpetually befuddles me.
Researching therapeutic reformation of the capillary malformation: Arteriovenous Malformation Syndrome
By Warren R. Heymann, MD June 17, 2020 Vol. 2, No. 24 Small cutaneous lesions may have profound systemic implications. Astute dermatologists will recognize these lesions and assess patients accordingly, often to the surprise of referring physicians and patients alike. ... The Capillary Malformation – Arteriovenous Malformation (CM-AVM) syndrome was
Dupilumab’s conjunctivitis conundrum
By Warren R. Heymann, MD June 11, 2018 Having worn glasses since kindergarten, and being virtually helpless without them, I am particularly sympathetic to patients with eye disorders. ... Ocular disease in atopic dermatitis (AD) may manifest in a variety of ways. Conjunctivitis, a predisposition to keratoconus, and anterior subcapsular
Radical chik: Chikungunya fever presenting as a toxic epidermal necrolysis-like eruption
By Warren R. Heymann, MD June 25, 2018 ... Chikungunya fever: morbilliform rash with islands of sparing. Photograph courtesy of Zawar Vijay, MD, Nashik, India. ... Credit: ... JAAD I have seen only one documented case of Chikungunya fever (CF), in a young woman who returned from Puerto Rico, presenting
ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding updates for 2024
Derm Coding Consult ... By Faith C. M. McNicholas, RHIT, CPC, CPCD, PCS, CDC, Manager, Lead Coding and Reimbursement Strategist, September 1, 2023 Academy coding staff address important coding topics each month in DermWorld ... Coding Consult. Read more Derm Coding Consult articles . The CDC and the National Center
A presidential viewpoint: “Nobody knew that benign vascular lesions of the lip could be so complicated”
By Warren R. Heymann, MD April 14, 2017 Well, maybe not as befuddling as replacing Obamacare, but there may be occasional difficulties in diagnosing benign vascular lesions of the lip, with implications for appropriate therapy. ... Tobouti et al, in a study from an oral pathology service, found that of
Clawing to understand lichen nitidus
By Warren R. Heymann, MD April 5, 2018 Lichen nitidus: dermoscopic images. A, In the first patient, dermoscopic findings of the left plantar lesions revealed that linear scales in parallel (thick arrows) were discontinued by oval, well-defined depressions surrounded by ring-shaped, silvery white scales (thin arrows). Long axis of the
Key messages to communicate about Indoor tanning
Key messages ... Using indoor tanning beds can increase your risk of skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. (1-15) ... Using tanning beds before age 20 can increase your chances of developing melanoma by 47%, and the risk increases with each use. (16) ... Women younger
PD1 blockade: The next step for aggressive basal cell carcinomas?
By Warren R. Heymann, MD April 19, 2017 I was about to start the weekend, relishing that delightful TGIF feeling, with one final task — go through lab reports in my bin. My mood became morose when I read the follow-up letter about Sue (not her real name). She
Diagnosis coding updates for 2026
Derm Coding Consult ... By Faith C. M. McNicholas, RHIT, CPC, CPCD, PCS, CDC, Senior Manager, Coding and Reimbursement, November 1, 2025 Academy coding staff address important coding topics each month in DermWorld ... Coding Consult. Read more Derm Coding Consult articles . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
October 30, 2019
Derm World Weekly - A Publication of the American Academy of Dermatology | Association ... IN THIS ISSUE / October 30, 2019 ... Potential treatment for chronic urticaria may offer complete control DW Insights and Inquiries: Can chowing down improve pseudoxanthoma elasticum? Advances in medical technology: friend or foe? Do
Hand-wringing over the histology of mechanic’s hands and other cutaneous manifestations of dermatomyositis
By Warren R. Heymann, MD April 23, 2018 Dermatomyositis. Erythematous papules overlying the metacarpal and interphalangeal joints (Gottron papules). ... Credit: ... JAAD Of all the cutaneous manifestations of dermatomyositis (DM) — the heliotrope rash, Gottron’s papules, Gottron’s sign, shawl sign, holster sign, flagellate erythema, photosensitivity, poikiloderma, periungual erythema, periungual
Voriconazole prophylaxis mandates cutaneous prophylaxis – and communication
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Sept. 28, 2017 The utilization of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been increasing dramatically. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, 92,784 procedures were performed between 2010 and 2014. ... Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation HSCT remain
Key messages for social media about nails and nail health
Key messages ... Our nails often reflect our general state of health. Changes such as discoloration or thickening can signal health problems, including liver and kidney disease, heart and lung conditions, anemia, and diabetes. ... Changes in color, shape, and/or thickness, swelling of the skin around the nails, bleeding or
This month’s news from across the specialty
What’s hot ... January 1, 2023 In this monthly column, members of the ... DermWorld Editorial Advisory Workgroup identify exciting news from across the specialty. ... Mallory Abate, MD, FAAD In October’s ... Dialogues in Dermatology , Dr. Scott Elman, double board-certified internist and dermatologist, discusses important "new medications
Emergency supply drive for front line COVID-19 workers
Derm World Weekly - A Publication of the American Academy of Dermatology | Association ... ... Dermatology World Weekly talked to Ronda Farah, MD, assistant professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, about her efforts to collect emergency supplies for front line workers.
The globalization of monkeypox
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD May 25, 2022 Vol. 4, No. 21 Disclaimers: This commentary was written on May 22 for a publication date of May 25, 2022. The issues related to the increasing number of reported monkeypox cases are changing rapidly. The content included in this commentary may
The profound dermatological manifestations of COVID-19: Part II
By Warren R. Heymann, MD March 25, 2020 Vol. 2, No. 12 Disclaimers: This commentary was written on March 17, 2020 for a publication date of March 25, 2020. The issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic are changing like lightning. The content included in this commentary may no longer be
Coming to terms with Louis Brocq and his diagram: Pityriasis lichenoides 2018
By Warren R. Heymann, MD July 16, 2018 ... A and B, Pityriasis lichenoides chronica–like drug eruption. The lower legs show several, 3- to 4-mm, red-brown, thin papules with centrally adherent micaceous scale and intermixed erosions. ... Credit: ... JAAD As a first-year dermatology resident in 1980, I struggled with
Oy, another “Oid” to worry about: Cryptococcoid lesions
By Warren R. Heymann, MD July 3, 2019 Vol. 1, No. 17 The suffix "oid" m ... eans "resembling." There is a plethora of "oids" in dermatology — lichenoid, Pagetoid, rupioid, targetoid, to name a few. (My favorite is "oid-oid" disease, aka Sulzberger-Garbe disease, or exudative discoid and lichenoid chronic
May 6, 2020
Derm World Weekly - A Publication of the American Academy of Dermatology | Association ... IN THIS ISSUE / May 6, 2020 ... What dermatologic hazards are COVID-19 health care workers facing? DW Insights and Inquiries: Working up pernio — How far should you dip your toe in the water?
Naltrexone therapy for Hailey-Hailey disease: Confirming my addiction to evidence-based medicine
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Aug. 28, 2017 Hailey-Hailey disease. Patient 1: erythematous-crusted plaques on the lower midback before radiation treatment. ... Credit: ... JAAD I was fascinated by a presentation at the recent World Congress of Pediatric Dermatology discussing improvement of epidermolysis bullosa wounds with topical CBD (cannabis) oil.
Biotin supplementation for hair and nail health: Does it pass the test?
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD November 17, 2021 Vol. 3, No. 46 When patients ask me about biotin supplementation for their hair or nails, the usual question is what dose they should take, not whether or not it has any value. High dose over-the-counter biotin supplements (≥ 5 mg/day,
After 23 years, a syndrome converted me into an eflornithine believer
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD July 12, 2023 Vol. 5, No. 28 I learned that Vaniqa (eflornithine - ... α -difluoromethylornithine [DFMO]) was discontinued. Topical eflornithine was released in 2000 to reduce facial hirsutism. When the drug was released, I recall being fascinated by the premise of its mechanism.
Getting a head up on cutaneous scalp malignancies
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD May 7, 2025 Vol. 7, No. 18 I’m confident that your alopecic patients with a suspected keratinocyte carcinoma or melanoma of the scalp jokingly ask you to be careful with your biopsy procedure so they do not lose any more hair. While patients and
Positively perplexing: Determining the meaning of CD30 positivity
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD Sept. 29, 2021 Vol. 3, No. 39 I’ll wager that most readers of DWI&I have experienced receiving a biopsy report, obtained from an inflammatory lesion, stating "scattered CD30+ cells were observed," accompanied by a comment that "clinicopathologic correlation is necessary to rule out the
The physician view of employment agreements
Legally Speaking ... Daniel F. Shay, Esq., is a health care attorney at Alice G. Gosfield and Associates, P.C. ... By Daniel F. Shay, Esq. , July 1, 2023 DermWorld ... covers legal issues in "Legally Speaking." This month’s author, Daniel F. Shay, Esq. is a health care attorney at
Links in the care chain
Go to AAD Home ... Go to AAD Home ... Menu ... Dermatologists are key providers in multispecialty care of melanoma, serious skin disease ... Dermatologists are key providers in multispecialty care of melanoma, serious skin disease ... By Jan Bowers, contributing writer A diagnosis of advanced melanoma marks the
Keeping up is hard to do: The need for true grit
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Oct. 5, 2017 One of the daunting challenges in practicing dermatology (or any branch of medicine) is keeping abreast of advances in the literature to optimize patient care. As a clinician-educator, I have always had an interest in how we learn best. For full disclosure,
JAK inhibitors battle in the heavyweight class
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD Nov. 12, 2025 Vol. 7, No. 45 Editor’s Note: A modified version of this commentary appeared as "A Clinician’s Perspective" in JAAD ... . JAK inhibitors (JAKi) have catapulted to such prominence in dermatologic therapeutics that I could write a weekly commentary about them.
Targeted anti-complement therapy may prove to be a complementary treatment for bullous pemphigoid
By Warren R. Heymann, MD Oct. 7, 2020 Vol. 2, No. 40 It is not my imagination — I have been seeing more cases of bullous pemphigoid (BP) than ever. This is likely a function of an aging population in concert with an increase of drug-induced cases, notably with dipeptidyl
Lipschütz ulcers: Not only for women
By Warren R. Heymann, MD March 24, 2021 Vol. 3, No. 12 Superstar dermatologists do not throw softball questions to presenters at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. A few years ago, following my presentation on the cutaneous manifestations of Epstein-Barr infection, Dr. Jeffrey Callen, one of
LIDA* rose the insulin requirement
By Warren R. Heymann, MD April 14, 2021 Vol. 3, No. 15 * Localized insulin-derived amyloidosis ... Amyloidosis, I thought I knew ye. But alas, you fooled me again. ... Amyloid is an insoluble protein folded in ... β -pleated sheets that is deposited extracellularly. Amyloid can accumulate in one
Setting the stage
Changes to TNM system enhance prognostication for cutaneous cancers ... Feature ... By Jan Bowers, Contributing Writer, October 1, 2021 When French surgeon Pierre Denoix, MD, pioneered the development of a simple staging system for breast cancer in the 1940s and ’50s, he opened a path for physicians treating many
Dermatology: A memoir
First Person ... By Walter Larsen, MD, May 1, 2021 In July 1961, Sylvi and I drove from San Francisco to Portland, Oregon for my residency in dermatology. We were married three months before in San Francisco. We packed up all our earthly possessions into our 1957 Chevrolet including a
Practicing with a purpose
Answers in Practice ... By Emily Margosian, assistant editor, September 1, 2021 DermWorld ... talks to Vinh Chung, MD, FAAD, from Vanguard Skin Specialists in Colorado Springs, Colorado, about the value of promoting meaning and purpose at work. DermWorld: Tell us about your practice. Dr. Chung: Vanguard started out with
Donors, children, dermatologists: Camp Discovery benefits all
Donor Spotlight ... By Dean Monti, Managing Editor, Special Publications, November 1, 2022 In this new column, DermWorld ... highlights individual members who have gone above and beyond with their Academy contributions. Giving takes many forms and so do our donors. It takes a healthy measure of financial and direct
Examine the exam room for opportunities for efficiencies
The exam room often makes up for less than half of the medical office space, but the exam room is the primary place where physicians and patients develop their relationship. The design and set up of this space should be carefully considered to optimize efficiency, workflow, and patient engagement. ...
Promising therapeutic developments for cutaneous lupus erythematosus: Interfering with interferon
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD Aug. 17, 2022 Vol. 4, No. 33 Disfigurement due to scars and dyspigmentation complicating discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) can be devastating. The cornerstones of therapy for cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) are steroids (topical, intralesional, systemic) and antimalarials (hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, quinacrine). Secondary agents include immunosuppressive
Unrestricted fascination with restrictive dermopathy
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD Nov. 16, 2022 Vol. 4, No. 46 Barely a week into our fellowships at the University of Pennsylvania in 1984, my wife (a geneticist) asked her favorite dermatologist (me) if I had any thoughts about a neonate with skin that was thin, taut, and
The pressure to prevent pressure ulcers
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD Aug. 24, 2022 Vol. 4, No. 34 Pressure ulcers (PUs, aka decubitus ulcers, pressure sores, bed sores) are due to prolonged pressure, characteristically over bony prominences such as the sacrum, occiput, ischial tuberosities, greater trochanters, heels, and lateral malleoli. (1,2) Interestingly, in the COVID-19
The woolly culprit: Lanolin revealed as an uncommon cause of dermatitis on normal skin
By Christen Mowad, MD, FAAD Nov. 15, 2023 Vol. 5, No. 46 Excitement surrounding the "Allergen of the Year" may only be truly appreciated by those immersed in the field of contact dermatitis and patch testing, but each year the announcement is met with enthusiasm from the wider dermatology specialty.
Reflections on reflectance confocal microscopy for diagnosing benign lichenoid keratoses
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD July 5, 2023 Vol. 5, No. 27 At the inception of my dermatology residency in July 1980 I read a brief article entitled "Benign Lichenoid Keratosis" (BLK) by Detlef Goette (1) and thought to myself "Remember this — I’ll probably see this lesion now
Demystifying cancer of the nail
Go to AAD Home ... Go to AAD Home ... Menu ... Unfamiliarity leads to missed diagnoses, reluctance to biopsy ... Unfamiliarity leads to missed diagnoses, reluctance to biopsy ... By Jan Bowers, contributing writer “You can’t trust the nail,” remarked Richard K. Scher, MD, a dermatologist with nearly 50
The nexus of VEXAS syndrome
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD December 1, 2021 Vol. 3, No. 47 You may not be familiar with VEXAS (Vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, Autoinflammatory, Somatic) syndrome, but it is conceivable that you have already unknowingly encountered patients with the disorder. ... To appreciate the clinical nuances of the VEXAS
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor: Tapinarof is taking off
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD Nov. 19, 2025 Vol. 7, No. 46 In his outstanding lecture identifying drivers of lupus, presented at the 2025 meeting of the Medical Dermatology Society, Jaehyuk Choi MD, PhD, explained that interferon — the well-known nemesis of lupus — controls the production of T
Tag, you’re it!
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD Sept. 28, 2022 Vol. 4, No. 39 Chances are you will see a patient with skin tags today. ... Patients will likely ask you two questions: Why do I get them? What do you mean my insurance won’t cover their removal (for asymptomatic lesions)?
Recognizing toxic epidermal necrolysis-like acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus ASAP
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD November 10, 2021 Vol. 3, No. 45 ASAP, the well-recognized acronym for "as soon as possible," takes on special significance for dermatologists confirming the diagnosis of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). In 2004, Ting et al introduced an alternative definition of the ASAP acronym —
Further dermatologic observations in cystic fibrosis
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD Aug. 6, 2025 Vol. 7, No. 31 Watson: And yet I believe that my eyes are as good as yours. Holmes: Quite so. You see, but you do not observe... – Sherlock Holmes in "A Scandal in Bohemia" (1891, written by Sir Arthur Conan
Which treatment modality of pyogenic granuloma is worth its weight in salt?
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD July 31, 2024 Vol. 6, No. 31 I get palpitations with every pyogenic granuloma (PG) I encounter. Even though the clinical diagnosis is instant, my personal Jiminy Cricket dermatologist reminds me not to miss an amelanotic melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or cutaneous metastasis. If
Necrobiosis lipoidica in a Wink
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD May 3, 2023 Vol. 5, No. 18 Ninety years have transpired since Urbach coined the term ... necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD) for the granulomatous disorder first described by Oppenheim in 1929 as ... dermatitis atrophicans lipoidica diabetica . (1) Early authors observed sclerotic plaques
Reflections on infantile perianal pyramidal protrusion and Hippocrates
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD May 29, 2024 Vol. 6, No. 22 Patient safety and quality improvement have been at the forefront of medical care since the publication of "To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System" by the Institute of Medicine, which estimated that as many as
Cycling back to doxycycline’s roots as therapy for bullous pemphigoid
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD July 26, 2023 Vol. 5, No. 30 Patients with moderate to severe bullous pemphigoid are usually treated with systemic corticosteroids. Four patients were treated with tetracycline hydrochloride and niacinamide because of the steroid-sparing anti-inflammatory properties of these agents. An excellent clinical response free of
Exchanging plasma exchange for a novel approach: The potential of FcRn antagonists in dermatologic autoimmune disease
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD Nov. 1, 2023 Vol. 5, No. 44 Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) are potentially life-threatening disorders demanding aggressive therapy with all the finesse and skill that dermatologists can muster. PV is characterized by IgG autoantibodies targeting desmoglein (Dsg)‐3, which is associated with
The ACA: 10 years later...during a pandemic
Go to AAD Home ... Go to AAD Home ... Menu ... It survived for a decade, but will it survive another 10 years after COVID-19? ... It survived for a decade, but will it survive another 10 years after COVID-19? ... By Ruth Carol, contributing writer On its 10
Watch your back!
Focusing on ergonomics can help dermatologists avoid a career-ending injury. ... Feature ... By Ruth Carol, contributing writer, February 1, 2021 After a long day of seeing patients, performing dermatologic procedures, or reviewing slides, do you have stiffness in your neck, pain in your back, or maybe an aching in
Telemedicine in the time of COVID-19...and beyond
How a novel virus disrupted and transformed health care delivery ... Feature ... By Allison Evans, assistant managing editor, July 1, 2021 Since its beginnings in the late 1960s, telemedicine has been relegated to the periphery of the health care system. Rigid rules around patient location and eligible services, interstate
Coding dermatology encounters in 2026: Practical guidance and tips for success
Derm Coding Consult ... By Faith C. M. McNicholas, RHIT, CPC, CPCD, PCS, CDC, Senior Manager, Coding & Reimbursement, May 1, 2026 Academy coding staff address important coding topics each month in DermWorld Coding Consult. ... Read more Derm Coding Consult articles . As healthcare delivery continues to evolve, 2026
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans recurrence: Size matters
By Warren R. Heymann, MD, FAAD April 24, 2024 Vol. 6, No. 17 Editor’s note: An abridged version of this commentary was published in the November 2023 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ... . Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a fascinating soft tissue tumor; although considered
Your Dermatologist Knows media wins 2024
A key part of Your Dermatologist Knows is pitching stories to media outlets in hopes they’ll run news stories sharing information about the wide breadth of knowledge dermatologists have to their readership. We consider every new story published as a result of our pitches as a win, regardless of whether
Coding lessons learned in 2022 — update on all of the common coding FAQs
Derm Coding Consult ... By Faith C. M. McNicholas, RHIT, CPC, CPCD, PCS, CDC, Manager, Lead Coding and Reimbursement Strategist, January 1, 2023 Academy coding staff address important coding topics each month in DermWorld ... Coding Consult. Read more Derm Coding Consult articles . 2022 has come to a close
Indoor tanning fact sheet
Indoor tanning use ... The global prevalence of indoor tanning in adolescents for 2013-2018 was 6.5%, and 10.4% in adults. (1) ... Though the numbers have been decreasing in recent years, approximately 7.8 million adults in the U.S. still engage in indoor tanning. (2,3) ... Among high school students in
The skin and stress connection
Experts explore the underlying mechanisms of the link between the brain and the skin. ... Feature ... By Allison Evans, assistant managing editor, December 1, 2020 There is generally no question among dermatologists that psychological stress can affect the skin. This year, more than ever, the heightened stress of living
Dermatology residency memories
First Person ... By Arthur L. Norins, MD, July 1, 2021 DermWorld’s ... First Person column offers Academy members the opportunity to share their personal reflections about how dermatology is changing and how they’ve adapted. A condensed version appeared in print. The American Academy of Dermatology meeting was scheduled in
23andDermatology
Go to AAD Home ... Go to AAD Home ... Menu ... What are the dermatologic implications of direct-to-consumer DNA tests? ... What are the dermatologic implications of direct-to-consumer DNA tests? ... By Emily Margosian, assistant editor Spit, swab, drop DNA in the mail. Since genetic tests were first offered
Sky high
PBM tactics increase drug prices, lower patient access ... Feature ... By Ruth Carol, Contributing Writer, September 1, 2022 Last month, ... DermWorld discussed the role pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) play in the drug distribution chain. This month, we will discuss some of the tactics PBMs use that are driving
Cosmetic conundrums
Contact dermatitis experts discuss key cosmetic allergens and how to investigate which product may be causing a patient’s allergic reaction. ... Feature ... By Emily Margosian, Assistant Editor, September 1, 2023 Thousands of substances can cause an allergic skin reaction, offering a broad lineup of potential "suspects" for contact dermatitis
Start the presses!
Go to AAD Home ... Go to AAD Home ... Menu ... Experts offer advice on how to successfully manage media relations ... Experts offer advice on how to successfully manage media relations ... By Victoria Houghton, assistant managing editor When Anne Chapas, MD, arrived in New York City and
Alleviate the ouch
Experts share best practices and review the latest on safety concerns for anesthesia use in children. ... Feature ... By Heidi Splete, Contributing Writer, May 1, 2024 Use of anesthesia can be tricky in adults, but even trickier in children. The use of local or general anesthesia in pediatric dermatology
Dermatology issues in the news
Talking points: FDA proposal on new sunscreen ingredient ... The American Academy of Dermatology Association applauds the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for taking the first steps in more than two decades to provide more safe and effective sunscreen options to the American public. ... The agency announced that they
Our donors
We welcome this year's generous donors into the following giving societies and thank them for their commitment to advancing the programs and services of the Academy, especially those who have given consecutively for the past 5+ years. ... 1938 Legacy Society (Transformational gift) ... Bruce D. Glassman, MD, FAAD ...