Derm-it Trotter! Don't Swear About Skincare.

Your hair can feel like a small thing until cancer treatment threatens to take it away. We sit down with board-certified hematologist-oncologist Dr. Tiffany Pompa to talk honestly about chemotherapy hair loss, why it happens, and why the emotional impact is often underestimated by everyone except the people living it. We also dig into how immunotherapy differs, why hair loss is usually uncommon wi...

Dark spots can be frustrating, especially when they seem to stick around despite your best efforts. Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd joins us to break down what causes hyperpigmentation, the differences between melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and sunspots, and how dermatologists approach treatment. We discuss the role of sunscreen, visible light, hydroquinone alternatives, chemical peels, a...

You can feel the tension the moment a patient says, “I want that medication.” From SkinTok trends to viral skincare advice, dermatologist Dr. Jim Del Rosso joins us from the AOCD meeting to break down how dermatologists navigate treatment requests while still building trust. We talk about acne, rosacea, topical steroid fears, antibiotic resistance, and why the right diagnosis matters more than cha...

Chronic hives can hijack your sleep, focus, mood, and confidence, and the hardest part is often not knowing why it’s happening. Board-certified dermatologist and Northwestern associate professor Dr. Walter Liszewski joins us to break down the biggest myths around urticaria, explain the difference between acute and chronic hives, and walk through common patterns like dermatographism, pressure hives...

Joint pain with psoriasis is easy to brush off until it starts affecting your daily life. We sit down with Mark Lebwohl to break down the early warning signs of psoriatic arthritis, from nail pitting and heel pain to swollen “sausage” fingers and morning stiffness. We also explain how doctors diagnose it, why it is often mistaken for osteoarthritis, and why catching it early matters. We also unpac...

A biopsy is still the gold standard for diagnosing skin cancer, but it is far from perfect. From the AOCD meeting in Orlando, Dr. Laura Ferris, Chair of Dermatology at the University of North Carolina, joins us to break down how skin cancer detection is evolving and why tools like dermoscopy, mole mapping, and total body photography are changing the way dermatologists evaluate suspicious lesions....

Insurance denials are one of the most frustrating parts of modern healthcare, and in dermatology, they can delay medically necessary treatment for weeks or even months. Recorded live from the AOCD meeting in Florida, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kristi Hawley joins us to explain what’s really happening behind prior authorizations, PBMs, formulary restrictions, and “peer-to-peer” reviews. We t...

Squamous cell carcinoma is the skin cancer most people shrug off until it stops playing by the rules. From the AOCD meeting in Orlando, I sit down with board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Dr. Carlos Gomez Mead to talk about why cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma can be far more dangerous than its reputation and why, on a population level, it can lead to more deaths than melanoma. We dig...

Acne can feel mysterious until you zoom out and see the pattern: your skin is responding to signals from blood sugar, hormones, inflammation, stress, and even your environment. Dr. Shannon C. Trotter sits down with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Katie Varman of Shine Functional Dermatology to unpack what’s happening under the surface, and why treating acne is often about finding your biggest dr...

Skincare on social media can feel like a nonstop emergency: one day red light masks are “the secret,” the next day exosomes are “the future,” and somewhere in the middle you’re told sunscreen is poison. We wanted to slow that down. We’re joined by board-certified dermatologist Dr Dustin Portella to talk through why people are increasingly turning to TikTok, Instagram, and quick searches for skinca...

That Oscars moment put the word “alopecia” on everyone’s lips, but the real story is what happens when hair loss is autoimmune and how quickly it can change someone’s life. I sit down with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Eric Dominguez to explain alopecia areata in plain language, from the classic coin-shaped patches to the tougher presentations like diffuse thinning, ophiasis patterns, and isol...

Cheap Botox ads and “natural Botox” hacks are everywhere, but the real story is what happens behind the syringe. I sit down with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldenberg to explain neuromodulators in plain language: what Botox actually does, how it softens forehead lines, crow’s feet, and the glabellar “11s,” and why the best results leave you looking rested, not overdone. We also get int...

Remission in psoriasis and eczema is no longer just theoretical—it’s becoming a real treatment goal. In this episode, Dr. Joe Tung explains why chronic inflammatory skin diseases act more like high blood pressure than a one-time rash, and why clear skin doesn’t always mean the disease is gone—especially when considering stopping biologics or systemic therapy. We break down what remission actually...

A rash after you eat something feels simple, but skin allergy rarely is. We sit down with board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Dr. Carsten Hamann to break down systemic contact dermatitis, a lesser-known form of allergic contact dermatitis where reactions can be triggered not just by skin contact, but sometimes by ingestion. We unpack how this differs from true food allergy, why eczema a...

Fillers are everywhere, but the real question is what problem you’re trying to solve. We sit down with Dr. Lisa Akintilo, a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at NYU, to break down dermal fillers in a way that actually makes sense. From when neuromodulators like Botox or Dysport are the better option for movement-based lines, to understanding who’s a good candidate, th...

Your skin starts telling the story of aging earlier than you think. We sit down with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dan Butler to break down what’s happening beneath the surface, from intrinsic aging (your genetic timeline) to extrinsic aging (sun exposure, pollution, and daily wear). This framework explains why collagen and elastin weaken over time, how the skin barrier changes, and why aging...

HS isn’t “just boils.” It’s a chronic autoinflammatory disease that often begins in the teens or 20s and affects sensitive areas of the body. We sit down with double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Dr. Harrison Wen to explain what HS is, why it’s frequently misdiagnosed, and how recognizing it early can change the course of the disease. We break down the immune and hormonal drivers...

A tan isn’t a glow—it’s your skin raising the alarm. We sit down with runner and melanoma survivor Leah Adams to unpack the myths behind tanning culture and why sun damage is cumulative at any age. From social pressure to trending tan lines, we explore how beauty standards clash with biology—and what it really means to protect your skin. Leah shares a realistic, outdoor-friendly routine: broad-spe...

What if skincare felt effortless enough to repeat—and effective enough to trust? We sit down with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lily Park to explore how K-Beauty’s prevention-first mindset, featherlight layers, and rapid innovation reshaped modern skincare. From cultural habits to ingredient trends like snail mucin and centella asiatica, we break down what actually works, what’s overhyped, and...

Thinking about your first tattoo or how to choose the right artist? We sit down with Morgan Benson of Hollow Earth to break down the path into tattooing, from apprenticeships to today’s highly specialized styles like realism, botanical work, and dark illustrative design. You’ll learn how artists and clients collaborate to create pieces that fit your story, placement, and skin tone—so your tattoo n...

Most people were never taught how to care for vulvar skin, and online advice can be confusing or harmful. We sit down with Dr. Emily Murphy, dermatologist and director of a vulvar health program, to separate myths from facts and share a simple, science-based routine that actually works. We break down anatomy (vulva vs. vagina), why different areas get different conditions, and how to simplify dail...

Psoriasis doesn’t just affect the skin — it shapes daily life, confidence, and mental health. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Scott Drew about how modern treatments reduce inflammation, improve mood, and help patients return to work, relationships, and everyday moments they once avoided. When care truly works, you see it: posture lifts, eye contact returns, and people start saying yes to life ag...

Noticing hair shedding after starting a GLP-1? This episode explains why rapid weight loss can trigger telogen effluvium, how to tell temporary shedding from pattern thinning, and what timelines are normal. We break down what’s known about semaglutide and tirzepatide and how dermatologists evaluate hair changes. You’ll learn when to wait, when to treat, and which options—like labs, minoxidil, or o...

Boxed warnings can feel like a stop sign—but they don’t always reflect your personal risk. Dr. Nicholas Brownstone breaks down what these labels really mean, why they’re often added after approval, and how “association” (not proven causation) can still drive scary wording. We also unpack class-wide warnings (like TB language on biologics and U.S. JAK inhibitor risks borrowed from older RA populati...

Skin cancer doesn’t always look like a dark, jagged mole—it can be a faint freckle, a small pink bump, or a quiet spot you’d never notice. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. David Oberlin, board-certified dermatologist with a passion for skin cancer care and rural medicine, to break down what makes a skin check truly effective, comfortable, and potentially life-saving—and how a focused ten-minu...