Therapeutic Innovations & Global Perspectives

This lecture series explores emerging clinical, biologic, environmental, and practice-based factors shaping modern dermatologic care. Topics include polypharmacy and deprescribing, nutrigenomics and personalized nutrition, environmental and toxic exposures, recent systemic drug approvals, mitochondrial health and cellular longevity, and evidence-informed herbal dermatology. Learners will also examine dermatologic diagnosis in skin of color, culturally responsive care, and strategies to strengthen clinical documentation, informed consent, and medicolegal risk management.

Across the series, participants will gain practical, evidence-based approaches to evaluating complex patients, applying emerging therapeutic insights, recognizing environmental and biologic contributors to skin disease, improving diagnostic accuracy, and supporting safer, more individualized dermatologic care.

Polypharmacy: The Impact of Too Many Medications and How to Deprescribe - (Daniel Butler, MD)

This presentation will explore the growing challenge of polypharmacy in dermatology, particularly among older adults and patients with complex inflammatory skin disease, highlighting the risks of adverse drug events, drug–drug interactions, and treatment burden. Attendees will learn practical frameworks for evaluating medication appropriateness, identifying high-risk prescribing patterns, and incorporating deprescribing principles into dermatologic care while balancing disease control, quality of life, and patient goals. The session will also review evidence-based strategies for safer prescribing, interdisciplinary collaboration, and shared decision-making to optimize outcomes in medically complex dermatology patients.

Learning Objectives:
After completing this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the prevalence and clinical consequences of polypharmacy in dermatology, including adverse drug events, drug–drug interactions, and treatment burden in older adults and medically complex patients.
2. Apply evidence-based deprescribing frameworks to evaluate medication appropriateness and optimize therapeutic regimens for patients with dermatologic disease.
3. Apply shared decision-making and interdisciplinary collaboration into dermatologic prescribing practices to improve patient safety, adherence, and quality of life.

Nutrigenomics & Personalized Nutrition - (Raja Sivamani, MD MS AP)

This session will review the principles of nutrigenomics and their relevance to dermatology. The lecture will examine how genetic variation influences nutrient metabolism, inflammatory pathways, and skin health. Evidence supporting personalized nutrition strategies in dermatologic conditions will be analyzed, with discussion of practical considerations for clinical implementation.

Learning Objectives:
After completing this session, participants will be able to:

1. Define key concepts in nutrigenomics and personalized nutrition.
2. Describe how genetic variation influences nutrient metabolism and skin disease pathways.
3. Evaluate current evidence supporting personalized nutrition approaches in dermatology.
4. Apply principles of nutrigenomics to support individualized patient care strategies.

Environmental Dermatology & Toxic Exposures - (Stacy McClure, MD)

This session will examine the role of environmental exposures in dermatologic disease, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals, heavy metals, air pollution, and other modern toxicants. The lecture will review mechanisms by which environmental factors influence skin inflammation, barrier function, immune dysregulation, and pigmentary change. Attendees will gain a framework for recognizing exposure-related patterns in clinical practice and incorporating evidence-based assessment and counseling strategies.

Learning Objectives:
After completing this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify common environmental toxic exposures associated with dermatologic conditions.
2. Explain mechanisms by which environmental toxicants contribute to inflammation, barrier dysfunction, and immune activation in the skin.
3. Evaluate the current evidence linking environmental exposures to specific dermatologic diseases.
4. Apply practical strategies for environmental history-taking, risk assessment, and patient counseling in dermatology practice.

What’s New in Dermatology: Recent Systemic Drug Approvals and Emerging Therapeutic Advances - (Hadar Lev-Tov, MD)

This session reviews recent systemic therapeutic developments in dermatology from 2021 through 2026. Faculty will examine newly approved therapies and indication expansions across inflammatory, autoimmune, infectious, and oncologic dermatologic conditions. The session will highlight mechanisms of action, FDA-approved indications, pivotal clinical trial data, and the evolving role of targeted therapies in dermatologic care.

Learning Objectives:
After completing this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify systemic therapies and indication expansions introduced in dermatology from 2021 through 2026.
2. Differentiate recently approved therapies based on mechanism of action, FDA-approved indication, and supporting clinical efficacy.
3. Identify recent studies demonstrating the efficacy of targeted pharmacotherapies across dermatologic diseases.

Cellular Longevity (mitochondria, NAD+, senescence) - (Raja Sivamani, MD MS AP)

This session will examine the role of mitochondrial function, NAD+ metabolism, and cellular senescence in skin aging and inflammatory skin disease. The lecture will review key biologic pathways involved in cellular energy production, oxidative stress, and age-related decline, and evaluate emerging strategies aimed at supporting skin longevity. Clinical implications for dermatologic practice will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:
After completing this session, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the role of mitochondrial function and NAD+ metabolism in skin aging and inflammation.
2. Explain mechanisms of cellular senescence and their impact on cutaneous biology.
3. Evaluate current evidence on interventions targeting cellular longevity pathways.
4. Apply mechanistic understanding of aging biology to dermatologic assessment and management.

Herbal Dermatology: Plant Highlights and Lessons from Asia, Africa, & Latin America - (Amy Branum, AHP)

This session will highlight key plants used in herbal dermatology, drawing from traditional practices in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Participants will explore the cultural context, pharmacologic properties, clinical applications, and safety considerations of selected botanicals used to support skin health. The discussion will connect traditional knowledge with current research, offering an evidence-informed perspective on how plant-based therapies may complement modern dermatologic care.

Learning Objectives:
After completing this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify commonly used herbal therapies in dermatology across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
2. Explain the pharmacologic properties and mechanisms of action of select plant-based dermatologic treatments.
3. Assess the safety, efficacy, and cultural considerations of herbal interventions for skin disorders.
4. Apply evidence-informed herbal strategies into comprehensive dermatologic care plans.

Clinical Documentation and Legal Risk Mitigation in Dermatologic Practice - Whitney High, MD

This session will review best practices in clinical documentation and strategies to reduce legal risk in dermatologic practice. The lecture will examine common documentation gaps, consent pitfalls, coding vulnerabilities, and areas of medicolegal exposure in medical and aesthetic dermatology. Attendees will learn how accurate, thorough documentation supports patient safety, improves communication, and protects against liability.

Learning Objectives:
After completing this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify common documentation deficiencies that increase medicolegal risk in dermatology practice.
2. Describe essential elements of informed consent and risk disclosure in medical and procedural dermatology.
3. Evaluate documentation strategies that support defensible clinical decision-making.
4. Apply practical approaches to improve charting accuracy, compliance, and risk mitigation in daily practice