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

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 chasing internet trends.
We also unpack the communication skills that actually improve outcomes, from setting realistic skincare timelines to explaining systemic treatments for eczema in a less intimidating way. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting skincare advice or frustrated that products are not working fast enough, this episode brings the focus back to evidence-based care that actually works.

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, heat-triggered flares, and exercise-induced hives.
We also get practical about treatment: when allergy testing actually helps, why Benadryl and steroids are not great long-term solutions, and how newer therapies like omalizumab, dupilumab, and remibrutinib are changing care for people stuck in the chronic hives cycle.

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 unpack the rapidly changing treatment landscape, including biologics that protect joints and improve skin disease, plus the major role inflammation and obesity play in worsening symptoms. If you have psoriasis and unexplained aches or swelling, this episode gives you a clear roadmap for what to watch for and what questions to ask next.

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.
We also explore the growing role of AI and FDA-cleared technologies like Nevisense and Dermasensor, plus the challenges of access to dermatology care, especially in rural communities. From smarter screening to reducing unnecessary biopsies, this episode looks at what the future of skin cancer detection could really look like.

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 talk about the real impact these delays have on patients living with eczema, psoriasis, and other inflammatory skin diseases, along with what patients can actually do to advocate for themselves. If you’ve ever been told your medication “isn’t covered,” this episode breaks down why and what happens next.