Dermatology Foundation
A Practical Guide to Comorbidity Screening in Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Dr. Haley Naik presented information about practical comorbidity screening approaches for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). HS has been considered a rare disease, but more recent data show it is as common as other dermatologic conditions, including psoriatic arthritis and lichen…
Making Progress in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Patient Care
Nearly three million Americans suffer from hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), an incredibly painful relapsing inflammatory skin disease characterized by debilitating boils and abscesses that can progress to dermal tunnels and scarring. “This is not a rare disease,” said Haley Naik, MD, MHSc, and professor in the Department of Dermatology, UCSF School of Medicine. “Yet, since its first report in the early 19th century, it has been under-recognized…
Dr. Andrew Ji Receives the 2026 DF J&J Early Career Innovator Award
The tissue of an AD lesion contains a mixture of stromal cells, as well as immune cells recruited to the site by cellular signals, which behave differently from each other. Ji combines his clinical practice with experiments to help understand the cellular communication between disease-associated subpopulations of cells that contributes to pathogenesis and treatment resistance. The ultimate goal is to…
A Career Defined by Research, Leadership and Mentorship
The breadth of his clinical research discoveries, his advocacy for gender parity and ethnic diversity, and his accomplishments as a leader and mentor to generations of dermatologists are a testament to the immeasurable impact Bruce Wintroub, MD, has had on dermatology. If the dermatology program at UCSF is as robust and as academically and clinically…
Expanding the Circle of Support
John Wollner, MD, made his first gift to the Dermatology Foundation in 1995. More than 30 years later, that commitment has grown into something larger: not only giving but encouraging others to join him. Most recently, Wollner — a member of the DF Leaders Society — brought that spirit to Epiphany Dermatology, where he rallied colleagues around…
Novel and Pipeline Therapies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa Management
Dr. Haley Naik presented information about new and emerging therapies for managing hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The goal of HS management is to control inflammation and remove tissue that has been irreversibly damaged. First, Naik emphasized the importance of early intervention in halting…
Chronic Hand Eczema: Burden and Treatments
Dr. JiaDe Yu presented information about the burden, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic hand eczema (CHE). CHE is hand eczema that lasts >3 months or relapses >2 times per year. It is considered a subtype of atopic dermatitis (AD) or contact dermatitis (CD) in the United States and a stand-alone diagnosis in Europe. Yu…
On the Art and Science of Skin Immunity
As a child, Tiffany Scharschmidt, MD, found an outlet for her creativity through Chinese brush painting. Her fourth-grade teacher, seeing her aptitude and passion, encouraged her to join an adult evening class. She painted throughout her childhood but, as a mother of three and a busy clinician-scientist, Scharschmidt no longer has much time for it. “These days, I use the creative part of my brain conceptually for my research,” she said. “I don’t see research as algorithmic. It’s more like sitting with the unknown and being…
Photoprotection in Skin of Color: Understanding Photodamage and Optimizing Sunscreen Strategies
Dr. Susan Taylor presented information about personalized photoprotection strategies for individuals with skin of color. Photoprotection is the process of preventing the deleterious effects of the electromagnetic radiation (EMR) spectrum, including ultraviolet radiation (UVR), visible light (VL), and…
Updates in Pediatric Allergic Contact Dermatitis: What’s Hot and What’s Not
Dr. JiaDe Yu presented information about pediatric allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). ACD is a skin rash caused by direct contact with an allergen. First, Yu discussed the prevalence of pediatric ACD. An estimated one-third of children will develop ACD; it may be overlooked because atopic dermatitis (AD) may have a similar appearance and is highly…