The Customer is Not Always Right: Why Healthcare is Different
“The customer is always right” doesn’t apply in healthcare. Patient-centered care isn’t about giving patients everything they ask for—it’s about partnering with them to make the safest, most evidence-based decisions. Sometimes the most important prescription is the confidence to say, ‘This isn’t the best choice for you—and here’s why.’ Learn more about navigating challenging patient conversations and evidence-based prescribing in Dr. Shannon Trotter’s latest discussion with Dr. Jim Del Rosso.
Bringing Hives Back to Dermatology
Chronic urticaria (hives) is often misunderstood as primarily an allergic condition, when in reality most cases have no identifiable trigger. While acute hives may be linked to allergies, infections, or medications, chronic spontaneous urticaria is typically driven by immune system dysregulation rather than a specific allergen. Advances in treatment have transformed management, shifting the focus from an often-fruitless search for triggers to effective disease control. Dermatologists are uniquely positioned to diagnose, manage, and improve quality of life for patients with chronic hives, making urticaria a condition that should remain firmly within the scope of dermatologic care.
Psoriasis: We’ve Come a Long Way
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects up to 40% of people with psoriasis. Early recognition and treatment are critical to prevent irreversible joint damage, reduce systemic inflammation, and improve long-term quality of life. Dermatologists play an essential role in identifying symptoms early and coordinating comprehensive care that addresses both skin and joint health.
Food and Rashes: What’s Eating Your Skin?
I am a firm believer that you are what you eat. But what if the foods you’re munching on might be a cause of your rash because it had been on your skin before–sneaky huh? Often when we break out or have a rash, our immediate thought process is to blame something we ate and […]
Ink-Credible Facts: What Your Tattoo Artist Wants You To Know
Thinking about getting a tattoo? Not sure where to begin? It’s funny how many patients ask me, do you think it’s ok if I get a tattoo? It’s an awkward moment because I feel as if I am transitioning into a parent instead of their dermatologist. I usually tell them, “You should get a tattoo […]
No Shame, Just Skin: Common Vaginal and Vulvar Myths Busted
Women don’t often want to talk about it, but no surprise, the questions are there. “Why does my vaginal skin look dark?” or “When is vaginal itching a problem?” or “What is that smell down there?” Most of the time, women spend time and money trying to solve skin issues down there and their first […]
Get Naked and Get Your Skin Checked
A skin check might be something you’ve heard of before but weren’t sure what it is. It’s a simple screening measure that might save your life. Yes, you strip down to your birthday suit, sometimes with a dermatologist you just met, and let them look you over from head to toe, including the nooks and […]
Man in the Mirror: Facing Vitiligo
If you were an 80s kid or followed Motown, you probably remember the King of Pop—Michael Jackson (MJ). Although he was known for his music and dance moves, MJ also made headlines for his skin condition, vitiligo, and his legacy is still alive today. Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition and affects about 1% of […]
C the Glow
Grab that OJ and read on! Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods but also added in some cases. We can’t make our own vitamin C (unlike many animals that can), so it’s an essential component of our diet. Dietary sources of vitamin C […]
Rosy Glow Gone Rogue?
Do your cheeks look like you have blush on year-round? Do you flush easily, or have you started to get acne bumps and redness into your 30s, 40s, and 50s? Do your eyes sting or look red all the time, like you’ve been up all night reading my blogs? You are not alone—many people can’t […]