More 60 Dermatology Tips in 60 Minutes from the Midwinter Clinical Hawaii Derm Conference
How to treat lichenoid dermatoses, what to do when the Quant Gold is indeterminate, pocket-sized Wood lights, plus 9 more pearls from the experts.
Tip #1 Vallerie Callender, MD
How to treat progressive macular hypomelanosis: It can be difficult to treat – this is a successful option: Benzoyl peroxide wash daily, clindamycin lotion QD, Narrowband UVB 3x/week
Tip #1 Brett M Coldiron, MD
Always call your patients after surgery: •Call the patient the night of the procedure, after dinner time •Advise on managing oozing and bleeding •If bleeding is severe, see them back at the office – DO NOT SEND THEM TO THE ED
Tip #1 G Michael Lewitt, MD
When the Quantiferon Gold result is indeterminate: •All biologic PIs require baseline/annual TB testing •When Quant Gold is indeterminate, don’t retest, don’t do a PPD •Check a T-Spot – but consider pros and cons
Tip #1Daniel M Siegel, MD, MS
Get a Woods light that fits in your pocket:•It’s time to move on from the “clunky plug-in UV” versions •Portable versions are available on Amazon and priced reasonably •Fits in the cargo pocket on most scrubs
Tip #2 Vallerie Callender, MD
Treatment for lichenoid dermatoses: options include: •Emollients, topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors •Systemic corticosteroids •Phototherapy/narrowband UVB therapy •Ruxolitinib cream* •Other JAK inhibitors in the future
*Brumfiel CM, Patel MH, Severson KJ, et al. J Invest Dermatol. 2022;142(8):2109-2116.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.01.015
Tip #2 Brett M Coldiron, MD
Make sure you have WiFi access for all: •Wireless laptop access in reception are for patients •WiFi access in Moh's waiting room •The cost is minimalandpatients and those traveling with them appreciate it, especially those who are sitting waiting for somebody else having Moh’s surgery
Tip #2 G Michael Lewitt, MD
Remember the live vaccines: •All the biologic PIs say avoid live vaccines – you need to know which ones those are •The most important for adult nonmilitary individuals in the US are yellow fever and now, mpox •“More importantly than going through all the live vaccines, take a thorough travel history and a social history from any of your patients taking these drugs”
Tip #2 Daniel M Siegel, MD, MS
Natural foods (Sedation without drugs): Major •Kava (Piper methysticum) •Valerian (valerian officinalis)•Δ8 or Δ9 THC Minor •Passionflower •Hops •Chamomile oil •Skullcap •Hibiscus •Catnip •Oat seed
Tip #3 Vallerie Callender, MD
When the Dx is lichen planus pigmentosa: The condition can be recalcitrant, treatment frustrating. Recent research supports •Isotretinoin 20mg QD 1 year; tapered to 20 mg every other day, followed by sunscreen protection •Another study showed success with ruxolitinib 1.5% cream, twice daily
Tip #3 Brett M Coldiron, MD
Maximize your parking: •“I know it sounds crazy…” but I had to jump through hoops to make sure I always have 2 spots in front of my office on a busy main road •It’s important, especially for your handicapped patients
Tip #3 G Michael Lewitt, MD
Counsel patients on postinflammatory hyper- and hypopigmentation: •Make sure you counsel patients before treatment that there may be residual hyper- or hypopigmentation •How much and duration will depend on Fitzpatrick skin type •Then follow up with a plan to treat the postinflammatory condition
At the 2025 Midwinter Clinical Hawaii Dermatology Conference Vallerie Callender, MD, Brett M. Coldiron, MD, G. Michael Lewitt, MD and Daniel M. Siegel, MD, MS, shared the stage for the meeting's day 3 round of "60 Tips in 60 Minutes." The experts had been tasked to come up with tips and pearls in the categories of acne, psoriasis, eczema, urticaria, skin cancer, surgical techniques and office management. That explains why you will see a tip on office WiFi following one on treatment for lichenoid dermatoses. The presentation was timed to take just 15 minutes.
In the short slide show above, we captured 3 rounds of a tip from each clinician, for a total of 12 quick ideas that might help in your daily practice.
