The Science of Skin

How safe is remibrutinib (Rhapsido) for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU)? Dermatologists Dr. Ted Lain and Dr. Jason Hawkes break down bleeding risk, labs, drug interactions and patient counseling.

This sponsored episode of the Science of Skin Podcast, supported by Novartis, focuses on the safety of remibrutinib, an oral BTK inhibitor for chronic hives. Dr. Hawkes, Principal Investigator and Chief Scientific Officer at Oregon Medical Research Center, explains why the "bleeding events" in the phase 3 REMIX-1 and REMIX-2 trials were mostly mild bruising and petechiae, how fast onset and a short half-life help with surgical planning, and what the label really means by hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B or C, not routine LFTs). They also cover live vaccines, CYP3A4 drug interactions, the adverse event profile and which urticaria patients are a good fit, including those with angioedema or prior omalizumab failure.

Have a question or an idea for a future episode? Email [email protected].

⚠️ This content is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal clinical opinions and experiences of the speakers. It is not medical advice. Consult a licensed healthcare provider for questions about diagnosis or treatment.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and share with a colleague — word of mouth helps our podcast grow!

Which skincare should you use when acne is treated with lasers, IPL, photodynamic therapy (PDT), or microneedling? Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ted Lain is in Paris at the L'Oréal Skin Alliance conference with Dr. Cheng-Feng Zhang, Professor of Dermatology at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University in Shanghai. Dr. Zhang is an expert in acne, pigmentary disorders, and cosmetic dermatology.

Both doctors helped write a new international consensus paper: a practical algorithm for combining skincare with energy-based devices (EBDs) for acne. It was published in February 2026 in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (JDD), and Dr. Jill Waibel is the first author. In this episode they explain why the goal of acne treatment should be completely clear skin, and how prescription therapy, in-office procedures, and a good skincare routine work together to get there.

In this episode:

• Why oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) drive acne inflammation and acne scarring
• How post-inflammatory erythema (PIE) and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) relate to acne scars
• Antioxidant serums for acne-prone skin: silymarin, vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), and ferulic acid
• Why daily broad-spectrum sunscreen matters for acne patients
• Acne and skin barrier dysfunction: ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids in moisturizers
• Gentle, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic cleansers, and whether double cleansing makes sense
• Energy-based devices for acne and acne scars: blue light, red light, IPL, PDT, pulsed dye laser, fractional laser, radiofrequency, and microneedling
• When to stop retinoids before laser and light procedures, and when to start them again

This episode is sponsored by SkinCeuticals.

Have a question or an idea for a future episode? Email [email protected].

⚠️ This content is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal clinical opinions and experiences of the speakers. It is not medical advice. Consult a licensed healthcare provider for questions about diagnosis or treatment.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and share with a colleague — word of mouth helps our podcast grow!

What started as a failed treatment for venous ulcers became one of the most influential products in professional skincare. Dr. Mitchel Goldman, co-founder of SkinMedica, tells the story of how TNS was created and why it was a "longevity" product decades before the term existed.

Dr. Ted Lain sits down with Dr. Goldman, a world-renowned cosmetic dermatologist, former ASDS president, and director of cosmetic and laser surgery at Platinum Dermatology. Dr. Goldman shares how a passing comment from Dr. Richard Fitzpatrick about the skin around a wound led to the first growth factor serum. He also talks about the hard financial realities of building a skincare company and why physician-dispensed brands that invest in research stand apart.

They also cover:

• Why the full "gemish" of growth factors, secretomes, and exosomes outperforms any single ingredient
• How Dr. Goldman rotates growth factor products and lets patients' results guide the choice
• Pre- and post-procedure skincare, and the shift toward priming fibroblasts with topical rapamycin
• Whether skin longevity needs multi-targeted or single-pathway products
• Dr. Goldman's personal cautionary tale about systemic anti-aging therapies, and why he favors topicals
• How a topical sodium bicarbonate made for athletes is now being studied in oncology
• Why aesthetic dermatology deserves a bigger place in residency training

Questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a five-star rating, and share it with a colleague.

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Disclaimer: This episode is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. Content provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only. Please consult with a physician regarding any health-related diagnosis or treatment.

Menopause is having a moment, but board-certified dermatologist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner Dr. Corinne Erickson was connecting hormones and skin health long before it was trending. In this episode of the Science of Skin podcast, host Dr. Patti Farris talks with Dr. Erickson about how dermatologists can better care for women across the menopause continuum, from the first perimenopausal shifts to the postmenopausal years.

Dr. Erickson explains her framework for making sense of the long list of concerns many women bring to the exam room, including hair loss, acne, unwanted facial hair, itching, sensitivity, and dryness. She traces them back to two key drivers: estrogen decline and relative androgen excess. The conversation covers what happens to collagen, hydration, and barrier function when estrogen drops, why vaginal estradiol belongs in the dermatologist's toolkit, what the evidence does and doesn't show about topical estrogen for facial aging and crepey skin, and how she approaches female pattern hair loss, including why she asks about hair at the start of every skin exam.

She also introduces a new term she has proposed for dermatology: the Pilocutaneous Syndrome of Menopause (PSM). Like genitourinary syndrome of menopause and musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause, it gives clinicians and patients a shared name and a treatment framework grounded in the underlying hormonal changes.

Read Dr. Erickson's preprint, "The Pilocutaneous Syndrome of Menopause":
 https://figshare.com/articles/preprint/The_Pilocutaneous_Syndrome_of_Menopause/33090086?file=66996713

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Is there finally a fast-acting oral treatment for chronic hives? In this episode of the Science of Skin Podcast, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ted Lain is joined by Dr. Naiem Issa, a dermatologist in Northern Virginia and assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Miami and George Washington University, to break down the phase 3 clinical trial results for Rhapsido (remibrutinib), the first oral BTK inhibitor for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).

Dr. Issa explains how Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibition works inside the mast cell to block the signals that lead to degranulation and histamine release, and why remibrutinib's covalent, highly selective binding helps explain its rapid onset and durable results. The doctors then walk through the pivotal trial data, including reductions in the Hives Severity Score (HSS7), Itch Severity Score (ISS7), and Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7). Patients saw about a 40% reduction in hives as early as week one, around 70% by week 12, and continued improvement through 52 weeks. Nearly 28% of patients reached UAS7 = 0, meaning complete absence of hives and itch, at week 12 compared with 6.5% on placebo, rising to almost 46% at one year.

They also discuss the challenging trial population, which included patients with severe disease uncontrolled on up to four times the standard dose of second-generation antihistamines, many with angioedema, and about a third with prior anti-IgE biologic therapy such as omalizumab. Dr. Lain and Dr. Issa cover angioedema-free weeks, what complete control means for quality of life, how this data may change CSU treatment for dermatologists and allergists, and what new data on even faster onset may be coming soon.

This episode is sponsored by Novartis with content independently created by the Science of Skin podcast.

⚠️ This content is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal research findings and opinions of the speakers. It is not medical advice. The discussion involves animal studies and experimental research; consult a licensed healthcare provider for questions about your own health.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and share with a colleague — word of mouth helps our podcast grow!

Can a topical serum work like a neurotoxin? Recorded live in Paris, Dr. Ted Lain sits down with Dr. Peter Bjerring to find out. Dr. Bjerring is a professor of dermatology at Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark, a laser pioneer who helped develop IPL technology, and a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.

Together they break down SkinCeuticals P-TIOX, a serum built around two viper-venom-derived neuropeptides. One acts presynaptically, like botulinum toxin. The other blocks acetylcholine receptors on the muscle side. Both are small enough to penetrate the skin, which injectable toxins can't do.

Dr. Bjerring walks through two of his clinical studies. In a split-forehead sweat study using the Minor iodine-starch test, the treated side showed little to no sweating after just three applications. That suggests the peptides really do reach their targets in the skin. In an 8-week, all-male study of 36 participants across multiple ethnicities, twice-daily use reduced forehead and glabellar lines by about 15%. Crow's feet, nasolabial folds, and even marionette lines also improved, and results kept getting better between weeks 4 and 8.

The conversation also covers the supporting ingredients: 5% polyhydroxy acid for gentle exfoliation, niacinamide for barrier support, tone, and redness, and Laminaria digitata for antioxidant and collagen support. They discuss why so many self-reported sensitive-skin participants had no irritation, and how P-TIOX may pair with injectable neurotoxins to target the fine, superficial texture lines that injections miss.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and share it with a colleague. Word of mouth helps our podcast grow! Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected].

Disclaimer: This clip is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. Content provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only. Please consult with a physician regarding any health-related diagnosis or treatment.

In this episode of the Science of Skin Podcast, Dr. Ted Lain talks with Dr. Rich Miller, professor of pathology at the University of Michigan and director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Aging Research, about the science of slowing biological aging.

Dr. Miller explains why lifespan and health span move together, not in opposition, and walks through decades of research using genetic mutants, calorie-restricted diets, and drugs like rapamycin, acarbose, canagliflozin, and 17 alpha-estradiol to extend lifespan in mice. The conversation covers how these interventions work through pathways like mTOR and glucose regulation, why some drugs affect males and females differently, and the surprising finding that many of these anti-aging effects hold up even when treatment starts in middle age rather than early in life.

The two also discuss the challenge of translating mouse research to humans, Dr. Miller's work developing "aging rate indicators" that could make human drug trials for aging far more practical, and his call for more dermatology involvement in aging research — including his hope to see skin aging studied alongside the organs his lab has already examined. The episode closes with a candid take on supplement industry claims and what the current evidence actually supports for slowing aging today.

⚠️ This content is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal research findings and opinions of the speakers. It is not medical advice. The discussion involves animal studies and experimental research; consult a licensed healthcare provider for questions about your own health.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and share with a colleague — word of mouth helps our podcast grow!

In this episode of the Science of Skin Podcast, Dr. Ted Lain sits down with Dr. Sarina Elmariah, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology at UC San Francisco and director of the UCSF Center for Itch and Neurosensory Disorders, for a deep dive into chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).

Dr. Elmariah breaks down the role of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) in mast cell degranulation and explains how it sits at the center of the histamine release cascade. The conversation covers the difference between Type I (auto-allergic) and Type IIb (autoimmune) CSU pathways, available diagnostic tools like autologous serum skin testing and basophil activation testing, and why BTK appears to be a common thread across nearly all CSU mechanisms — including many inducible urticarias.

The two also discuss remibrutinib (brand name Rhapsido), a BTK inhibitor newly FDA-approved for CSU, and what makes its binding mechanism distinct from earlier BTK inhibitors. They close with a look beyond histamine at the other inflammatory mediators — proteases, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and cytokines — that help explain why so many CSU patients don't respond to antihistamines alone, and why angioedema tends to linger longer than a typical urticarial wheel.

This episode is sponsored by Novartis with content independently created by the Science of Skin podcast.

⚠️ This content is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal research findings and opinions of the speakers. It is not medical advice. The discussion involves animal studies and experimental research; consult a licensed healthcare provider for questions about your own health.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and share with a colleague — word of mouth helps our podcast grow!

Korean skincare is everywhere on social media — but how much of it is backed by real dermatologic science? In this episode of The Science of Skin Podcast, Dr. Patti Farris sits down with Dr. Jane Yoo, board-certified dermatologist, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, and "The K-Beauty Dermatologist," to separate fact from TikTok fiction.

They trace K-beauty's roots from the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties through the Hallyu wave, then dig into the science: ceramide-dominant, barrier-centric formulations, low-pH cleansers, and why "glass skin" is more about consistent barrier care (and good lighting) than any single product. Dr. Yoo also breaks down the real evidence behind snail mucin, PDRN and PN, exosomes, and silica spicules — including where the hype outpaces the data — plus whether double cleansing is really necessary and why Korean sunscreen filters like bemotrizinol (Tinosorb S) may be the biggest public health advance in photoprotection in 25 years.

In this episode:

The real history of K-beauty, from royal court rituals to global export

What actually causes "glass skin" (and what doesn't)

The truth about snail mucin, PDRN/PN, exosomes, and spicules

Do you really need to double cleanse?

Why newly approved filters like bemotrizinol could change US sunscreens

Tinted, visible-light-blocking sunscreens for skin of color

Have a question or an idea for a future episode?

Email [email protected].

Join us at the Science of Skin Summit, September 17-20 in Austin, TX, or the new Science of Skin Longevity Conference in Scottsdale, February 2027.

Learn more at scienceofskinsummit.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and share with a colleague — word of mouth helps our podcast grow!

⚠️ This content is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal clinical opinions and experiences of the speakers. It is not medical advice. Consult a licensed healthcare provider for questions about diagnosis or treatment.

In this episode of the Science of Skin Podcast, Dr. Patti Farris sits down with Dr. Dustin Portela and Mimi Banks (Principal, Mimi Banks Social) to talk all things DermFluencer University — the influencer education track heading into its third year at the Science of Skin Summit in Austin, TX (September 17–20).

Dustin and Mimi trace the program's origin from a single standing-room-only session to a full two-day experience combining a hands-on masterclass with practical, camera-ready workshops. They dig into why physicians need to show up in the spaces where health misinformation spreads — especially around topics like sunscreen and skin cancer — and share the systems, batching techniques, and content frameworks that make creating sustainable for busy clinicians.

The conversation also covers Med Creator 101, the podcast-turned-course born out of Dustin and Mimi's countless one-on-one conversations with physicians at AAD 2024, now distilled into an eight-module course covering everything from content hooks to HIPAA-conscious posting.

Whether you're a dermatologist, NP, PA, or aesthetician curious about content creation, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how to build an authentic, science-backed presence online — imperfections and all.

Topics covered: DermFluencer University · Med Creator 101 · content batching & systems · combating skincare misinformation · camera presence & branding workshops · Science of Skin Summit 2026