Skin and Joints Podcast

🎙️World Psoriasis Day Special: Clearer Skin, Brighter Outlook Featuring Dr. Jessica Asgarpour This special World Psoriasis Day episode of the Skin and Joints Podcast shines a light on the evolving psoriasis journey—from the first plaque to total skin clearance. Dermatologist Dr. Jessica Asgarpour, now back in her sunny hometown of Calgary, for an honest, hopeful conversation about how far psoriasis care has come—and where it’s headed next. From coal tar and cumbersome creams to once-every-12-week biologic injections, Dr. Asgarpour unpacks the “treatment ladder” and what really determines when to climb it. We deep dive into: Why World Psoriasis Day (Oct 29) matters for awareness, stigma reduction, and timely re-referral How to recognize when a patient is undertreated and ready for escalation The topical-to-systemic continuum—including steroid-free innovations, orals vs. biologics, and the occasional role for IV therapy Real-world barriers in access and adherence—from referral deserts to needle phobia Matching therapy to patient lifestyle, comorbidities, and comfort level (“the clinic playbook”) Why dermatologists today can say, confidently, that there is hope for every patient It’s part myth-busting, part motivation—a must-listen whether you’re a clinician optimizing care or a patient ready to revisit your treatment options. 🎯 Learning Objectives After listening to this episode, participants will be able to: Describe the modern therapeutic ladder for psoriasis, from topicals and orals to biologics and infusions. Identify clinical and quality-of-life criteria that signal the need for treatment escalation. Discuss common barriers leading to undertreatment and strategies to enhance patient access and adherence. Compare classes of biologic agents (TNF-α, IL-17, IL-23, IL-12/23) and their practical considerations in real-world care. Empower patients with evidence-based reassurance about safety, efficacy, and long-term outcomes of advanced therapies. 🩵 World Psoriasis Day is more than awareness—it’s a call to action for clear skin, renewed confidence, and collaborative care. #WorldPsoriasisDay #SkinAndJointsPodcast #PsoriasisAwareness #Dermatology #Biologics #PatientJourney #ClearSkinAhead Supported by SUN Pharma. ABOUT Dr. Jessica Asgarpour Dermatologist, Calgary, AB Board-certified in both Canada and the U.S., Dr. Asgarpour completed medical school at the Cumming School of Medicine and her Dermatology residency at the University of Alberta. She practices medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology with a special interest in hidradenitis suppurativa and deroofing surgeries, as well as acne, psoriasis, eczema, skin cancer, and women’s health. She is currently working at the Skin Health and Wellness Centre in Calgary. She is a lecturer at the University of Toronto, a courtesy clinical associate at Women’s College Hospital, and is an active investigator for ongoing clinical trials in inflammatory diseases. She is a board member on the Canadian Hidradenitis Suppurativa foundation.

PART2-Acne in Paris: Croissants, Comedones & Cutting-Edge Care at EADV 2025 Guests: Dr. Chloe Ward & Dr. Natalie Cunningham Location: 📍 EADV 2025, Paris 🇫🇷 From café chatter to late-breaker abstracts, this fresh field report stitches together breaking new data and what matters for acne care today. Our two Canadian derm Faculty dynamos, Dr. Chloe Ward and Dr. Natalie Cunningham, join us live from EADV 2025 to decode acne in the TikTok age. We swap “Dr. Google” for real talk on psychosocial fallout (filters, FOMO, and 4 a.m. routines), sanity-check the diet myths, and map where AI actually helps in assessment—think consistent severity tracking and smarter primary-care triage—without replacing clinical eyes (especially in richer skin tones). Drs. Ward and Cunningham unpack multimodal regimens patients can actually tolerate, topical androgen-receptor blockade at the sebaceous unit, and smarter maintenance so scars don’t steal the show. We dig into pigment beyond classic PIH (hello, primary melanogenesis), when energy devices earn a seat (including a 1726-nm sebaceous-targeting laser), why most at-home red light is a detour, and the rare moments biologics enter the chat for overlap/refractory cases. Throughout: practical pearls and fresh evidence Learning Objectives After this episode, participants will be able to: 🧠 Assess psychosocial burden in acne (sleep 💤, stress 😰, social media behaviors 📱) and integrate into severity and treatment decisions 🩺. 🥗 Debunk prevalent myths (“diet cures acne” ❌) with balanced, evidence-based counseling 📖 that acknowledges diet/stress/hormones as contributors, not sole causes ⚖️. 🧴 Design patient-centered, multimodal regimens that optimize efficacy ✅ and tolerability 🤝—leveraging combination therapy 🔗. 🧬 Explain mechanisms (incl. topical androgen-receptor blockade at the sebaceous gland) and position them in stepwise care from induction 🚀 to maintenance 🔁. 🎨 Differentiate pigment pathways (PIH vs. emerging primary melanogenesis) and tailor strategies for all skin tones 🌈 with rigorous photoprotection 🧢🕶️. 🤖 Use AI judiciously for documentation 📝 and triage 🏥; recognize limitations in diverse skin tones 🌍 and keep the patient’s lived experience central ❤️. 🛡️ Prevent scars proactively by identifying scar-risk patients early ⏱️ and escalating appropriately (e.g., isotretinoin candidacy) 🎯. 🔦 Outline the role of energy-based devices (including the 1726-nm sebaceous-targeting laser) in reducing inflammation 🔥, erythema 🌺, and remodeling 🧱—and why most at-home red-light devices fall short 🚫🔴. 🧬 Spot the edge cases where biologics or overlap-syndrome thinking may be appropriate 🧩, and outline key research gaps to watch 🔭 (hormonal pathways, AI validation, long-term maintenance). Perfect for Dermatologists, primary-care clinicians, pharmacists, nurses, and any HCP who fields “I saw this on TikTok…” and wants practical, patient-first ways to translate Paris-level science into Monday-morning care. Supported by an IME Grant from SUN Pharma.

Acne in Paris: Croissants, Comedones & Cutting-Edge Care at EADV 2025 Guests: Dr. Chloe Ward & Dr. Natalie Cunningham Location: 📍 EADV 2025, Paris 🇫🇷 From café chatter to late-breaker abstracts, this fresh field report stitches together breaking new data and what matters for acne care today. Our two Canadian derm Faculty dynamos, Dr. Chloe Ward and Dr. Natalie Cunningham, join us live from EADV 2025 to decode acne in the TikTok age. We swap “Dr. Google” for real talk on psychosocial fallout (filters, FOMO, and 4 a.m. routines), sanity-check the diet myths, and map where AI actually helps in assessment—think consistent severity tracking and smarter primary-care triage—without replacing clinical eyes (especially in richer skin tones). Drs. Ward and Cunningham unpack multimodal regimens patients can actually tolerate, topical androgen-receptor blockade at the sebaceous unit, and smarter maintenance so scars don’t steal the show. We dig into pigment beyond classic PIH (hello, primary melanogenesis), when energy devices earn a seat (including a 1726-nm sebaceous-targeting laser), why most at-home red light is a detour, and the rare moments biologics enter the chat for overlap/refractory cases. Throughout: practical pearls and fresh evidence Learning Objectives After this episode, participants will be able to: 🧠 Assess psychosocial burden in acne (sleep 💤, stress 😰, social media behaviors 📱) and integrate into severity and treatment decisions 🩺. 🥗 Debunk prevalent myths (“diet cures acne” ❌) with balanced, evidence-based counseling 📖 that acknowledges diet/stress/hormones as contributors, not sole causes ⚖️. 🧴 Design patient-centered, multimodal regimens that optimize efficacy ✅ and tolerability 🤝—leveraging combination therapy 🔗. 🧬 Explain mechanisms (incl. topical androgen-receptor blockade at the sebaceous gland) and position them in stepwise care from induction 🚀 to maintenance 🔁. 🎨 Differentiate pigment pathways (PIH vs. emerging primary melanogenesis) and tailor strategies for all skin tones 🌈 with rigorous photoprotection 🧢🕶️. 🤖 Use AI judiciously for documentation 📝 and triage 🏥; recognize limitations in diverse skin tones 🌍 and keep the patient’s lived experience central ❤️. 🛡️ Prevent scars proactively by identifying scar-risk patients early ⏱️ and escalating appropriately (e.g., isotretinoin candidacy) 🎯. 🔦 Outline the role of energy-based devices (including the 1726-nm sebaceous-targeting laser) in reducing inflammation 🔥, erythema 🌺, and remodeling 🧱—and why most at-home red-light devices fall short 🚫🔴. 🧬 Spot the edge cases where biologics or overlap-syndrome thinking may be appropriate 🧩, and outline key research gaps to watch 🔭 (hormonal pathways, AI validation, long-term maintenance). Perfect for Dermatologists, primary-care clinicians, pharmacists, nurses, and any HCP who fields “I saw this on TikTok…” and wants practical, patient-first ways to translate Paris-level science into Monday-morning care. Supported by an IME Grant from SUN Pharma.

Paris Pop-Up: Hands Down the Most Fun You’ll Have Learning About Chronic Hand Eczema Late Breaker Edition Chronic Hand Eczema in Focus: DELTA-Teen efficacy & pooled safety of topical pan-JAK Episode Tasting Menu 🍽️: Jet-lag ✈️, steak-frites , and NEW science : we unpack fresh adolescent data for a topical pan-JAK cream in chronic hand eczema (CHE) and a pooled safety package that’s so uneventful it’s…beautiful 😌. (Melinda’s words: “Boring is good.”) Fresh from EADV Paris 🗼🇫🇷, the team breaks down two late-breaking updates on CHE: 1. DELTA-Teen — a randomized (3:1) 16-week trial of a topical pan-JAK inhibitor (delgocitinib cream) in adolescents (12–17) with moderate–severe CHE. 📊 2. Pooled safety analysis across five trials (Phase 2b/3; 16-week regular use + up to 52-week as-needed). 🛡️📈 What’s on the tasting menu : • EADV in Paris — highlights with a dash of Melinda’s Paris story 🥐📸 • Current adolescent CHE care — steroid limits & non-steroidal gaps • DELTA-Teen unpacked — design, endpoints, results, onset, adherence impact • Safety deep-dive — pooled 5-trial analysis, 52-week PRN, counseling talking points • Practice pearls — payer metrics (IGA-CHE), cross-setting messaging, fast-tracking from primary care • Wrap — off-label nuance, what to tell parents/teens, what to watch for next We dive into where a non-steroidal topical JAK can fit for adolescents—an area with gaps given steroid hesitancy and tolerability issues with other non-steroidals 🧩. Plus, a practical workflow map 🗺️: primary care triage → dermatology fast-track → pharmacy counseling (steroid fears, adherence benefits from rapid itch relief) → documentation (expect IGA-CHE to be required by payers). Importantly, efficacy signals span CHE subtypes (atopic, irritant, allergic) ✅—supporting broad real-world relevance 🌍. Learning objectives 🎯: 1. Describe the DELTA-Teen trial design for adolescent CHE, including primary (IGA-CHE TS) and key secondary endpoints (HECSI-90, HESD itch/pain). 2. Interpret week-16 efficacy results and differentiate early patient-reported benefits from statistical-significance timing (e.g., week-12 separation)—and weave this into adherence counseling ⏳. 3. Summarize pooled safety across five trials (16-week regular use + up to 52-week PRN): common AEs, no increased AE rates vs vehicle, and implications of minimal systemic absorption & no boxed warning for topical delgocitinib 🛡️📉. 4. Identify gaps in adolescent CHE management (steroid limitations, tolerability of other non-steroidals) and position topical pan-JAK inhibitors appropriately—acknowledging off-label use where applicable 🧭. 5. Apply a care-pathway playbook (primary care → dermatology → pharmacy counseling → payer documentation) and document outcomes likely required for access (e.g., IGA-CHE scoring) across CHE subtypes 📋✅. Practical pearls (AKA Clinic Cheat Codes) : • Expect early itch relief that can boost adherence; set expectations about week-12 statistical separation ⏱️🙌. • Use IGA-CHE in documentation; keep HECSI-90/HESD in mind for research/quality initiatives 📝🔍. • Safety talking points: AEs comparable to vehicle; long-term PRN data up to 52 weeks; discuss the no boxed warning context vs class concerns 🛡️🗣️. • Reinforce steroid-sparing options to address teen/parent anxieties about skin thinning 🧴. • Subtype-agnostic efficacy supports practical use while you sort mixed etiologies 🧪🔄. — Notes ⚠️🗒️: Adolescent use discussed here reflects off-label prescribing in many regions pending any label extension. Always consult local product labeling and guidance. ________________________________________ #SkinAndJointsPodcast #ChronicHandEczema #CHE #EADV2025 #Paris #Dermatology #DELTATeen #Delgocitinib #JAKInhibitor #TopicalJAK #AdolescentDerm #PediatricDerm #ItchRelief #SteroidSparing #ClinicalTrials #RealWorldEvidence #IGACHE #HECSI90 #HESD #PracticePearls #DermPharmacy #MedEd #HCPs #EvidenceBasedDerm SUPPORTED BY AN IME GRANT FROM LEO PHARMA ABOUT Dr.Melinda Gooderham, MD, FRCPC ( Dermatology) Toronto, ON Melinda Gooderham MD MSc FRCPC Dr. Gooderham is a Dermatologist and Medical Director at the SKiN Centre for Dermatology and an Investigator with Probity Medical Research. She is an Assistant Professor at Queens University and a Consultant Physician at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. She is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Gooderham has been the principal investigator for over 200 clinical trials and she practices with a focus on inflammatory diseases of the skin. She also contributes to several peer-reviewed dermatology publications as an associate editor, reviewer, and has been an author of 205 articles. She enjoys lecturing to global audiences on new therapies for skin diseases. 📻www.skinandjoints.ca ✉️[email protected]

PART 2 — Mix, Match & Don’t Backlash: Barrier-first acne care—does clascoterone deliver?🧱✨🍿 Dermatologist Faculty Dr. Christina + Dr. Angela Law are back, and this time we connect the dots between skin barrier 🛡️, TEWL, and real-world adherence. In PART 2, we stress-test the skin-barrier data behind clascoterone and translate it into clinic-ready moves. We’ll appraise the evidence (think study duration, split-face designs, surrogate endpoints like TEWL/corneometry), map how vehicle tech → adherence (hydration, irritation, drop-offs), and show you how to build barrier-smart regimens that pair clascoterone with retinoids/benzoyl peroxide without wrecking the barrier. What you’ll take back to clinic:• A clear-eyed evidence appraisal of clascoterone’s barrier story—and the data we still need• Practical vehicle-driven adherence tips you can use same day• A plug-and-play layering blueprint (thin→thick, sandwiching, stepwise starts)• Counseling scripts your patients will actually follow Learning Objectives Appraise the evidence: Critically evaluate the study design and limitations of clascoterone skin-barrier data (e.g., duration, split-face methods, surrogate outcomes) and identify what further evidence would strengthen confidence. Link vehicle → adherence: Explain how vehicle technology (hydrating/emollient bases) influences irritation, drop-offs, and overall adherence—and translate this into regimen choices. Design barrier-smart regimens: Construct a layered acne plan that pairs clascoterone with retinoids/BPO while protecting the barrier (e.g., thin→thick sequencing, moisturizer “sandwich,” stepwise starts). Counsel with scripts: Deliver clear, 60-second AM/PM counseling scripts that cover order of application, moisturizer/sunscreen integration, and what to expect for hydration/irritation over the first 1–2 weeks. #SkinAndJointsPodcast #Acne #Clascoterone #TopicalTherapy #SkinBarrier #TEWL#LayeringRoutine #Retinoids #BenzoylPeroxide #Adherence #Dermatology #Pharmacy#PrimaryCare #MedEd #HCPs #EvidenceBasedSkincare #SebumControl #PoreTalk ABOUT Dr. Christina Han, MD FRCPC VANCOUVER, BC Dr. Han is a Canadian and US board-certified dermatologist currently practicing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Having grown up with various skin conditions, she has great compassion and empathy for her patients, young and old, who are suffering from various hair, skin and nail disorders. She received her medical training at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver and completed additional training at Yonsei University, Seoul, in the fields of dermatological and laser surgery and skin cancer treatment. She has served as a consultant for various pharmaceutical companies focused on developing new skin therapeutics and is a regular attendee at local, national and international dermatological conferences. For Dr. Han, the decision to work with XYON stemmed from a desire to empower patients through education and truly make a difference in the lives of those affected by skin and hair conditions. She is currently holds a position as Medical Director at XYON. In her spare time, Dr. Han enjoys going for long walks, hiking, traveling and spending time with her three children. ABOUT Dr. Angela Law, MD, FRCPC VANCOUVER, BC Dr. Angela Law is a board certified Dermatologist in both Canada and the United States. She completed her dermatology residency in a joint program at the University of Saskatchewan and Dalhousie University. She is a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science at UBC, regularly teaching medical students and residents, and runs the Urgent Dermatology Clinic at Mount Saint Joseph’s Hospital. She also has an active dermatology practice in downtown Vancouver. Dr. Law also runs the Vulvar Dermatology Clinic at Mount Saint Joseph’s Hospital which is an innovative clinic with a focus on Women’s Health within Providence Health Care. Supported by an Independent medical education grant from Sun Pharma.