What are peptides? Should we eat them? Should we apply them? Sonal Choudhary, MD, the Director of the Integrative Dermatology and Skincare Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, talks to Cosmetic Dermatologist Carolyn Willis, MD, about this hot, but experimental trend in this don’t-miss bonus episode of The Blend.

What is regenerative medicine? What are exosomes? What about the secretome? Get the answers now as host Sonal Choudhary, MD, the Director of the Integrative Dermatology and Skincare Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, grills Cosmetic Dermatologist Carolyn Willis, MD, about all things regenerative aesthetics in this episode of the Blend. (Bonus: Dr. Willis shares the best preparation strategies for patients who are planning to undergo a regenerative cosmetic procedure.)

Sonal Choudhary, MD, a Dermatopathologist, Dermatologist, and the Director of the Integrative Dermatology and Skincare Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, and Apple Bodemer, MD, a Dermatologist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, continue their discussion on integrative approaches to hair loss. In this episode, they take a deep dive into the use of botanicals and nutraceuticals, including pumpkin seed oil, rosemary oil, and Nutrafol, “the Cadillac” of hair growth supplements. Drs. Choudhary and Bodemer also weigh in on the role that breathwork, hypnotherapy, red light, and an anti-inflammatory diet can play in treating different types of alopecia.

Sonal Choudhary, MD, a Dermatopathologist and Dermatologist, and the Director of the Integrative Dermatology and Skincare Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, continues her conversation with Apple Bodemer, MD, a Dermatologist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, about integrative approaches to hair loss and how they can be used with traditional therapies.

Among the highlights:

Vigorous scalp massage may help treat androgenic alopecia, but it's not a cure-all.

Red-light therapies can be effective, but not all devices are created equally.

Home microneedling with a stamp can also be a useful adjunctive therapy for some types of hair loss.

Platelet-rich plasma injections work best when overall health is optimized.

Host Sonal Choudhary, MD, and Apple Bodemer, MD, a Dermatologist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, discuss the game-changing role that Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors play in treating alopecia areata. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three JAK inhibitors— baricitinib (Olumiant, Eli Lilly & Co.)  , ritlecitinib (Litfulo, Pfizer) , and deuruxolitinib(Leqselvi, Sun Pharma)  —as treatments for alopecia areata.

Key takeaways:

• These medications, while highly effective, can increase risk for infections, but integrative approaches may help keep the immune system optimized.

• People with celiac disease and alopecia areata who follow gluten-free diets may regrow hair.

In this bonus episode of The Blend, host Sonal Choudhary, MD, continues her conversation about alopecia with Apple Bodemer, MD, a Dermatologist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI. The two discuss the important role that dermoscopy can play in making a differential diagnosis for patients with alopecia.

Sonal Choudhary, MD, a Dermatopathologist, Dermatologist, and the Director of the Integrative Dermatology and Skincare Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, talks to special guest Apple Bodemer, MD, a Dermatologist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, about hair loss.

In this episode, Dr. Bodemer shares the bold approach that helped her develop empathy for alopecia patients. The two also discuss the lab tests they routinely order to assess alopecia patients and why, and share how these results can help inform treatment choices.

Sonal Choudhary, MD, Dermatopathologist and Dermatologist, and Director of the Integrative Dermatology and Skincare Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, and Noel Prevost, MPAS, PA-C, a Dermatology Physician Assistant at UPMC Falk Dermatology-Oakland discuss changes to the iPLEDGE program and share tips on how they counsel patients on isotretinoin regarding potential risks.

Key takeaways:

• The 19-day lock-out period has been removed. Now, patients who miss the 7-day window can immediately get a new pregnancy test to re-qualify for treatment.

• At-home pregnancy tests are now allowed during and after isotretinoin treatment.

• There is no causal link between isotretinoin and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). If a patient has a history of inflammatory bowel disease, get a letter from their gastroenterologist approving treatment.

• Proceed with caution when prescribing isotretinoin to patients with bipolar disorder.

• Consider getting an approval letter from the treating psychiatrist when prescribing isotretinoin for patients with other mental health conditions.