This content was originally produced for audio. Certain elements, such as tone, sound effects, and music, may not fully capture the intended experience in textual representation. Therefore, the following transcription may have been modified for clarity. We recognize not everyone can access the audio podcast. However, for those who can, we encourage subscribing and listening to the original content for a more engaging and immersive experience.
All thoughts and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views held by the institutions with which they are affiliated.
#1. Most common question that you get asked when somebody finds out what you do.
Dr. Johnson: So there's three responses to that. One is, "Really? Cool." The second one is, "Really? Gross." And the third is, "Really? I got this thing right here on my shoulder."
Interviewer: Is the shoulder usually the location?
Dr. Johnson: Yeah. Just awkward enough that they have to remove some clothing, but not really embarrassing.
#2. Is using lotion for your skin important for women and men or not so much?
So dermatologists have a much more detailed view of this question. So when you say "lotion," we would probably call it a moisturizer. And dermatologists are an odd bunch, and they divide moisturizers into ointments and creams and lotions and other such things. Moisturizers are good at restoring the skin barrier. And if your skin barrier is fine without it, then perhaps it's not necessary. But the way to tell if your skin barrier is a little bit compromised is if it's dry and/or itchy. If that's the case, then I think moisturizers are a great idea. They're cheap. It's very unlikely to develop any kind of bad reaction to them, and they work pretty well.
#3. What's a condition that somebody should absolutely come and see you for?
Dr. Johnson: Well, if they think they have skin cancer. Skin cancers can kill people.
Interviewer: Are people good at identifying their own skin cancer?
Dr. Johnson: They're okay at it. So the research shows that about half of skin cancers are discovered by the patients themselves, and the other half are discovered by physicians and other healthcare providers.
#4. I want you to update the cliché, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." What keeps the dermatologist away?
Staying out of the sun.
#5. What is the best thing I can do for my skin?
Pay attention to it. If you see anything that's new or changing, it might be worth looking into. If it's new or changing and it gets better in a week or two, it's fine. But especially if it persists for more than a month or two, it's probably worth having somebody take a look at it.
#6. Tell me something that I don't know about acne.
Well, there's lots of really good treatments for acne these days. So especially if you're somebody who has acne or you have a kid who has acne and you're just ignoring it, or if you're doing some over-the-counter stuff and it doesn't seem to be working, then please come see somebody like us. We have great treatments for acne. They're safe and effective. So there's no reason to suffer through the sorts of treatments that like my father-in-law did when he was a kid and we didn't have these available.
#7. Most rewarding patient encounter you've ever had or most rewarding day you've ever had as a dermatologist?
Well, as a pediatric dermatologist, I see a lot of cute kiddos, and especially if they come and like give you a hug or give you a little gift, there's nothing much else in the world like that.
Learn more from our experts
SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR A SPECIALIST