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During the peak of the COVID-19 lockdowns, dermatologists noticed something unusual: their waiting lists grew longer, not shorter. However, patients weren’t necessarily coming in for cosmetic concerns, they were desperate for relief from flare-ups of psoriasis, eczema and hives. Across the globe, skin diseases spiked along with emotional distress, validating the suspicion that stress doesn’t just live in the mind, it can also leave its mark on the skin.

Atopic dermatitis, otherwise known as eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that usually begins in early childhood. It can show up as intensely itchy, dry, red, or bumpy skin that can disrupt sleep and make everyday activities harder to manage. Eczema is the most common inflammatory skin disease worldwide, with roughly 9 in 10 cases starting before the age of 5 years old. 

Lupus has been in the spotlight more than ever recently, but this disease is far from new. In fact, it was first mentioned by Hippocrates 2,000 years ago. This condition’s name ‘lupus’ is Latin for ‘wolf’ because was its characteristic facial lesions were thought to resemble wolf bites or scratches. Over the centuries, various physicians have studied lupus, but it was William Osler who recognized the disease as going far beyond the skin, capable of affecting the whole body.

When people picture skin cancer, many imagine fair skin, sunburns, and tanning beds. And while that narrative may reflect those at highest statistical risk, it often leaves out an entire group of people, especially those with darker skin tones who are just as deserving of awareness, early detection, and care.

In 1889, Dr Francois Henry Hallopeau coined a new term for an age-old habit already described by Aristotle–trichotillomania–a compound of the Greek words for hair (trich), plucking (tillein), and madness (mania). Trichotillomania is primarily a mental health condition, but with notable dermatological involvement as hair is repetitively and compulsively pulled out. This can lead to irritation of hair follicles, hair follicle scarring and infections.

What is Alopecia Areata? Alopecia areata (AA) is a form of hair loss that is autoimmune-mediated and leaves the hair follicles intact. Hair follicles are attacked by the body’s own immune system, and this causes patches of hair loss. Since the follicles are not destroyed, there is potential for the hair to regrow. Often, AA is seen as multiple patches of hair loss on the scalp, but it can also lead to hair loss of eyebrows, facial hair and other sites. The clinical course is