Lisa A. Swanson, MD

, Lisa Swanson, MD, a board-certified pediatric dermatologist at Ada West Dermatology in Meridian, Idaho, who is on staff at St. Luke's Children's Hospital in Boise, highlighted key takeaways from her session at the LEADderm conference in Newport Beach, CA.

Later in this new segment of her interview, she also described oral Janus-kinase (JAK) inhibitors as being poised to change care for 

, with upadacitinib (Rinvoq) and povorcitinib advancing through late-stage trials for moderate-to-severe disease.

Resilience in Medicine, HS Treatments, and the Oral JAK Pipeline Today

Speaking at LEADderm 2026, Swanson noted her talk, ‘Failure Is the Stepping Stone to Success,’ targets a specific failure she sees often in medicine: chasing an unrealistic standard of perfection. She said the drive to be right every time sets up dermatologists for disappointment more than it protects patients.

"I think all of us in medicine strive to be perfect at all times,” Swanson said. “We strive to get the right diagnosis every time. We try to get the right treatment every time for the patients, and we're just not in a 100% perfect kind of world.

Swanson described the antidote as self-forgiveness, acknowledging effort and treating outcomes as lessons rather than verdicts. She said occasional setbacks build the resilience dermatologists need to keep pursuing the kind of leader, and clinician, they want to become.

Later, she was asked about what she is most anticipating in the 

 pipeline. Povorcitinib, an oral selective JAK1 inhibitor from Incyte, is furthest along in HS: its phase 3 STOP-HS1 trial (NCT05620836) helped enroll about 1,200 patients combined across two studies, and data presented at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting showed 71% of participants achieved HiSCR50 and 29% reached complete lesion clearance by Week 54. Upadacitinib is advancing through phase 3 testing in HS as well.

Swanson pointed to a pediatric gap in alopecia areata care as well: of the 3 FDA-approved JAK inhibitors, baricitinib (Olumiant) and deuruxolitinib (Leqselvi) are approved only for adults, and ritlecitinib (Litfulo) covers patients 12 and older, leaving no approved option for children under 12. She said earlier treatment is increasingly recognized as important, and closing the gap would let her treat young patients directly rather than relying on off-label use.

Editor's Note: This transcript has been edited for grammar and clarity using artificial intelligence tools. Swanson had no relevant disclosures of note.

LEADderm. About LEADderm: the missing curriculum. 

Incyte's povorcitinib demonstrates lasting efficacy in hidradenitis suppurativa. Managed Healthcare Executive. AAD 2026 coverage. 

https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/view/incyte-s-povorcitinib-demonstrates-lasting-efficacy-in-hidradenitis-suppurativa-aad-2026

FDA-Approved JAK Inhibitors. National Alopecia Areata Foundation. naaf.org.

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Lisa Swanson, MD, on embracing failure in medicine and the oral JAK inhibitors advancing for hidradenitis suppurativa and alopecia areata.

, held August 29-30 in Newport Beach, California, Lisa Swanson, MD, a board-certified pediatric dermatologist at Ada West Dermatology in Meridian, Idaho, who is on staff at St. Luke's Children's Hospital in Boise, presented a talk titled ‘Failure Is the Stepping Stone to Success.’

Swanson spoke in an on-site interview with

’s editorial team on the topic of how she pushed dermatologists and other clinicians to treat setbacks as a source of direction rather than something to avoid. 

How Failure Is the Stepping Stone to Success, With Lisa Swanson, MD

 this was her first LEADderm conference, and she plans to attend every year going forward. She said the location and content combined to make her feel like a better leader already, even before delivering her own talk. She said the blend of leadership content and destination setting was unlike other dermatology meetings she attends.

The idea had sat in a notes app on Swanson's phone for years before Jennifer Soung, MD, the founder of LEADderm, invited her to bring it to the conference after hearing her describe it informally. Swanson said the invitation moved the concept from something she had been quietly workshopping into content she actually had to build and deliver. Once committed, she prepared by reading extensively about failure while traveling to conferences, an unusual sight she said drew curious looks from fellow travelers.

"We all fail. Everyone fails. But we need to be able to look at it positively, learn from the experience, let it empower us to keep going, and gain some resilience and grit," Swanson said.

Swanson said her talk uses examples of well-known successful people who experienced failure in their own careers, framing setbacks as universal rather than exceptional. She said dermatologists should expect moments of stumbling and treat them as material for growth instead of evidence of inadequacy.

Swanson said failure can point in two directions: it can build curiosity and new skills, fueling a desire to keep pursuing a given path, or it can signal a path is not the right fit and a new direction is needed. Either way, she said the setback becomes a tool for self-improvement rather than a reason to stop. She described failure as the experience most likely to teach dermatologists the most over the course of a career.

LEADderm. About LEADderm: the missing curriculum. leadderm.org.

Conference Preview: 2026 LEADderm Conference in Newport Beach, CA. HCPLive. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/conference-preview-2026-leadderm-conference-newport-beach-ca

Lisa Swanson, MD, on treating professional failure as a source of direction and resilience in her LEADderm 2026 talk.

Tips on Treating Hemangiomas and Molluscum Contagiosum in Children, With Lisa Swanson, MD

2026 Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA)

 Summer Dermatology Conference, Lisa Swanson, MD, of Ada West Dermatology, spoke with 

 about several practical treatment strategies for common pediatric dermatology conditions, focusing on molluscum contagiosum, infantile hemangiomas, and pyogenic granulomas.

Molluscum contagiosum will eventually resolve on its own, but newer treatments such as berdazimer gel offer an effective option for families seeking active management.

Hemangiomas involving high-risk locations, large size, or ulceration often warrant prompt treatment to prevent complications and scarring.

Topical timolol may provide a painless, noninvasive alternative to surgical treatment for selected pediatric pyogenic granulomas.

Will Molluscum Contagiosum Go Away on Its Own?

“It will, if you do nothing, it will eventually go away,” Swanson said. “That can take up to two to three years, the average is one year, so it can take a while.”

Discussing molluscum contagiosum, Swanson noted the importance of setting realistic expectations for families. She explained that molluscum is ultimately a self-limited condition and will resolve without treatment, though clearance can take anywhere from 1 - 3 years, with approximately 1 year being common. While treatment is never needed, Swanson expressed that many families looking for specialty care have already decided they would prefer active intervention.

Among available agents, Swanson pointed to berdazimer gel, a nitric oxide-releasing topical treatment that became available within the last year. Based on her clinical experience, she described the medication as highly effective in routine practice. Although some individuals experience mild burning or stinging, Swanson explained, most are able to continue their therapy successfully and attain meaningful improvement.

Swanson also reviewed key factors that should prompt clinicians to consider treatment for infantile hemangiomas. Location, she stated, remains 1 of the most important considerations. This is especially true for lesions involving the eyelids, nose, lips, or diaper area, as these sites carry increased risks of functional impairment, cosmetic concerns, or ulceration.

Size is another critical factor, as larger hemangiomas are less likely to resolve without lasting sequelae. She also emphasized the value of recognizing and treating ulcerated hemangiomas, which can be painful and lead to permanent scarring. Beyond clinical risk factors, Swanson noted that patient and parent preferences should also play a role in treatment decisions.

What Are Some Treatment Options for Pyogenic Granulomas?

The session concluded with discussion of pyogenic granulomas, for which Swanson presented topical timolol as a valuable noninvasive alternative to surgical removal in selected pediatric patients. While shave excision and cautery remain standard treatment options, she explained that these procedures can be particularly challenging in young children.

Topical timolol, an inexpensive ophthalmic medication commonly used for glaucoma, can provide a painless treatment option when applied directly to the lesion. Swanson noted that improvement is often visible within a month, with complete resolution frequently occurring within 1 - 3 months, making it an attractive option for children and families seeking to avoid procedural intervention.

Disclosures: Swanson previously disclosed serving as a consultant for AbbVie, Alphyn, Arcutis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Castle, Dermavant, Galderma, Incyte, Janssen, Leo, Lilly, Novan, Pfizer, Sanofi-Regeneron, and Verrica.

Swanson L. Pediatric Track: Pediatric Pearls. Presented at SDPA Summer 2026. Jun 10-14, 2026.

Swanson L. What Are Some Clinical Pearls in Pediatric Dermatology? With Lisa Swanson, MD. HCPLive. June 13, 2026. Accessed June 14, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/what-clinical-pearls-pediatric-dermatology-lisa-swanson-md

This SDPA Summer Conference interview with Lisa Swanson, MD, highlights several notable treatment options for molluscum and hemangiomas.

What Are Some Clinical Pearls in Pediatric Dermatology? With Lisa Swanson, MD

 Summer Dermatology Conference, Lisa Swanson, MD, of Ada West Dermatology, shared key clinical pearls from her session focused on common pediatric dermatology conditions, emphasizing practical treatment strategies for infantile hemangiomas and warts.

Infantile hemangiomas can cause significant complications, and clinicians should feel empowered to treat them early and appropriately.

The shortage of pediatric dermatologists makes it increasingly important for general dermatology providers to manage common pediatric conditions.

New and emerging wart treatments, including topical therapies and saltwater soaks, may offer effective and less painful alternatives for patients.

HPV vaccination may have benefits beyond cancer prevention, including a potential role in wart management and protection against occupational HPV exposure.

A major focus of Swanson’s presentation was helping clinicians feel more confident managing infantile hemangiomas. Although hemangiomas are exclusively pediatric conditions, she noted that many clinicians remain hesitant to treat them despite the significant impact they can have on patients and families. Swanson stressed that untreated hemangiomas can be disfiguring, painful when ulcerated, and a source of considerable anxiety for caregivers, making timely intervention important.

“These babies need treatment,” Swanson stated. “Hemangiomas can be disfiguring, they can be painful when they ulcerate, they can cause a lot of stress and anxiety for the patient and their family, and so we need to feel brave enough to tackle hemangiomas.”

To help attendees feel more comfortable treating these lesions, Swanson reviewed how she counsels parents regarding available therapies, safety considerations, and potential adverse effects. She also shared before-and-after images demonstrating the effectiveness of current treatment approaches. Given the nationwide shortage of pediatric dermatologists, she noted that just over 400 pediatric dermatologists practice in the United States, with seven states still lacking one entirely. Swanson encouraged dermatology clinicians to take a more active role in managing hemangiomas and to seek guidance when needed rather than delaying care.

The session also featured discussion of several wart treatment strategies. Swanson highlighted a prescription topical therapy known as ‘WartPEEL,’ which she described as one of her preferred options because of its high effectiveness, relatively rapid results, and painless application. According to Swanson, the treatment often clears warts within several weeks while avoiding the discomfort associated with many traditional therapies.

She also reviewed emerging evidence supporting saltwater soaks for plantar warts, citing encouraging data suggesting meaningful treatment success. In her practice, the approach has been given the patient-friendly nickname “the mermaid treatment,” a reference intended to improve engagement and adherence among younger patients.

What Are the Benefits of the HPV Vaccine for Warts?

Additionally, Swanson discussed the potential use of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as a treatment strategy for certain wart cases. While acknowledging that this remains an off-label approach, she reviewed studies evaluating both intramuscular and intralesional administration. Beyond wart management, Swanson also encouraged dermatology clinicians to consider HPV vaccination for themselves, citing occupational exposure to HPV-containing surgical plume and its potential association with head and neck cancers.

At SDPA, Swanson highlighted a variety of key tips for clinicians, including strategies for treating hemangiomas and warts in children.

Lisa A. Swanson, MD

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