Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, is a dermatologist in California. 

Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc

Practical Approaches to Hyperpigmentation and Hypopigmentation, With Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, and Michelle Rodrigues, MBBS

In the second featured clip from the most recent episode of the 

 leaders, Michelle Rodrigues, MBBS, founder and director of Chroma Dermatology, and Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, assistant professor at the USC Keck School of Medicine, explore the diagnostic complexity of pigmentary disorders in patients with skin of color, emphasizing the importance of precision, pattern recognition, and patient-centered care.

Their conversation reinforces a key message: pigmentary change is not a diagnosis in itself, but rather a clinical sign with a broad and nuanced differential. Rodrigues opens by noting that terms such as “hyperpigmentation” or “hypopigmentation” are often used too broadly, which can lead to oversimplification and mismanagement. Instead, she emphasizes the need to identify the underlying cause, whether inflammatory, autoimmune, medication-related, or genetic. Elbuluk builds on this point by highlighting how post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation remains one of the most common concerns among patients of color, often arising from acne, eczema, or other inflammatory dermatoses.

While frequently dismissed as cosmetic, both experts stress that pigmentary disorders can have a profound psychosocial impact and deserve thoughtful evaluation and treatment. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on clinical assessment strategies. Rodrigues underscores the value of a careful history and physical examination, paying close attention to lesion distribution, color variation, borders, and evolution over time.

She also highlights dermoscopy as a valuable, noninvasive tool that can help distinguish epidermal from dermal pigment and guide management decisions, potentially reducing the need for biopsy in select cases. Elbuluk adds that understanding a patient’s background—including prior inflammation, treatments, and cultural skin-care practices—is essential to accurate diagnosis.

The conversation also addresses conditions such as vitiligo and acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation, underscoring how these disorders may present differently across skin tones and how delayed diagnosis can worsen outcomes. Both speakers emphasize the importance of setting realistic expectations with patients, as pigmentary disorders often require prolonged treatment courses and careful maintenance.

Together, Rodrigues and Elbuluk advocate for a more deliberate, informed approach to pigmentary disease—one that recognizes both the biological complexity and emotional weight of these conditions for patients with skin of color.

To learn more about SOCS’s programs and initiatives, visit 

Editor’s note: This summary was edited with the help of AI tools.

Videos

This segment of the latest Skin of Color Savvy episode highlights a conversation between Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, and Michelle Rodrigues, MBBS.

Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color

Skin of Color Savvy: Highlights From the Most-Watched Episodes of 2025

, the podcast revisits highlights from the three most viewed episodes of 2025, bringing together expert insights on inflammatory skin disease, pigmentary disorders, and diversity in dermatologic research. Featuring conversations with 

 leaders, Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH; Shawn Kwatra, MD; Crystal Aguh, MD; John Harris, MD, PhD; Nada Elbuluk, MD; and Michelle Rodrigues, MBBS, the episode underscores the breadth of clinical, scientific, and equity-focused discussions that resonated most with audiences throughout the year.

The episode opens with a return to one of the show’s most impactful early conversations, in which Alexis and Kwatra discuss diseases that disproportionately affect patients with skin of color, particularly chronic pruritus and inflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis. Kwatra reflects on the disconnect between textbook imagery and real-world clinical presentations, noting that many diagnostic criteria and educational resources remain centered on lighter skin types.

Together, they explore emerging data demonstrating racial and ethnic differences in itch prevalence and presentation, while highlighting how environmental exposures, socioeconomic factors, and systemic inflammation intersect to influence disease burden. Alexis builds on this discussion by emphasizing the importance of recognizing how erythema and inflammation present differently in richly pigmented skin. Rather than classic redness, inflammation may appear violaceous, gray, or brown, a distinction that is critical to avoiding underdiagnosis and undertreatment.

The second segment revisits a widely viewed episode focused on pigmentary disorders, featuring Elbuluk and Rodrigues. The pair emphasize that “hyperpigmentation” is not a diagnosis, but a broad category encompassing more than 45 distinct conditions. They discuss common causes of hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and depigmentation seen in patients of color, including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation, melasma, vitiligo, and less common congenital or medication-induced disorders. Key diagnostic principles—such as evaluating lesion location, color, morphology, and patient history—are highlighted, along with the value of dermoscopy as a noninvasive bedside tool to guide management and avoid unnecessary biopsies.

The episode concludes with highlights from a conversation featuring Aguh and Harris, which centers on the importance of diversity in dermatology research and clinical trials. Using examples from alopecia and autoimmune disease research, the discussion expands the definition of diversity beyond race and ethnicity to include diversity of thought, training background, and scientific perspective. Both speakers emphasize that collaborative, multidisciplinary research leads to stronger study design, fewer blind spots, and more clinically meaningful outcomes for patients.

Together, this Savvy Stories episode captures why these three conversations stood out among viewers in 2025. By blending clinical insight, scientific rigor, and a commitment to equity, the episode reflects Skin of Color Savvy’s mission to elevate dermatologic care through education, representation, and inclusive dialogue.

This new episode from January 2026 features a compilation of 3 clips from the most viewed episodes of 2025.

Skin of Color Savvy: Improving Global Access in Dermatology with GLODERM

This special Clinical Episode of the Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color features an illuminating conversation between Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, current president of the 

, and esteemed dermatologists and global health leaders Esther Freeman, MD, PhD, and Karolyn Wanat, MD. Freeman is known for her work as Associate Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and Wanat as an Associate Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

Together, Elbuluk, Wanat, and Freeman explore the fast-growing field of global health dermatology, the work of the International Alliance for Global Health Dermatology (GLODERM), and an exciting new collaboration between GLODERM and SOCS. Freeman begins by defining global health dermatology as the practice of dermatology in under-resourced settings, whether domestic or international.

Freeman, GLODERM's co-founder, emphasizes that global health is not limited to crossing borders—it is about ensuring access to dermatologic care wherever inequities exist. Wanat, the current chair of GLODERM, describes the group’s mission: advancing global skin health for all by building partnerships across clinicians, trainees, and communities.

The conversation outlines GLODERM’s exponential growth since its founding in 2017—from a grassroots effort by 10 dermatologists to an international network of nearly 3000 members across over 60 countries. Freeman and Wanat explain how GLODERM fits into the broader ecosystem of international dermatologic organizations, operating within the International Foundation for Dermatology (IFD), the humanitarian arm of the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS).

A highlight of the discussion is the recently passed World Health Assembly resolution designating skin disease as a global public health priority—a milestone Freeman helped achieve after years of collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). Backed by multiple sponsoring countries, the resolution formally acknowledges the critical health burden posed by skin disease worldwide and urges ministries of health to address it through funding and policy action.

The episode also explores GLODERM’s flagship mentorship program, which pairs emerging dermatology leaders in low-resource settings with international mentors. Wanat and Freeman share real-world examples of how mentees have launched transformative programs in countries like Burundi, Ecuador, and St. Lucia, from creating albinism outreach initiatives to launching new residency programs and public health campaigns.

Education is another pillar of GLODERM’s work. The organization hosts global webinars, scientific symposia, and podcasts to amplify expertise and support knowledge exchange. These efforts led to the creation of SEED (Supporting Emerging Education in Dermatology), a peer network of educators working to build new dermatology training programs in countries such as Rwanda, Fiji, and Ethiopia.

Freeman and Wanat emphasize the synergy between GLODERM and SOCS, pointing to shared priorities around mentorship, advocacy, and educational equity. Together, the organizations plan to co-develop webinars, support SOCS’s new global council and SOC Serves platform, and broaden outreach to underserved communities around the world.

They conclude the episode on an optimistic note, pointing to the remarkable momentum building around global health dermatology. What was once a niche passion is now a growing field with a thriving infrastructure, a deepening pipeline of young leaders, and an expanding global reach—all anchored by the belief that skin health is essential to overall health and that access to care should be universal.

To learn more about the Skin of Color Society's (SOCS) mentorship programs and initiatives, visit 

Editor’s note: This podcast summary was edited with the help of artificial intelligence tools.

This clinical episode of Skin of Color Savvy highlights the work of the International Alliance for Global Health Dermatology (GLODERM) and a new collaboration between GLODERM and SOCS.

A group of 9 experts reflect on what they are looking forward to most in 2025 following the AAD annual meeting. 

Expert Perspectives: Dermatology's Top Story to Watch in 2025

Although nearly all medical professionals can point to a “flagship” meeting or annual conference for their specialty, few serve the same role as or measure up to what the 

American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting

A testament to the draw and magnitude of the AAD’s annual showcase, the 2025 annual meeting, which was held in Orlando, Florida, from March 07-11, 2025, had more than 20,000 registered attendees. In addition to being the field’s largest meeting, one of the unique aspects of the AAD annual meeting is its placement on the calendar. While many organizations opt for end of year or mid-year meetings, the AAD annual meeting typically occurs in Q1 and, for many, sets the tone for the remainder of the year.

With this in mind, the editorial team of HCPLive Dermatology included a simple question on the end of our interviews from the meeting with 9 leading subject matter experts in dermatology: “What is going to be the most important storyline to watch for dermatology for the rest of 2025?”

In the above video, we highlight the perspectives of these experts. Below, you can find a brief summary of the backgrounds and expertise of each individual included in this feature video.

, is a professor and vice chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Perelman School of Medicine. She also serves as president of the American Academy of Dermatology.

, is chairman at Innovaderm Research. He is also the principal investigator of the ICONIC-LEAD trial, which was presented at AAD 2025.

, is a dermatologist and internal medicine specialist with Riverchase Dermatology.

, is an associate professor of Dermatology for the USC Keck School of Medicine. She is the founding director of the USC Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Program and also the president of the Skin of Color Society.

, is the owner of Medical Dermatology Specialists, chief of inpatient dermatology at BannerHealth, and the founder of US Dermatology Partners.

, is a dermatologist and the medical director at the SKiN Centre for Dermatology.

, is an associate professor in dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine.

, is the director of the Advanced Acne Therapeutics Clinic at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the co-chair of the American Academy of Dermatology Acne Guidelines Work Group.

, is vice chair of research in dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and director of the Mark Lebwohl Center for Neuroinflammation and Sensation.

Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc

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