Discussing Granuloma Annulare, Lichenoid Disorders, and Social Media, With Shannon Trotter, DO

The 2025 Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) Fall Conference in San Antonio, Texas, featured a variety of interviews with experts in the field of dermatology.

One such interview featured Shannon C. Trotter, DO, a dermatologist and podcast host with DOCS Dermatology, who discussed the topics covered in several sessions she presented at SDPA. First, Trotter was asked about the biggest highlights from her talk regarding social media and its connection to dermatology.1

“You've got to get used to it,” Trotter said. “You have got to be aware of it and consume it, just like your patients do. Social media is, in fact, the new Web MD. Actually, one out of five patients will go to check social media, in particular, TikTok, before they even consult their doctor. It's important for us to be aware of what's out there, so that we can combat any misinformation, and that we can be a force as clinicians to really educate the public on everything skin.”

Later in her interview, Trotter was asked to discuss some of the most notable takeaways from her session titled ‘Advanced Breakout - I'm Lichen It! Lichenoid Disorders in Dermatology.’2 Trotter spoke about lichenoid disorders and several tips worth highlighting for clinicians.

“In particular, lichen planus can affect anything from skin that you think of classic skin locations like the hair and the nails,” Trotter explained. “In addition, it can also have different variations for effects inside the ear, or even the esophagus or the bladder. So it's important to be aware that it's more than just your regular LP, or lichen planus. Next is the fact that we have to have good treatments. The problem is, for these lichenoid disorders, we just don't have a lot of treatments to offer, so we have to get creative and often go off-label. And lastly, be aware of lichenoid drug eruptions.”

Trotter also pointed to the cancer management space, noting immunotherapy and targeted therapy with immune checkpoint therapy are leading to lichenoid drug reactions. She urged clinicians to keep this in mind. Later, Trotter touched on the topic of granuloma annulare.3

“Granuloma annulare is one of my favorite rashes in all of dermatology,” Trotter said. “But keep in mind, although it's benign and more common than you might think, it does have associations that you want to be aware of, including autoimmune disorders and some lymphoproliferative disorders, in particular, non-Hodgkin's and Hodgkin's lymphoma. It can be very challenging to treat as well, so you might have to get creative to help your patients get successful with treatment, and you might have to do more workup than you might expect.”

The quotes used in this video summary were edited for clarity.

Trotter disclosures include her work for Castle Biosciences as a consultant, researcher, and speaker.

References

1. Trotter S. Social Media Trends 2025. Presented at the Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) Fall Conference, November 5-9, San Antonio, TX.

2. Trotter S. Advanced Breakout - I'm Lichen It! Lichenoid Disorders in Dermatology. Presented at the Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) Fall Conference, November 5-9, San Antonio, TX.

3. Trotter S. The Ringmaster: Taming Granuloma Annulare. Presented at the Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) Fall Conference, November 5-9, San Antonio, TX.