Hormones are central to so much human physiology and yet are an often neglected topic in dermatology. Today, more than ever, this is critical to an understanding of dermatologic diseases, needed to ultimately help patients. Hormonal treatments are both central to treating dermatologic conditions as well as sometimes being the root cause.
Here, we are bringing together expertise not just from our own specialty but drawing upon those in endocrinology, obstetrics and gynecology, transgender medicine, and urology to bring the latest discoveries into a peer reviewed literature collection. We want to cover the basics of hormonal functioning, how hormones are the underpinnings of many dermatologic conditions, and how medications with hormonal overtones may affect skin disease. We welcome papers on topics such as acne and rosacea, hidradenitis suppurativa, polycystic ovarian syndrome, oral contraceptives, transgender treatments, hormonal states like pregnancy and menopause, and newer agents like breast cancer treatments.
Our goal for this article collection is to provide a resource that dermatologists and other clinicians may use in their practice to guide where medicine is moving forward, with hormones often at the center of the discussion. We hope to collect review articles to introduce key concepts like hormone replacement therapy, research articles to provide insight about the future, brief case reports to introduce unique therapeutic approaches, and discussion pieces to provide informed perspectives on hormones and the skin. We are here to inform, enlighten, and challenge knowledge about hormones and dermatologic diseases for the betterment of patients.
Dr. Jennifer Powers is a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon with an interest in women’s health dermatology, scarring, and skin cancer at the University of Iowa. She has research funding from the Department of Defense to study the impact of military service on melanoma, and has completed training in VA Quality Scholars. She has three children with her husband, a cardiologist, and enjoys travel, baking, and running.
Dr. Julie Harper is a board-certified dermatologist in private practice at the Dermatology and Skin Care Center of Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama. She started her career in academic dermatology at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB). During her time at UAB she developed a special interest in acne and rosacea, participating in acne clinical trials and writing and speaking on the subject locally and nationally. Dr. Harper is a Founding Director of the American Acne and Rosacea Society, which was organized in 2005, and is the organization’s past President.
Dr. Powers and Dr. Harper declare no conflicts of interest.
All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisors for this collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are a Editorial Board members). Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.
