Good morning, and welcome to the Women in Dermatology newsletter from Chronicle Companies. We’re pleased to have you join us. Let’s get you updated on new findings regarding dermatologic issues that affect women — and the female dermatologists who care for them. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Please let us know if you have any comments or observations. You can email them to us at health@chronicle.org. This biweekly bulletin is presented with the support of our friends at Galderma Canada.
A study in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology (June 2026; 12(2):p e261) assessed the impact of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) on sexual health, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and access to care in women. The researchers found that impaired sexual health was associated with difficulty accessing dermatologic care, increased disease activity, depression, and anxiety.
For this cross-sectional study, 808 women with HS from five continents completed an online survey. They answered questions about sexual activity, sexual desire, pregnancy history, breastfeeding history, and barriers to obtaining HS care during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Approximately one-third of the participants reported severe or very severe disease. Additionally, 57.7% reported having anxiety, 55% reported depression, 52.4% had obesity, and 22.3% also had a polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis.
The results showed that HS had a significant impact on sexual health. Most participants reported that HS moderately to extremely affected sexual activity. More than one-half also reported a moderate to extreme impact on sexual desire. Only 11.1% of participants said they had been referred to an obstetrician-gynecologist by their HS provider, and 45.6% of those referrals were related to sexual health concerns.
Women who reported greater difficulty accessing dermatologic care were more likely to report problems with sexual activity and sexual desire. Higher self-reported disease severity was also associated with worse sexual health outcomes. Anxiety and depression were linked to greater difficulties with sexual activity, although they were not significantly associated with changes in sexual desire.
More than 60% of participants had a history of at least one pregnancy. Among those women, 56.5% breastfed, but 15% reported that HS interfered with their ability to do so. Some participants chose not to breastfeed for reasons unrelated to HS, including personal preference or other breastfeeding difficulties.
The most reported barriers to receiving HS care during pregnancy and breastfeeding included believing that no treatment options were available during these periods, not having received an HS diagnosis yet, and difficulty finding healthcare providers knowledgeable about HS management during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The authors concluded that HS can significantly affect sexual health and maternal experiences. They emphasize the need for improved access to specialized care and patient education.
The Takeaway: The study found that HS had a major impact on sexual health, with most women reporting that the disease moderately to extremely affected sexual activity. Greater disease severity was associated with worse sexual activity and lower sexual desire. Difficulty accessing dermatologic care was linked to poorer sexual health-related quality of life. Common barriers to HS care during pregnancy and breastfeeding included believing that no treatment options were available, delayed HS diagnosis, and difficulty finding knowledgeable healthcare providers.
A study published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology compared fractional carbon dioxide laser therapy with topical silicone gel for the management of post-cesarean scars. The researchers found that fractional carbon dioxide laser treatment was associated with greater improvements in scar appearance, scar-related symptoms, and patient satisfaction than silicone gel.
The authors analyzed outcomes in 220 women who received either fractional carbon dioxide laser treatment or topical silicone gel after cesarean delivery. The results showed that women treated with fractional carbon dioxide laser had better scar scores, less pain, itching, and tightness, and higher satisfaction at six months than women treated with silicone gel. Vascularity, pigmentation, and thickness also significantly improved. Adverse events were uncommon and mild in both groups.
A study in Dermatology Therapy evaluated poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) injections for the treatment of horizontal neck wrinkles in Chinese women. The researchers found the approach improved neck wrinkles, skin quality and neck volume.
The authors enrolled 40 Chinese women aged 24 to 61 years with horizontal neck wrinkles. The participants received PLLA injections and were followed for nine months. The results revealed significant improvements in wrinkle severity, skin hydration, elasticity, gloss, neck volume, and transepidermal water loss. Most adverse events were limited to mild swelling and bruising that resolved without treatment.
A review published in the Forum Dermatologicum examined the dermatologic manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), now known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). The researchers found that skin manifestations are common in women with PCOS and are usually the first signs of the disorder.
The authors searched PubMed for publications about PCOS/PMOS and its dermatologic manifestations published between 2016 and 2025. The results showed that hirsutism affects approximately 70% of women with PCOS/ PMOS, while acne occurs in about 40%. The review also found that seborrhea is a common comorbidity of acne, and androgenic alopecia affects approximately 5% to 15% of patients. Additionally, some women develop acanthosis nigricans, most often on the neck and underarms.
A study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology evaluated the burden of chemotherapy-induced alopecia and access to management strategies in women with breast cancer. The researchers found that financial barriers to alopecia management were more common among patients with darker skin and those receiving taxane-based chemotherapy.
The authors surveyed 63 women with breast cancer who received chemotherapy or endocrine therapy at two academic medical centres in the United States between July and Oct. 2025. The results showed that nearly all participants experienced treatment-related hair loss, but only 11.1% received dermatologic care for alopecia management. Patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI were twice as likely to delay or avoid treatment due to costs compared with patients with skin types I to III. Patients receiving taxane-based chemotherapy also reported greater financial burden. Hair texture was not associated with treatment-seeking behaviour or access to care.
Toronto-based dermatologist Dr. Geeta Yadav gives a presentation on inclusive clinical trial design at the Skin Spectrum Summit in Toronto in October 2025.
A case report in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology described a 21-year-old woman with a five-year history of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The disease affected multiple body folds, including the breasts, underarms, abdomen, groin, and buttocks. The patient had Class I obesity and had not responded to topical treatments, doxycycline, or isotretinoin. Her physicians considered adalimumab, but before starting biologic therapy, she began treatment with tirzepatide for weight loss. During titration, the patient reported that the higher dose of tirzepatide significantly reduced HS flares and abscesses, but mild disease activity returned on the lower dose. She resumed the higher dose and maintained good disease control. After nine months of treatment, her HS severity and quality-of-life scores improved significantly, and her weight dropped to 65.3 kg from 89 kg. Additionally, fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c improved, and only a single inflammatory nodule remained in the intermammary area.
“Procedures have specific indications, limitations, and predictable ranges of improvement. Carefully walking patients through what a treatment can and cannot realistically achieve usually makes it clear whether their goals align with what the procedure can actually deliver.”
— Dr. Erum Ilyas, dermatologist and Dermatology Pathway Director at Drexel University in Philadelphia in an interview with Physicians Weekly.
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