Mentee: Isaac Li-Chi Chen, MD, MPH
Mentor: Crystal Aguh, MD
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
I am grateful for the amazing opportunity provided by SOCS to spend two weeks with Dr. Crystal Aguh at Johns Hopkins, learning the diagnostic algorithms and treatment options for hair disorders in patients with different Fitzpatrick skin types and hair textures. I am deeply inspired by Dr. Aguh’s dedication to and expertise in skin of color dermatology.
During my rotation with Dr. Aguh, I learned how to utilize the Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA) Clinical Assessment Tool as a standardized method to evaluate disease activity and treatment efficacy for CCCA, the most common form of scarring alopecia in patients of African descent. Furthermore, I learned about the hairstyling recommendations for curly hair and the clinical presentation of acquired trichorrhexis nodosa due to damaging hair practice, which can mimic CCCA.
In addition to the clinical pearls I gained, I appreciate Dr. Aguh’s mentorship and guidance on our clinical research projects regarding health disparities and skin of color dermatology, which led to three manuscripts during our two weeks together. We investigated the impact of the emergence of Janus kinase inhibitors on the therapeutic paradigm of alopecia areata, and the disparities in access to Janus kinase inhibitors for patients suffering from alopecia areata. This research letter, titled “Emergence of Janus kinase inhibitors led to increase in proportion of severe alopecia areata patients receiving treatment: A retrospective cohort study,” has been published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. We also summarized the acquired hair textural change associated with autoimmune hair disorders among patients with Afro-textured hair seen in the clinic. This case series, titled “Downy Hair Sign- A clue to autoimmune disease in curly hair,” has been accepted by JAAD Case Reports.
My SOCS observership experience has reinforced my enthusiasm for skin of color dermatology and my commitment to providing top-notch clinical care for patients with diverse skin tones. I am forever grateful for this award and my mentor, Dr. Aguh, for this transformative opportunity.