Daily Hot Takes from SOCU 2026: Day 2 Highlights
Following a high-energy kickoff, Day 2 of the 17th Annual Skin of Color Update (SOCU 2026) delivered a masterclass in complex inflammatory dermatoses, cutting-edge hair and scalp algorithms, and practical surgical management of keloids and nail emergencies.
Co-Chairs Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, FAAD, and Eliot F. Battle, MD, welcomed attendees back to the main stage for another action-packed day o …
Following a high-energy kickoff, Day 2 of the 17th Annual Skin of Color Update (SOCU 2026) delivered a masterclass in complex inflammatory dermatoses, cutting-edge hair and scalp algorithms, and practical surgical management of keloids and nail emergencies.
Co-Chairs Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, FAAD, and Eliot F. Battle, MD, welcomed attendees back to the main stage for another action-packed day o … Continue reading "Daily Hot Takes from SOCU 2026: Day 2 Highlights"
Ronda S. Farah, MD, FAAD, knows the impact of hair and scalp disorders on patients’ quality of life. Dr. Farah is an associate of professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota and founder of Alluma Dermatology. For Dr. Farah, quality care begins with a thorough hair and scalp exam. In this Next Steps in Derm video interview, conducted in partnership with the ODAC Dermatology Conference … 
Pediatric alopecia in children with kinky or curly hair presents unique diagnostic and management challenges. In a case-based session, Dr. Kenner-Bell reviewed common causes of hair loss in this population and highlighted the importance of early recognition, culturally sensitive counseling, and avoiding premature closure on traction alopecia as a diagnosis.
Case 1: Trichotillomania
Trichotilloma … 
Diagnosing and treating pediatric patients with skin of color requires a nuanced eye and an understanding of unique psychosocial dynamics. At the latest Skin of Color Update (SOCU) conference, Dr. Karan Lal addressed these exact complexities. Written from the perspective of an attending dermatology resident, this summary breaks down Dr. Lal’s essential pearls across three major domains: pigmente … 
Scalp biopsies are an important tool in diagnosing central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), especially in atypical presentations where making an accurate diagnosis through other means is challenging. Even though a biopsy-confirmed diagnosis could lead to hair-saving treatment, hair loss patients sometimes balk at the recommendation to biopsy. The authors of a brief communication published …