Date of Original Release: September 15, 2026
Date of Expiration: September 15, 2029
Estimated Time of Completion: 7 hours
Target Audience
Dermatologists and others involved in the delivery of dermatologic care.
Statement of Need
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) reaches dermatology late. Patients wait an average of seven to ten years for a diagnosis, consulting three or more clinicians and accumulating multiple misdiagnoses before they arrive in dermatologic care. By that point, disease is often established and scarred, prior treatment has failed, and the dermatologist assumes responsibility for the full scope of management.
That scope has widened considerably. Evidence-based medical therapy for HS has changed substantially over the past decade, and adoption in general dermatology practice has lagged behind the evidence. Procedural management presents a parallel gap: deroofing, excision, and related in-office techniques are taught inconsistently across residency and dermatologic surgery fellowship programs, concentrating procedural expertise in a limited number of centers and lengthening wait times for patients outside major metropolitan areas. Supportive care receives the least attention of all. Chronic pain, itch, and complex wound care shape daily life for patients with HS, and dermatologists report limited formal training and low confidence in addressing these needs, particularly pain.
This on-demand course addresses medical therapy, in-office procedures, and supportive care through focused, practical instruction that dermatologists can complete at their own pace and apply directly to patient care.
Learning Objectives
Following participation in this activity, the learner should be able to:
- Offer appropriate evidence-based medical therapies for HS, incorporating factors such as disease severity, comorbid conditions, and patient preferences.
- Select and perform appropriate in office procedures for patients with HS based on lesion morphology and patient preferences.
- Recognize the psychosocial burden of HS and offer primary supportive care measures to address pain and wound care.
Accreditation Statement
The American Academy of Dermatology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA PRA Credit Statement
The American Academy of Dermatology designates this enduring material for a maximum of 7 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should only claim the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Instructions to Claim Credit
To claim CME credit for this activity, the learner must complete the posttest and achieve a minimum passing score of 70% and complete the post-activity evaluation survey.
Planners
Jonathan Rick, MD, FAAD, Course Chair
Assistant Professor
University at California at Davis
Sacramento, California
Afsaneh Alavi, MD, FAAD
Professor
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota
Steven Daveluy, MD, FAAD
Professor
Wayne State University
Dearborn, Michigan
Jonathan Rick, MD, FAAD
Assistant Professor
University at California at Davis
Sacramento, California
Lauren Orenstein, MD, MSc, FAAD
Associate Professor
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia
Reviewers
Daniel Eisen, MD, FAAD
Professor
University of California Davis
Sacramento, California
Bethany Rohr, MD, FAAD
Assistant Professor
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Cleveland, Ohio
Faculty
Afsaneh Alavi, MD, FAAD
Professor
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota
Parish Armstead
HS Connect, HS Brotherhood Podcast
Buffalo, New York
Alexandra Charrow, MD, FAAD
Assistant Professor
Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts
Colleen Cotton, MD, FAAD
Assistant Professor
Children's National Hospital
Washington, District of Columbia
Steven Daveluy, MD, FAAD
Professor
Wayne State University
Dearborn, Michigan
Iltefat Hamzavi, MD, FAAD
Senior Staff Physician
Henry Ford Hospital
Detroit, Michigan
Jennifer Hsiao, MD, FAAD
Associate Professor
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Katrina Lee, MD, FAAD
Assistant Professor
Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Hadar Lev-Tov, MD, FAAD
Associate Professor
University of Miami
Miami, Florida
Robert G. Micheletti, MD, FAAD
Associate Professor
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lauren Orenstein, MD, MSc, FAAD
Associate Professor
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia
Christopher Sayed, MD, FAAD
Professor
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Drew Saylor, MD, FAAD
Associate Professor
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Vivian Shi, MD, FAAD
Professor
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
Staff
Christine Presta
Director, Digital Learning
Rosemont, Illinois
Janet Chester
Senior Manager, Digital Learning
Rosemont, Illinois
Dustin Herlich
Senior Manager, Learning Experience
Rosemont, Illinois
Blanca Torres-Olave, PhD
Senior Instructional Designer
Rosemont, Illinois
Melinda Keske
Senior Administrator, Learning Management
Rosemont, Illinois
Emma Boyke
Specialist, Digital Learning
Rosemont, Illinois
Juliana Bozeman
Medical Illustrator
Roberto Lambertini
Instructional Designer
Brandon Schawel
Instructional Designer
Disclosures
|
Contributor Name
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Commercial Interest
|
Financial Relationship
|
Compensation
|
|
Jonathan Rick, MD
|
Incyte Corporation
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
|
Steven Daveluy, MD, FAAD
|
AbbVie
|
Speaker
|
Honoraria
|
|
AbbVie
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
AbbVie
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Honoraria
|
|
Incyte
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Insmed
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
Leo Pharma
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
MoonLake Immunotherapeutics
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
Novartis
|
Speaker
|
Honoraria
|
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Pfizer Inc.
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
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Regeneron
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
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Sanofi
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
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Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
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UCB
|
Consultant
|
Fees
|
|
UCB
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
UCB
|
Speaker
|
Honoraria
|
|
Afsaneh Alavi, MD, FAAD
|
AbbVie
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Almirall
|
Data Safety Monitoring Board
|
Fees
|
|
Almirall
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Honoraria
|
|
Alumis
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Avalo
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
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Boehringer Ingelheim
|
Investigator
|
Fees
|
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Boehringer Ingelheim
|
Investigator
|
Fees
|
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Cantargia
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
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Dermatology Times (MMM MultiMedia Medical, LLC)
|
Speaker
|
Honoraria
|
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Incyte Corporation
|
Consultant
|
Honoraria
|
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InflaRx
|
Data Safety Monitoring Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Leo Foundation
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
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Novartis
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Sanofi
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
UCB
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Zura Bio
|
Data Safety Monitoring Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Alex Charrow, MD, FAAD
|
Avalo
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
|
Incyte Corporation
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
Incyte Corporation
|
Investigator
|
No Compensation Received
|
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Insmed
|
Investigator
|
No Compensation Received
|
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Insmed Incorporated
|
Investigator
|
No Compensation Received
|
|
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
Q32 Bio Inc.
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
No Compensation Received
|
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Sonoma Biotherapeutics
|
Investigator
|
No Compensation Received
|
|
UCB Pharma
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Iltefat Hamzavi, MD, FAAD
|
AbbVie
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
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Almirall
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
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Avita
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
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Boehringer Ingelheim
|
Consultant
|
Fees
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Incyte Corporation
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
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Janssen Biotech
|
Investigator
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Grants/Research Funding
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Lenicura
|
Investigator
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Equipment
|
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Merck
|
Investigator
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Grants/Research Funding
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Novartis
|
Consultant
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Fees
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Pfizer Inc.
|
Investigator
|
Fees
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Sonoma Biotherapeutics
|
Investigator
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Grants/Research Funding
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Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc
|
Investigator
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Grants/Research Funding
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Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
|
Investigator
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Fees
|
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UCB
|
Consultant
|
Fees
|
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Union Therapeutics
|
Consultant
|
Fees
|
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Christopher Sayed, MD, FAAD
|
AbbVie
|
Speaker
|
Fees
|
|
AbbVie
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
AbbVie
|
Investigator
|
Fees
|
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Alumis
|
Consultant
|
Fees
|
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AstraZeneca
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
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AstraZeneca
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
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ChemoCentryx
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
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Elasmogen
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
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Eli Lilly
|
Stockholder Public Company
|
Stock
|
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Incyte
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
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Incyte Corporation
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
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InflaRx
|
Consultant
|
Fees
|
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InflaRx
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
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MoonLake Immunotherapeutics
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
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Navigator Medicines
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
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Novartis
|
Investigator
|
Fees
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Novartis
|
Speaker
|
Honoraria
|
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Sandoz Pharmaceuticals AG
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
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Honoraria
|
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Sanofi
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
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UCB
|
Consultant
|
Fees
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UCB
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
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UCB
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
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Hadar Lev-Tov, MD, FAAD
|
BSN Medical
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
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BSN Medical
|
Speaker
|
Honoraria
|
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HidraMed Solutions
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
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Incyte Corporation
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
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Incyte Corporation
|
Speaker
|
No Compensation Received
|
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Insmed Incorporated
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
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Molynlycke
|
Consultant
|
Fees
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Molynlycke
|
Speaker
|
Honoraria
|
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Novartis
|
Consultant
|
Fees
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TissueTech
|
Investigator
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No Compensation Received
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UCB
|
Speaker
|
Honoraria
|
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UCB
|
Investigator
|
No Compensation Received
|
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Vomaris Innovations Inc
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
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Vomaris Innovations Inc
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
Vivian Shi, MD, FAAD
|
AbbVie
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
AbbVie
|
Speaker
|
Fees
|
|
Alumis
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Aristea Therapeutics
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
Boehringer Ingelheim
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
Dermavant Sciences, Inc.
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
Eli Lilly and Company
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
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Genentech, Inc.
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Incyte
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Incyte Corporation
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Leo Pharma
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
|
Novartis
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
Pfizer Inc.
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
Polyfins, Inc
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
|
Regeneron
|
Speaker
|
Fees
|
|
Sanofi Genzyme
|
Speaker
|
Fees
|
|
Sanofi Genzyme
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
UCB Pharma
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Lauren Orenstein, MD, MSc, FAAD
|
Incyte Corporation
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
Novartis
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
Novartis
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
Pfizer Inc.
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
UCB Pharma
|
Advisory Board
|
Fees
|
|
Katrina Lee, MD, FAAD
|
Incyte
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
Incyte
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Novartis
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
Robert G. Micheletti, MD, FAAD
|
Boehringer Ingelheim
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
InflaRx
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
Insmed
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
Jennifer Hsiao, MD, FAAD
|
AbbVie
|
Speaker
|
Fees
|
|
AbbVie
|
Consultant
|
Fees
|
|
Aclaris Therapeutics Inc.
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
|
Amgen
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
Astra Zeneca
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
Boehringer Ingelheim
|
Speaker
|
Fees
|
|
Boehringer Ingelheim
|
Consultant
|
Fees
|
|
Boehringer Ingelheim
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
Incyte
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
|
Incyte
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
|
Insmed
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
|
Leo Pharma
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
|
MoonLake Immunotherapeutics
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
|
Navigator Medicines
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
|
Novartis
|
Speaker
|
Fees
|
|
Novartis
|
Consultant
|
Fees
|
|
Oruka Therapeutics
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
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Pfizer Inc.
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
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Sanofi
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
|
Fees
|
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Sanofi/Regeneron
|
Speaker
|
Fees
|
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UCB
|
Speaker
|
Fees
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UCB
|
Consultant
|
Fees
|
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Colleen Cotton, MD, FAAD
|
Amgen
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
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CorEvitas
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
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MoonLake Immunotherapeutics
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
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Novartis
|
Advisory Board
|
Honoraria
|
|
Pfizer Inc.
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
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|
Pfizer Inc.
|
Consultant (1099 relationship)
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No Compensation Received
|
|
UCB
|
Investigator
|
Grants/Research Funding
|
All other planners, speakers, reviewers, and staff for this activity reported they have no relevant relationship(s) with commercial interest(s).
Conflict Mitigation Statement
In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, the American Academy of Dermatology has implemented mechanisms, prior to the planning implementation of this activity, to identify and mitigate conflicts of interest for all individuals in a position to control the content.
Commercial Support
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Unapproved Use Disclosure
The American Academy of Dermatology requires CME faculty/authors to disclose to learners when products or procedures are being discussed are off-label (not approved for the indications being discussed), unlabeled (not approved for any indications), experimental and/or investigational (not FDA approved); and any limitations on the information that is presented, such as data that are preliminary or that represent ongoing research, interim analyses, and/or unsupported opinion. This information is intended solely for continuing medical education and is not intended to promote off-label use of these products/procedures. If you have questions, contact the medical affairs department of the manufacturer for the most recent approval information. Faculty/authors of this activity may be discussing information about pharmaceutical agents that is outside of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved labeling.
Disclaimer
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is not responsible for statements made by the author(s). Statement or opinions expressed in this activity reflect the views of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy of the AAD. The information provided in this CME activity is for continuing education purposes only, is not intended to establish a standard of care, and is not meant to substitute for independent medical judgment of a health provider relative to the diagnostic, management and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.
No Medical Advice
The information in this publication by the American Academy of Dermatology or any third party should not be considered medical advice and is not intended to replace consultation with a qualified dermatology professional. The American Academy of Dermatology does not answer specific medical questions or refer people to a particular dermatology professional.
Contact Information
For the American Academy of Dermatology Member Resource Center, please call (866) 503-7546.