Breaking the glass ceiling: Gender Leadership shifts in investigative dermatology
Today’s report also covers research into breast cancer and hair loss, representation of women authors in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery articles, and more (1,249 words, 6 minutes)
Good morning, and welcome to the Women in Dermatology e-newsletter from Chronicle Companies. We’re pleased to have you join us. This biweekly bulletin will update you on new findings regarding dermatologic issues that affect women and the female dermatologists who care for them. We welcome your feedback and opinions, so let us know if you have any comments, observations, or suggestions. You can email them to us at health@chronicle.org
A recent study in the International Journal of Women's Dermatology (Mar. 2025; 11(1):p e197) reveals gender disparities in dermatology conference leadership.
Researchers analyzed the Society of Investigative Dermatology Annual Meetings from 2018-2023 and found women consistently underrepresented in leadership roles. More troubling, female representation declined following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the 2023 international meeting showing particularly pronounced disparities.
For this study, the authors conducted a retrospective review of SID Annual Meeting programs, collecting data on the gender, educational degree, board-certified dermatologist status, and leadership roles of conference leaders during this period. Gender was determined using license database websites or biographical information. Chi-square tests were used to assess significant gender differences in leadership positions.
The study included 282 conference leaders between 2018 and 2023, with 55.3% men and 44.7% women. Leadership roles were distributed across various positions, including committee member (48.9%), chair (7.1%), reviewer (41%), president (2%), and secretary (1%). The study revealed that women were underrepresented in leadership roles at SID, particularly at the 2023 international conference, where only 20.3% of leaders were women. This underrepresentation was notable because women constitute about 52.2% of practicing dermatologists and 60.8% of dermatology residents and fellows in the United States. Furthermore, the researchers noted that certain positions, such as reviewer, were more common among women than roles such as chair and president.
The study also observed a relative decrease in the proportion of women conference leaders after the Covid-19 pandemic (2020 to 2023). This decline may be due to various factors exacerbated during the pandemic, including gender roles, occupational segregation, biased hiring and promotion practices, unequal research funding, and loss of funding for gender equity initiatives. The transition to virtual conferences during the pandemic may have facilitated some opportunities. However, increased family and home responsibilities for female dermatologists might have contributed to the decrease in women conference leaders.
The authors emphasize the need for future research to focus on strategies promoting female representation in dermatology conference leadership positions. They recommended ensuring mentorship opportunities for women trainees and a more equitable representation of the dermatology workforce in leadership positions.
The Takeaway: The study found that women were underrepresented in SID conference leadership, with a significant decline in representation at the 2023 international meeting. The proportion of women in leadership roles decreased after the Covid-19 pandemic, potentially due to structural and societal barriers. Researchers highlighted the need for mentorship programs and targeted initiatives to promote equitable gender representation in dermatology leadership.
A retrospective cohort study of women with breast cancer presenting to a hair loss clinic
A study in the Archives of Dermatological Research investigated hair loss patterns among women undergoing breast cancer treatment. The researchers found that chemotherapy was linked to higher eyebrow and eyelash loss rates and diffuse alopecia. At the same time, non-chemotherapy treatments resulted in more localized hair loss, primarily affecting the frontal and temporal scalp.
For this study, the authors conducted a retrospective chart review of 75 female breast cancer patients who presented with hair loss to the Dermatology Department at Ohio State University. They categorized the patients based on chemotherapy history and analyzed hair loss distribution, scalp symptoms, eyebrow and eyelash involvement, and nail changes. The results showed that 40% of patients experienced eyebrow and eyelash loss, 28% experienced some scalp symptoms, and 21.3% experienced nail changes. Itching and flaking were the most common scalp symptoms, whereas onycholysis, fragility, and Beau’s lines were the most common nail changes.
Impact of metformin on chronic inflammatory markers serum fractalkine and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in polycystic ovary syndrome
A study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India compared serum levels of fractalkine and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) before and after metformin therapy. The researchers found that metformin significantly improves hirsutism, acne, and acanthosis in PCOS patients.
For this study, 30 women with PCOS were given metformin, starting with 500 mg daily and increasing to 1500 mg daily over four months. Serum fractalkine and hs-CRP levels were measured before and after treatment. The results showed clinical improvements in body mass index, better insulin resistance parameters and reduced serum fractalkine and hs-CRP levels, indicating lower chronic inflammation. The authors note that the results suggest that metformin’s ability to improve insulin resistance might help reduce inflammation in PCOS.
Representation of women authors in the 100 most-cited facial plastic and reconstructive surgery articles
A bibliometric analysis published in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery examined the representation of women among the most-cited facial plastic surgery articles. The researchers found that women comprised 11% of first authors, 14% of senior authors, and 10% of corresponding authors, with no significant differences across years of publication, citation quartile, and article nationality.
The study analyzed the 100 most-cited articles from nine high-impact journals, identifying the author’s gender using databases and accredited sources. US institutions accounted for 71% of publications. The authors found that despite increased female trainees in facial plastic surgery, women’s academic contributions remain disproportionately low. The findings highlight the need for greater recognition and support for women in academic facial plastic surgery.
Prevalence and associated factors of traction alopecia in women in north Sudan
A study in Medicina investigated the prevalence and associated factors of traction alopecia in women in north Sudan. The researchers found that traction alopecia affected one in four women in north Sudan and was associated with a family history of female baldness and hair chemical use.
The authors conducted a community-based, cross-sectional study assessing 192 women through questionnaires and scalp examinations for this study. The results showed that 25.0% had traction alopecia, with a median age of 42 years. Additionally, a family history of female baldness and the use of hair colour and chemicals were significantly associated with the condition. In contrast, increasing age was inversely related to traction alopecia. The researchers emphasized the need for awareness, education on proper hair care, and further large-scale studies.
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A case of segmental congenital vascular anomaly with atrophy, ulceration and scarring during pregnancy
A case report in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology described a 33-year-old woman with a painful, ulcerated vascular plaque on the left side and back of her head, neck, and anterior shoulder, present since birth but worsening during pregnancy. Shortly after delivery, she also developed left-sided Horner’s syndrome with ptosis and miosis. An MRI revealed an extensive lesion involving subcutaneous tissues, paraspinal muscles, and multiple enlarged arteries and veins. Genetic testing identified GNA11 and PIK3CA mutations, confirming a diagnosis of the segmental congenital vascular anomaly with atrophy, ulceration and scarring. The patient began oral sirolimus after weaning from breastfeeding, leading to rapid ulceration healing, pain reduction, and improvement in Horner’s syndrome. After nine months of treatment, her symptoms resolved, and an MRI showed reduced lesion size. However, she experienced mild recurrence post-treatment.
“One of the challenges of my job as a dermatologist is overcoming misconceptions about skincare, especially with the influence of social media trends that often promote ineffective or even harmful products. Educating patients on science-backed solutions tailored to optimise their unique skin needs is essential, including those with diverse skin tones.”
— Dr. Lee-Mei Yap, a Victoria, Australia-based dermatologist in an interview with Missing Perspectives.
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