What We Study

Our research focuses on the epidemiology of acne, its impact on patients, and the identification and promotion of effective therapies. A particular area of interest is exploration of non-antibiotic treatments for this inflammatory condition, including the role of spironolactone for women with acne.

Selected publications:

Patient Perspectives on the Lived Experience of Acne and Its Treatment Among Adult Women With Acne: A Qualitative Study – PubMed (nih.gov)

Long-term use of spironolactone for acne in women: A case series of 403 patients – PubMed (nih.gov)

Approaches to limit systemic antibiotic use in acne: Systemic alternatives, emerging topical therapies, dietary modification, and laser and light-based treatments – PubMed (nih.gov)

Trends in Oral Antibiotic Prescription in Dermatology, 2008 to 2016 – PubMed (nih.gov)

Trends in prescribing behavior of systemic agents used in the treatment of acne among dermatologists and nondermatologists: A retrospective analysis, 2004-2013 – PubMed (nih.gov)

Frequency of Treatment Switching for Spironolactone Compared to Oral Tetracycline-Class Antibiotics for Women With Acne: A Retrospective Cohort Study 2010-2016 – PubMed (nih.gov)

Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitors in the Treatment and Occurrence of Acne: A Systematic Review – PubMed (nih.gov)

Association of Spironolactone Use With Risk of Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – PubMed (nih.gov)

Our research focuses on the value of patient-reported outcomes in the care of patients with skin disease, with a focus on modern measurement theory including the use of Rasch and item-response theory.

Selected publications:

Influence of “Not Relevant” Responses on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) for Patients With Psoriasis in the United States – PubMed (nih.gov)

Evaluation of the Frequency of “Not Relevant” Responses on the Dermatology Life Quality Index by Sociodemographic Characteristics of Patients With Psoriasis – PubMed (nih.gov)

Frequency and influence of “not relevant” responses on the Dermatology Life Quality Index among adults with atopic dermatitis – PubMed (nih.gov)

Responsiveness of the EuroQol 5-Dimension 3-Level instrument, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and DLQI-Relevant for patients with psoriasis in the U.S.A – PubMed (nih.gov)

Use of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Acne Vulgaris and Rosacea Clinical Trials From 2011 to 2021: A Systematic Review – PubMed (nih.gov)

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review of Measure Development and Measurement Properties – PubMed (nih.gov)

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures as Complementary Information to Clinician-Reported Outcome Measures in Patients With Psoriasis – PubMed (nih.gov)

Our research examines the roles of organization, finance, technology, and prevention in the provision of health care services, and their impact on utilization, cost, and quality of care. In particular, our work focuses on cost-effectiveness, use of laboratory monitoring, and the role of telemedicine.

Selected publications:

Temporal Trends and Clinician Variability in Potassium Monitoring of Healthy Young Women Treated for Acne With Spironolactone – PubMed (nih.gov)

The clinical utility of  lab oratory monitoring during isotretinoin therapy for acne and changes to monitoring practices over time – PubMed (nih.gov)

Age-appropriate cancer screening: A cohort study of adults with psoriasis prescribed biologics, adults in the general population, and adults with hypertension – PubMed (nih.gov)

Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of teledermatology – PubMed (nih.gov)

Cost analysis of a store-and-forward teledermatology consult system in Philadelphia – PubMed (nih.gov)

The reliability of teledermatology to triage inpatient dermatology consultations – PubMed (nih.gov)

Double Standards and Inconsistencies in Access to Care-What Constitutes a Cosmetic Treatment? – PubMed (nih.gov)

Isotretinoin Laboratory Monitoring in Acne Treatment: A Delphi Consensus Study – PubMed (nih.gov)