The DermBros® of Las Vegas Dermatology took over the American Academy of Dermatology Member Instagram page (@AADDermMember) on February 24, 2021. This was an extraordinary opportunity for Team LVDerm, Dr. David Cotter and me to represent Las Vegas. The more conservative, edited version of our Member Spotlight is available on AAD’s Instagram Story. An unedited day in the life of “The DermBros,” also known as the “Director’s Cut,” including complete views, team karaoke, and behind-the-scenes moments, is available on the LVDerm YouTube page.
With all we’ve endured during this pandemic, completing our day-in-the-life AAD project was a fitting response to the question, “Are We There Yet?” regarding what happens in a typical day at Las Vegas Dermatology as Board-Certified Dermatologists. Dr. Cotter, Dr. Philip Marcus, and I continue working on a pilot for a reality-based television show called Vegas DermBros. If you have an interesting dermatology story or skin condition and would like to be featured, please contact us.
Post-COVID-19 vaccine-related shingles has become a significant topic, and I was featured on NBC News 3 on February 16, 2021, discussing two cases seen in our clinic. Since that NBC feature, Dr. Cotter and I have seen additional patients who developed shingles following COVID-19 vaccination, and others have contacted us online. An article detailing the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination and shingles was submitted for publication in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. Despite reports of post-vaccine shingles and facial filler swelling associated with the Moderna vaccine, we still recommend vaccination to those seeking it.
While an Internal Medicine resident at Georgetown University Hospital, I spent a month with Dr. Anthony Fauci at the National Institutes of Health during an infectious disease rotation. Residents in the HIV/AIDS era were required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to avoid infectious diseases and were trained extensively in its proper use. Improper PPE usage could result in exposure to infection.
When caring for patients with respiratory illnesses, we often used N95 masks, negative-pressure rooms, and other infection-control measures. Based on my experience, N95 masks provide respiratory protection, whereas general face coverings and cloth masks may not offer the same level of protection. I have expressed disagreement with some public masking recommendations and believe society was never adequately trained in proper PPE use.
Basic concepts of disease, vaccination, and immunity remain unchanged. Individuals either develop immunity through vaccination or natural infection and recovery. More than a year after COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, Nevada and the United States had experienced significant loss of life. Fortunately, multiple vaccines became available, and disease trends began to decline.
Comparisons between states with varying levels of restrictions have led many to question the long-term path forward. With vaccination rates increasing and herd immunity becoming more likely, many people have asked, “Are we there yet? Is this nightmare over?”
As an active Twitter user, I enjoy engaging with individuals who disagree with my views. Through those discussions, I often learn the most. Society has identified populations at greater risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, including older adults and individuals with obesity or chronic medical conditions. Treatment options have expanded considerably since the beginning of the pandemic, including convalescent plasma, monoclonal antibodies, and steroid therapies.
As more individuals become vaccinated or develop immunity after infection, COVID-19 case numbers should continue to decrease, and life may gradually return to normal.
If your skin is not normal, we currently have multiple dermatology research studies available, including studies for psoriasis, genital psoriasis, atopic eczema, squamous cell carcinoma, and lichen planus. Patients who qualify may be eligible for treatment and medical care through these programs.
Our team looks forward to the pandemic ending and remains committed to providing advanced dermatologic care through compassion, customer service, technology, and responsiveness.
