15 August 2026

Elevate Derm 2026 Day 4 Recap: Geriatric Care, HS, and Skin Cancer Insights

Why this matters

Day 4 of Elevate-Derm Summer 2026 focused on care for older adults, stubborn itch, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), skin pathology, and skin cancer. The sessions mixed practical tips with real case discussions, showing how caring for skin often means working across specialties and thinking about the whole person. (Source: Elevate-Derm Summer 2026 conference program)

Quick summary

The program covered how to evaluate long-term itch without an obvious cause, how to safely manage medications in older patients, new procedural options for HS, how skin biopsy interpretation can be improved, and updates in treatments and tools used for some skin cancers. Speakers used case examples and hands-on workshops to bring these topics to life.

Care for older adults and unexplained itch

One early session looked at chronic pruritus, which simply means ongoing itch that doesn’t have a clear skin diagnosis. The speakers offered a step-by-step way to evaluate people with this problem, including looking for common medical causes and thinking about how medicines or other conditions might be involved.

The day also covered polypharmacy, a word for taking many medications. Older adults are more likely to be on several drugs at once, and that can affect the skin or make symptoms harder to treat. Presenters discussed safer prescribing choices and cautions specific to older patients, and they introduced the “5Ms” approach to geriatrics (a way of focusing care on what matters to the person, medications, mental health, mobility, and multiple health issues). This helps clinicians balance skin care with the rest of a patient’s health.

Hidradenitis suppurativa and learning from skin samples

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes painful lumps, scarring, and sometimes draining lesions under the skin, often in areas like the armpits or groin. The afternoon sessions included procedural strategies for managing HS, focusing on approaches that can relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

Sessions on dermatopathology — the study of skin samples under the microscope — used clinical cases to highlight common diagnostic pitfalls. Speakers emphasized clinicopathologic correlation, which means matching what a lesion looks like on the skin with what it looks like under the microscope. This approach can avoid unnecessary biopsies of moles and help reach clearer diagnoses.

What clinicians are saying about seborrheic dermatitis

A panel discussion explored new thinking about seborrheic dermatitis, a common condition that causes flaky, red patches on the scalp, face, or chest. Panelists talked about recent ideas on what may trigger the condition and practical ways to manage symptoms, including how to tailor treatment to each person’s needs.

Advances in skin cancer care

The day closed with updates on treatments and tools used in skin cancer care. One talk reviewed hedgehog inhibitors, a class of medicines used for some high-risk nonmelanoma skin cancers; these drugs target a specific growth pathway in tumor cells. Presenters also discussed evolving roles for immunotherapy, imaging, and molecular testing — tools that help guide treatment choices and shape how surgeons and dermatologists plan care. These are active areas of research and clinical practice, and any decision about use should happen with a treating clinician.

Hands-on learning and teamwork

After the lectures, attendees could join an interactive HS workshop and networking events. These sessions reinforced the conference theme: complex skin problems often benefit from case-based learning and teamwork between dermatologists, surgeons, pathologists, and other providers.

Keeping an eye on changes at home

If you’re watching a rash, mole, or other visible skin change, it can help to take photos over time, note when symptoms like pain, bleeding, or drainage occur, and track any treatments you try. That record makes it easier to explain the issue to your clinician and to spot changes that need attention.

When to see a doctor

Talk with a healthcare professional if a skin spot or rash is painful, growing, bleeding, changing color or shape, showing signs of infection (like increasing redness, warmth, pus, or fever), or causing significant daily problems. For persistent itching without an obvious cause, your clinician can help look for medical or medication-related reasons. Treatment decisions should always be made with your doctor or dermatologist.

Disclaimer

This article summarizes sessions from a medical conference and is intended to inform readers about topics discussed there. It is not medical advice. If you have concerns about your skin, please consult a healthcare provider for personalized care.