The last time I went to the AAD conference was before COVID! I was so excited to reunite with people I love and adore. Dermatologists and skincare experts go every year to talk about what’s new. I learned so much from the chair of the AAD, whose specialty is hyperpigmentation. Another one of the most exciting things for me was the new research on at-home and professional devices. 

I was also there to learn more about how people can maintain results in-between esthetic and dermatology sessions. This can really help with accessibility, quality of life, effectiveness, and even insurance issues. 

Moreover, one of my favorite things about the AAD conference is how it’s set up. They have the exhibition floor and the lecture hall. The lecture hall is where MDs and professionals all across the pharmaceutical and medicine world give presentations, answer questions, and exchange ideas with their colleagues. Hearing what all researchers, scientists, and patient care professionals had to say was so refreshing and enriching, especially in the midst of misinformation on social media. 

The exhibition hall was where new innovations were shown. This included prototypes, devices ready to hit the pharma market, and also new skincare products and DIY devices.

This year, there was a lot of new research on red light and artificial intelligence to help with diagnostics and imaging. 

Here are a few highlights of mine from the conference!

AI imaging

The AAD conference described how  “AI-based diagnostic tools can not only speed up the interpretation of complex images but also improve the early detection of disease, ultimately delivering better outcomes for patients. Additionally, AI-based image processing facilitates personalized treatment plans, thereby optimizing healthcare delivery.”

“Especially in the field of dermatology, the trend towards digitization has been longstanding. Did you know that AI can actually quantify skin lesion features and make conclusions that help with analyzing them? Overall, this helps to improve the accuracy and efficiency of diagnoses. AI can also help with customized treatment plans and predict the number of treatments a patient will need as well as establish patterns that demonstrate how the patient is responding to treatments.”

 

Meeting Dr. Candrice!

I love and adore Dr. Candrice. We met online before, and we even did an Instagram Live! But, this was my first time ever meeting her in person! She is so amazing. Her work specializes in cultural humility, skin of color, scalp conditions, and pediatric dermatology. She's even triple-board certified! So, she is not only on the cutting edge of inclusive research and education (yes, she’s also a professor), but research on dermapathology overall!

 

@DrCandriceHeath

Exploring the ULIKE Air X

ULIKE is IPL an (intense pulse light) product which uses light to zap the melanin in the hair follicle, preventing regrowth. It's available now!

THE ULIKE X

 

Read more here about how IPL works. 

I actually love ULIKE, and I was able to talk to the team at the AAD conference. This is their newest product, and I’m super excited to try it over time. In comparison to their older models, the ULIKE Air X includes the following.

The SkinSensor: This feature protects the skin by auto-adapting the intensity of the flashes to your skin tones. This keeps the skin safe while optimizing your sessions a. 

AutoGlide:With this feature, you can press the flash button once, and the Ulike X will rapidly and successively flash. The ULIKE X also has a wider light panel so this increases the speed of the treatment. 

Optimized skin safety: ULIKE 10 offers their coldest temperature yet of 61.4°F. This is ULIKE’s latest cooling technology, and it ensures comfort from start to finish. So, you can enjoy a comfortable hair removal experience — even around your most sensitive parts.

Increased and quicker results: With 2x the light source, users saw a 94% hair reduction in just 2 weeks.

Feeling reaffirmed

Being at the AAD conference felt so reaffirming because it reminded me of why I do what I do. Making this type of research and scientific progress more accessible to others and educating people is what I love to do because it’s something I wish I had. Health and helping people with science and aesthetics feels so much like a calling – so much so that the conference was almost a little bittersweet.

There were so many dermatologists, and becoming a dermatologist is still one of my goals. The time and space required of such an amazing degree is formidable though. But, it’s something I still feel called to. They say when you don’t pursue a dream you’ve always had, it gets louder and louder! No matter what, I can't wait to take part in the future of dermatology and aesthetics!

 

@cassandrabankson Get ready with me to explore the American Academy of Dermatology for the first time in years ##grwm##skincareroutine##makeup##kbeauty##aad2025##orlando##aad##dermatology##skincare##storytume##getreadywithme ♬ original sound - Cassandra Bankson