Royal Belgian Society of Dermatology and Venereology's podcast

Today we explore a topic that is both clinically essential and often underrepresented in European dermatology training: the dermatology of African hair and skin. As our patient populations grow increasingly diverse, understanding the unique structural characteristics of tightly coiled hair, the dermatologic implications of specific cultural grooming practices, and the nuances of diagnosing and treating conditions like traction alopecia or seborrheic dermatitis in patients of African descent has never been more relevant.
To guide us through this conversation, I am delighted to welcome Professor Ncoza Dlova, Head of Dermatology and Full Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. A globally recognized authority on ethnic skin, hair disorders, and medical education, Prof. Dlova has authored over 135 scientific papers and sits on some of the most prestigious international dermatology boards in the world — including as the first fully elected African representative in the 89-year history of the International League of Dermatology Societies.
In this episode, we cover everything from hair biology and grooming practices to clinical pitfalls, patient communication, and practical recommendations for the European dermatologist.

Aujourd'hui, nous abordons un sujet au cœur de la pratique dermatologique quotidienne : les kératoses actiniques. Ces lésions induites par l'exposition chronique au soleil sont parmi les plus fréquentes que nous rencontrons en consultation — et pourtant, elles soulèvent encore de nombreuses questions : quand traiter, comment traiter, et surtout, comment identifier celles qui risquent d'évoluer vers un carcinome spinocellulaire ?
Pour en parler, j'ai le plaisir de recevoir le docteur Evelyne Harkemanne, dermatologue aux Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc à Bruxelles. Diplômée de l'UCLouvain et agréée en dermatologie-vénéréologie depuis 2021, elle s'est forgé une expertise pointue dans le diagnostic non invasif des tumeurs cutanées, notamment par la dermoscopie et la microscopie confocale. En 2023, elle a soutenu un doctorat consacré au dépistage précoce du mélanome, et elle mène actuellement un post-doctorat sur le développement d'une technique innovante de résonance para-magnétique électronique.
Au fil de notre conversation, nous parcourrons ensemble les critères diagnostiques, les stratégies thérapeutiques — lésionnelles ou de champ —, la place de la PDT, la gestion des patients complexes, et les perspectives d'avenir pour cette pathologie si commune.
Bonne écoute !

In this episode we explore a topic that sits at the crossroads of two worlds: dermatology and sport.
Our guest is Dr. Amandine Bouillenne, a fourth-year dermatology resident at the University Hospital of Liège. She has published on topics ranging from surgical margins in melanoma re-excision to dermatological zoonoses, and her clinical interests span the full breadth of general dermatology — with a particular focus on how skin health connects to our environment and lifestyle.
What makes Dr. Bouillenne a uniquely fitting voice on today's subject is that she doesn't just treat athletes — she is one. Running, cycling, swimming, triathlon, scuba diving, kitesurfing: sport has been part of her life since childhood, and that lived experience deeply informs her medical perspective.
In this episode, we dive into the dermatology of the active patient. Which skin conditions are most common in athletes? Which ones are sport-specific? How well do athletes protect themselves from the sun — and do they really follow the advice we give them? And does knowing your patient is an athlete actually change how you treat them?
A conversation full of practical insights, whether you're a clinician, an athlete, or both.

In this episode, Dr. Niels Horst offers a systematic review of the dermatological conditions most frequently encountered in returning travellers. Drawing on clinical experience, he examines the diagnostic clues, differential considerations and management principles that underpin sound decision-making in travel dermatology.
The discussion is structured around five domains. The first addresses photo-induced dermatoses, including sunburn, polymorphic light eruption, and the clinical distinction between phototoxic and photoallergic reactions, alongside miliaria. The second considers aquatic exposures, covering seabather's eruption, swimmer's itch, hot tub folliculitis and the management of coral injuries with their attendant risk of marine infection, including Vibrio species. The third focuses on arthropod-related conditions, with particular attention to cutaneous larva migrans, tungiasis, bedbug bites, and the threshold for empirical treatment of erythema migrans. The fourth examines tropical and infectious presentations, including pityriasis versicolor, impetigo and secondary bacterial infection, myiasis, and the cutaneous manifestations of arboviral disease such as dengue and Zika. The final section addresses contact and allergic reactions, encompassing jellyfish envenomation, phytodermatoses, photocontact allergy to cosmetics and sunscreens, and the clinically significant sensitisation associated with paraphenylenediamine in black henna tattoos.
Each topic is approached with an emphasis on history-taking, recognition of pathognomonic features, and the avoidance of common diagnostic and therapeutic pitfalls. The episode concludes with three guiding principles for the assessment of any patient presenting with a dermatosis following international travel.
Essential listening for dermatologists seeking to refine their approach to travel-associated skin disease.

In this episode, we explore one of the most intriguing crossroads in modern medicine: the unexpected territory where metabolic therapy meets the skin.
GLP-1 receptor agonists have transformed the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity — but dermatologists are now noticing that these medications may be doing far more than regulating blood sugar and body weight. From inflammatory skin diseases to wound healing, from aesthetic procedures to obesity-related skin conditions, the implications for dermatology are only beginning to unfold.
To make sense of it all, I'm joined by dermatologist Dr. Samira Baharlou. Together, we discuss:
What the current evidence says about GLP agonists beyond diabetes and obesity, and how the incretin pathway influences inflammation and immunity
Their potential role in psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and atopic dermatitis
The skin-related side effects Belgian dermatologists are already encountering in daily practice
What we know about wound healing, tissue regeneration, and the risks before and after dermatologic surgery
How to approach patients on GLP agonists who want laser treatments, fillers, or aesthetic procedures
Which dermatology patients may benefit most — including those with acanthosis nigricans, lymphedema, or post-bariatric skin issues
And finally, where the field is heading, with dual and triple agonists already in the research pipeline
A grounded, thoughtful conversation about a rapidly evolving topic — relevant for clinicians, researchers, and anyone curious about how a class of metabolic drugs is starting to reshape dermatology.
Enjoy the episode.