Aguh is an associate professor of dermatology and the director of the Ethnic Skin Program at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Crystal Aguh, MD, FAAD

Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color

Skin of Color Savvy: Diversity in Dermatology Within the Modern Landscape, with Crystal Aguh, MD, and John Harris, MD, PhD

, Crystal Aguh, MD, associate professor of dermatology and director of the Ethnic Skin Program at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and John Harris, MD, the founding Director of the Vitiligo Clinic and Research Center, founding director of the Autoimmune Therapeutics Institute and professor and chair of the Department of Dermatology at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, together explored the importance of mentorship, visibility, and leadership among dermatologists and dermatology trainees of different backgrounds.

Hosted by Skin of Color Society (SOCS) leaders, this podcast episode continues to delve into the latest research, clinical insights, and culturally intelligent and responsive care practices in the field of dermatology. Together, Aguh and Harris spoke on a variety of subjects in this area.

Aguh and Harris discussed the importance of diversity in clinical trials and research, emphasizing the need for diverse principal investigators and teams. Harris highlighted his experiences moderating a panel on incorporating diversity into clinical research, noting the challenges and benefits. They discussed the impact of federal regulations on National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants and the necessity of addressing questions about the importance of diversity.

Harris pointed out the challenges of addressing conversations regarding diversity among clinicians and in clinical research within the present political climate, highlighting that some have questioned whether to bring up the conversation at all. Both expressed optimism about the growth and impact of SOCS in advancing research and treatment for patients of color.

As the episode closed, the conversation reinforced the power of mentorship, the importance of role models, and the responsibility of current leaders to cultivate a more equitable future in dermatology. For both those in medical school and those who are current health care providers, the episode offers a compelling look at how connection, advocacy, and shared purpose can drive lasting change within the specialty.

To learn more about SOCS’s mentorship programs and initiatives, visit 

Editor's note: This interview was summarized with the aid of artificial intelligence.

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This episode of the SOCS podcast features an in-depth discussion between Crystal Aguh, MD, and John Harris, MD, PhD.

2025 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting

 suggest improved glycemic control could help patients with 

central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA)

A retrospective cohort study led by a team from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, results of the study demonstrate those maintaining an HbA1c level less than 5.7% were 5 times more likely to experience improvement in scalp fibrosis as their counterparts with an HBA1c in the diabetes or prediabetes range.

“I think as dermatologists, we are used to our specialty overlapping with other specialties such as rheumatology, infectious disease, but I think one specialty we need to take a closer look at is endocrinology,” explained lead investigator Crystal Aguh, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and the director of the Ethnic Skin Program at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, in an interview with HCPLive. “A lot of our skin diseases actually are impacted by insulin resistance and diabetes, and I'm hopeful that moving forward, this will be a bigger emphasis within our field.”

A retrospective cohort study of patients treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital between June 2022 and June 2024, the analysis aimed to better illustrate the relationship between elevated HbA1c levels and clinical symptoms of CCCA. During this time period, 81 patients received care and were deemed eligible for inclusion in the current study.

Participants were evaluated for scalp pruritus, pain, inflammation, and fibrosis. Elevated HbA1C was defined as 5.7% or greater, which is the recognized American Diabetes Association threshold for prediabetes. For the purpose of analysis, scalp fibrosis was assessed based on resistance during intralesional steroid treatment, ranging from none to significant resistance, occasionally causing needle bending or dulling.

In multivariable-adjusted analyses, controlling for age, diabetes medication, and BMI, results indicated elevated HbA1c was significantly associated with scalp fibrosis (Odds Ratio, 5.67; 95% CI, 1.40 to 22.95; 

 = .02), with no significant associations found for pruritus, pain, or inflammation.

To learn more about this study and the growing evidence base surrounding associations between glycemic control and dermatological conditions, check out our interview with Aguh during the Skin of Color Society’s Scientific Symposium.

Glycemic Control Influences Outcomes in Central Cicatricial Alopecia, with Crystal Aguh, MD

Relevant disclosures for Aguh include Eli Lilly and Company, Myovant Sciences, and Pfizer.

 Elevated Hemoglobin A1C Levels Associated with Increased Scalp Resistance in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

. Presented at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology (ADA) Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL. March 07-11, 2025.

Crystal Aguh, MD, discusses a study from AAD 2025 examining HbA1c levels and outcomes in CCCA. 

Key Questions About the Skin of Color Society’s Efforts This Year, with Crystal Aguh, MD

During the 21st Annual Skin of Color Society (SOCS) Scientific Symposium in Orlando, Florida, a wide variety of notable experts in the field of dermatology have been in attendance. One of these experts is Crystal Aguh, MD, known for her work as associate professor of dermatology and the director of the Ethnic Skin Program at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

 editorial team on-site at the SOCS Symposium during the week of the 

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting

 in Orlando, with questions being asked to Aguh about SOCS’s goals this year and her role as co-chair of their scientific committee.

“Shortly after the last meeting, the new president appoints committee co-chairs, and so I was asked to co-chair the scientific committee, along with Dr. Cesar Virgen, and our first goal was really to establish a theme for the symposium…” Aguh explained. “For this year, our theme was innovating for equity, and we wanted to talk about the importance of research innovation and how it can close some of those gaps that we see in disease outcomes and treatment opportunities.”

Aguh further highlighted the present political landscape and its impact on the efforts of SOCS.

“We really want to emphasize all of the gains that all patients, all physicians, and all practitioners can see when we improve health equity, when we improve representation in clinical trials, and when we start to tackle diseases that have been historically understudied or underfunded,” Aguh said. “So even though we started planning in a different political landscape, I feel like the theme that we have seems even more important and takes this added importance in our current setting.”

Aguh was later asked about the unique opportunities or challenges that come with planning a meeting such as the SOCS Scientific Symposium.

“Some of the challenges that can come really pertain to the fact that a lot of our panelists are really sought after,” Aguh said. “They play very important roles within our specialty. I cannot tell you how honored I am to see that so many of the people that we requested to be here chose to come to our meeting, as opposed to other places that we could be. Dr. Simal Desai, who's the president of the AAD, really made a point to carve out time in his schedule to be at the Skin of Color Society meeting to deliver remarks.”

Lastly, Aguh was asked about the role SOCS plays in advocating for better representation and inclusion in clinical trials and research.

“Well, the Skin of Color Society is the largest organization in the world dedicated to understanding and treating diseases that disproportionately impact patients with skin of color, and because this represents a majority of the patients that we see, not just nationally, but worldwide,” Aguh explained. “It means that a lot of the work that members within the Skin of Color Society do impacts a substantial proportion of our patients. So I think that the Skin of Color Society has already served as really kind of a great example of this representation that we want to see within our specialty, and I think they'll continue to do that moving forward.”

To find out more from Aguh about these topics, view the full interview posted above this summary. For more on AAD 2025 and interviews such as these, view our 

The quotes used in this interview summary were edited for clarity.

Aguh has previously reported personal fees from Pfizer, Lilly, Myovant Sciences, and a grant from Janssen.

In this interview, Aguh answers several key questions about the efforts of the Skin of Color Society and improving diversity in clinical research.

Crystal Aguh, MD, FAAD

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