Dermalogues with Dr. Kerri Purdy

Pregnancy brings major hormonal and immune changes—and the skin often reflects it. In this final episode of season 7 of Dermalogues, Kerri sits down with Dr. Perla Lansang to break down common and high-yield dermatologic conditions in pregnancy, from physiologic changes to PEP (PUPPP) and pemphigoid gestationis.
They discuss how to recognize key patterns, when to biopsy, and how to treat safely—including the role of systemic therapies. The episode also emphasizes a critical takeaway: don’t undertreat pregnant patients—healthy moms are essential for healthy pregnancies.
Dr. Perla Lansang is a staff dermatologist and Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, based at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She has held leadership roles including Division Director and Director of Undergraduate Education, and is cross-appointed in pediatric dermatology at the Hospital for Sick Children as well as Obstetric Medicine at Sunnybrook. Her clinical interests include pregnancy-related dermatoses and complex medical dermatology.
In this episode:Normal vs pathologic skin changes in pregnancy
Atopic eruption, acne, and psoriasis in pregnancy
PEP vs pemphigoid gestationis: key differences
Safe treatment strategies and medication pitfalls 
Additional Reading:
Development and multicenter international validation of a diagnostic tool to differentiate between pemphigoid gestationis and polymorphic eruption of pregnancy in the JAAD.
For more on the work of the CDA, please visit dermatology.ca 
And for more great CDA Podcasts, check out JCMS Author Interviews, hosted by Dr Kirk Barber. 
Dermalogues is produced David McGuffin of ExploreProductions.ca with Graham McGuffin.
Our theme music is by Lee Rosevere

Dr. Jérôme Coulombe is a dermatologist with fellowship training in pediatric dermatology. He is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Université de Montréal Faculty of Medicine and practices at CHU Sainte-Justine in Montreal.

Dr. Melinda Gooderham is Medical Director at the Skin Centre for Dermatology in Peterborough, Ontario, a Consultant Physician at Peterborough Regional Health Centre, and Assistant Professor at Queen’s University. She is also Deputy Editor of JCMS Case Reports and one of Canada’s leading clinical trial investigators in dermatology.

Dr. Melinda Gooderham is Medical Director at the Skin Centre for Dermatology in Peterborough, Ontario, a Consultant Physician at Peterborough Regional Health Centre, and Assistant Professor at Queen’s University. She is also Deputy Editor of JCMS Case Reports and one of Canada’s leading clinical trial investigators in dermatology.

A must-listen for dermatology residents and anyone curious about the surgical side of the specialty.