Most of us have left a doctor's appointment with the thing we actually needed to say still stuck in our throat. Dr. Anna Chacon — board-certified dermatologist, psoriasis patient, and one of the few dermatologists working in rural New Mexico and Alaska — has spent her career thinking about exactly that problem. In this episode, she and Holly talk about how to prepare for an appointment, how to actually say the hard thing once you're in the room, and what it looks like when doctors genuinely try to meet patients where they are — and when they don't.

Plus: the story of a 1977 FDA policy that excluded women of childbearing potential from early-stage clinical trials, and the sixteen years it took to change the law. Holly traces the downstream effects — wrong dosing, missed symptoms, psoriasis presentations on darker skin that looked nothing like the textbook — and talks to Dr. Ana about what it means to be a dermatologist trying to fix, from the inside, a system with a very long institutional memory.

Most of us have left a doctor's appointment with the thing we actually needed to say still stuck in our throat. Dr. Anna Chacon &mdash; board-certified dermatologist, psoriasis patient, and one of the few dermatologists working in rural New Mexico and Alaska &mdash; has spent her career thinking about exactly that problem. In this episode, she and Holly talk about how to prepare for an appointment, how to actually say the hard thing once you're in the room, and what it looks like when doctors genuinely try to meet patients where they are &mdash; and when they don't.
Plus: the story of a 1977 FDA policy that excluded women of childbearing potential from early-stage clinical trials, and the sixteen years it took to change the law. Holly traces the downstream effects &mdash; wrong dosing, missed symptoms, psoriasis presentations on darker skin that looked nothing like the textbook &mdash; and talks to Dr. Ana about what it means to be a dermatologist trying to fix, from the inside, a system with a very long institutional memory.

Hosted by Holly Frey of Stuff You Missed in History Class, Season 3 of Our Skin: A Personal Discovery Podcast expands the conversation to spotlight the real, unfiltered stories of people living with psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and other conditions that show up on the skin—and what it means to navigate life in a body that others (and you!) don’t always understand.

Each episode, we pull up a seat for people who’ve been there: through the appointments, the flare-ups, the questions, and the quiet moments in between. These are honest, practical conversations about what actually helps: how to advocate for yourself, how to leave a doctor’s office feeling heard and taken seriously, and how to navigate the hard parts without having to figure it all out on your own. Because here, you’re not learning the hard way; you’re learning from people who already have.

Next, we zoom out to explore the wild, weird, and sometimes complicated history of skincare and treatment—from ancient remedies to modern breakthroughs that are still evolving.

Because when we share our stories with people who understand them we create something bigger than awareness. We create community. A place where you’re not the only one in the room… and you never have to feel that way again.

Hosted by Holly Frey of Stuff You Missed in History Class, Season 3 of Our Skin: A Personal Discovery Podcast expands the conversation to spotlight the real, unfiltered stories of people living with psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and other conditions that show up on the skin&mdash;and what it means to navigate life in a body that others (and you!) don&rsquo;t always understand.
Each episode, we pull up a seat for people who&rsquo;ve been there: through the appointments, the flare-ups, the questions, and the quiet moments in between. These are honest, practical conversations about what actually helps: how to advocate for yourself, how to leave a doctor&rsquo;s office feeling heard and taken seriously, and how to navigate the hard parts without having to figure it all out on your own. Because here, you&rsquo;re not learning the hard way; you&rsquo;re learning from people who already have.
Next, we zoom out to explore the wild, weird, and sometimes complicated history of skincare and treatment&mdash;from ancient remedies to modern breakthroughs that are still evolving.
Because when we share our stories with people who understand them we create something bigger than awareness. We create community. A place where you&rsquo;re not the only one in the room&hellip; and you never have to feel that way again.

Our Skin: A Personal Discovery Podcast

Ask A Doctor: Dermatologist Dr. Anna Chacon on Maximizing Your Appointments and the Research Gap

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1a793f9f-0d48-43df-942c-b4900015a063/transcript