Considerations for Molecular Testing in Dermatology Practice: Virginia Sybert, MD

Virginia Sybert, MD, clinical professor of medical genetics at the University of Washington, discussed what dermatologists should know about molecular testing in clinical practice. She discussed the importance of collaboration between dermatologists and geneticists at the Society of Pediatric Dermatology 2025 annual meeting.

Transcript

How should dermatologists approach molecular testing in clinical practice?

My charge was to talk about the use of molecular testing, or DNA testing, in a dermatology clinic. And what people should take away is that, number 1, you want to make sure that you're doing testing that's necessary. Number 2, that you're doing the right kind of testing, and number 3, that you know how to interpret those results. And I think that all of those things are difficult and that it is appropriate to engage help. So I really encourage the interaction of geneticists and dermatologists to deal with all of these things; that's the takeaway.

What gaps exist in treatment availability for dermatologic conditions?

I think that there are gaps in treatment for everything in medicine, and we really have the insurance companies to blame—single payer, please. We have difficulty with getting medications and getting treatment paid for; we have difficulty getting access to treatment and finding a pharmacy in your area. I mean, there isn't any aspect of medical care that's not being hampered by economic forces.