Dermatologists advised on tactful communication strategies for challenging clinical conversations

Navigating challenging clinical conversations requires respecting the viewpoints and experiences of patients and their families while nudging them toward shared goals and appropriate strategies.

The prevalence of unproven skincare ingredients, social media-driven diagnoses, and overzealous parents can test dermatologists' ability to conduct such conversations in a way that puts everyone on the same side.

Patient counseling is sometimes messy, but treatment success requires that clinicians acknowledge concerns, avoid judgment, and seek common ground.