Royal Belgian Society of Dermatology and Venereology's podcast

In this episode we explore a topic that sits at the crossroads of two worlds: dermatology and sport.
Our guest is Dr. Amandine Bouillenne, a fourth-year dermatology resident at the University Hospital of Liège. She has published on topics ranging from surgical margins in melanoma re-excision to dermatological zoonoses, and her clinical interests span the full breadth of general dermatology — with a particular focus on how skin health connects to our environment and lifestyle.
What makes Dr. Bouillenne a uniquely fitting voice on today's subject is that she doesn't just treat athletes — she is one. Running, cycling, swimming, triathlon, scuba diving, kitesurfing: sport has been part of her life since childhood, and that lived experience deeply informs her medical perspective.
In this episode, we dive into the dermatology of the active patient. Which skin conditions are most common in athletes? Which ones are sport-specific? How well do athletes protect themselves from the sun — and do they really follow the advice we give them? And does knowing your patient is an athlete actually change how you treat them?
A conversation full of practical insights, whether you're a clinician, an athlete, or both.

In this episode, Dr. Niels Horst offers a systematic review of the dermatological conditions most frequently encountered in returning travellers. Drawing on clinical experience, he examines the diagnostic clues, differential considerations and management principles that underpin sound decision-making in travel dermatology.
The discussion is structured around five domains. The first addresses photo-induced dermatoses, including sunburn, polymorphic light eruption, and the clinical distinction between phototoxic and photoallergic reactions, alongside miliaria. The second considers aquatic exposures, covering seabather's eruption, swimmer's itch, hot tub folliculitis and the management of coral injuries with their attendant risk of marine infection, including Vibrio species. The third focuses on arthropod-related conditions, with particular attention to cutaneous larva migrans, tungiasis, bedbug bites, and the threshold for empirical treatment of erythema migrans. The fourth examines tropical and infectious presentations, including pityriasis versicolor, impetigo and secondary bacterial infection, myiasis, and the cutaneous manifestations of arboviral disease such as dengue and Zika. The final section addresses contact and allergic reactions, encompassing jellyfish envenomation, phytodermatoses, photocontact allergy to cosmetics and sunscreens, and the clinically significant sensitisation associated with paraphenylenediamine in black henna tattoos.
Each topic is approached with an emphasis on history-taking, recognition of pathognomonic features, and the avoidance of common diagnostic and therapeutic pitfalls. The episode concludes with three guiding principles for the assessment of any patient presenting with a dermatosis following international travel.
Essential listening for dermatologists seeking to refine their approach to travel-associated skin disease.

In this episode, we explore one of the most intriguing crossroads in modern medicine: the unexpected territory where metabolic therapy meets the skin.
GLP-1 receptor agonists have transformed the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity — but dermatologists are now noticing that these medications may be doing far more than regulating blood sugar and body weight. From inflammatory skin diseases to wound healing, from aesthetic procedures to obesity-related skin conditions, the implications for dermatology are only beginning to unfold.
To make sense of it all, I'm joined by dermatologist Dr. Samira Baharlou. Together, we discuss:
What the current evidence says about GLP agonists beyond diabetes and obesity, and how the incretin pathway influences inflammation and immunity
Their potential role in psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and atopic dermatitis
The skin-related side effects Belgian dermatologists are already encountering in daily practice
What we know about wound healing, tissue regeneration, and the risks before and after dermatologic surgery
How to approach patients on GLP agonists who want laser treatments, fillers, or aesthetic procedures
Which dermatology patients may benefit most — including those with acanthosis nigricans, lymphedema, or post-bariatric skin issues
And finally, where the field is heading, with dual and triple agonists already in the research pipeline
A grounded, thoughtful conversation about a rapidly evolving topic — relevant for clinicians, researchers, and anyone curious about how a class of metabolic drugs is starting to reshape dermatology.
Enjoy the episode.