Dr. April Armstrong: Pioneering Research and Leadership in Dermatology at UCLA

Dr. April Armstrong stands as a prominent figure in the field of dermatology, recognized for her extensive research, clinical expertise, and leadership roles. As Chief of the Division of Dermatology at UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (DGSOM), she is at the forefront of advancing dermatological care and research. Her contributions span from investigating novel therapies for inflammatory skin diseases to enhancing patient access through technology-enabled healthcare delivery.

Academic and Professional Background

Dr. Armstrong's impressive academic journey began at Harvard Medical School, where she earned her medical degree. She continued her postgraduate training at the Harvard Dermatology Residency Program, solidifying her expertise in the field. Recognizing the importance of public health, she also obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard School of Public Health.

Before joining UCLA, Dr. Armstrong held several significant positions at other leading institutions. These included serving as Associate Dean of Clinical Research at the Keck School of Medicine at USC, Director of Clinical Research for the Southern California Clinical and Translational Research Institute (SC CTSI), and Vice Chair, Director of Clinical Trials and Outcomes Research, and Director of the Psoriasis Program in the Department of Dermatology at USC. She also served as the Vice Chair, Director of Clinical Research, and Director of Psoriasis Program at dermatology departments at the University of California Davis and later at the University of Colorado. These roles demonstrate her commitment to advancing clinical research and patient care in dermatology.

Research Focus and Contributions

Dr. Armstrong's research is particularly focused on several key areas within dermatology. These include:

Appropriate Use of Systemic Agents: Investigating the optimal utilization of systemic medications in treating dermatological conditions.
Comparative Effectiveness Research: Comparing the effectiveness of different treatments to determine the most beneficial approaches for patients.
Technology-Enabled Healthcare Delivery: Exploring how technology can improve the delivery of dermatological care, particularly for those with limited access.
Comorbidities Associated with Inflammatory Skin Diseases: Examining the relationships between skin conditions and other health issues, such as cardiovascular and mental health disorders.

Her work has significantly contributed to understanding how new therapies impact patients' disease states, their quality of life, and their access to medical care. She is also examining how technology-enabled healthcare delivery can be applied to manage patients with chronic dermatological diseases. She has conducted multiple studies using large databases examining the relationship between skin diseases and comorbidities, especially in the area of psoriasis. For example, she found that psoriasis patients have more difficult-to-control hypertension compared to non-psoriatic, hypertensive patients.

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Dr. Armstrong is a federally funded investigator with extensive clinical trial experience, having led or collaborated on over 120 studies. She has authored over 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has been an editor for the top pharmacology textbook Principles of Pharmacology. Her work has been supported by the NIH, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Dermatology Foundation, and the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Leadership and Professional Society Involvement

Dr. Armstrong has held multiple leadership positions at professional societies, demonstrating her commitment to advancing the field of dermatology. She has served as a Medical Board member of the National Psoriasis Foundation, Councilor to the International Psoriasis Council, and Steering Committee Member for the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis. Dr. Armstrong is Chair for Teledermatology SIG at the American Telemedicine Association. She has also served on multiple task forces and committees at the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Armstrong also has also served on the editorial boards of JAMA Dermatology, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, and Telemedicine and eHealth.

April Armstrong Research Team at UCLA

Dr. Armstrong leads a dedicated research team at UCLA focused on advancing the understanding and treatment of chronic inflammatory skin diseases. The team's mission is to improve patient outcomes through evidence-based research, with a focus on conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa.

Key Research Areas

The research team focuses on the following key areas:

Evaluating Novel Therapies: Assessing new systemic and topical treatments for inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and chronic urticaria.
Advocating for Dermatologists: Addressing issues within the Medicare physician service payment system to ensure physicians can provide patient access to care.
Developing Health Outcome Measures: Creating and validating health outcome measures useful for clinical trials and practice.
Investigating Comorbid Conditions: Studying comorbid conditions associated with inflammatory skin diseases, including cardiovascular, mental health, and rheumatologic comorbidities.
Examining Treatment Patterns and Disease Burden: Using advanced epidemiological methods to examine treatment patterns and disease burden.
Increasing Access to Therapies: Facilitating access to therapies for underserved patients and helping them achieve treatment goals.

Research Methods

The team employs a range of advanced clinical research methods, including dermatoepidemiology, health outcomes evaluation, and measurement science. Clinical trials are a central pillar of their research, and they integrate real-world data with prospective studies to quantify disease burden, treatment effectiveness, safety, and value. The team's research is regularly featured in high-impact scientific journals.

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Clinical Trials

The team conducts leading-edge clinical trials of the latest topical and systemic therapies for skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, chronic spontaneous urticaria, and other immune-mediated conditions. These studies evaluate novel mechanisms of action, optimize dosing and sequencing, and generate high-quality evidence to guide everyday dermatologic care.

Advocacy

Professor Armstrong also leads health policy advocacy to protect dermatologists’ ability to deliver timely, high-quality care. Her efforts focus on improvements within the Medicare physician payment system and on policies that safeguard patient access to dermatologic services.

Mentorship and Education

Dr. Armstrong is a passionate educator who has mentored numerous medical students, residents, and postdoctoral research fellows. She finds great fulfillment in working with talented students, young doctors, and research staff, and believes that she learns from them just as much as they learn from her. She is inspired by their courage, grit, and compassion, and is optimistic about the future of dermatology.

Insights from Recent Conferences and Meetings

Dr. Armstrong actively participates in and presents at major dermatology conferences and meetings. Her insights from these events provide valuable updates on the latest advancements in the field.

Winter Clinical Miami

At Winter Clinical Miami 2026, Dr. Armstrong spotlighted new pediatric topicals and JAK safety insights, plus targeted options for head-and-neck atopic dermatitis. She delivered a case-based update on the latest advancements in atopic dermatitis (AD), highlighting rapid therapeutic advances across age groups.

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Expanding Options in Early Childhood

Dr. Armstrong discussed the evolution of AD management in children aged 2 to 5 years, emphasizing the expansion of nonsteroidal topical options. Key agents approved for this younger age group include roflumilast cream 0.05% and topical ruxolitinib cream. She also highlighted tapinarof 1% cream as another nonsteroidal option for mild-to-moderate disease.

Systemic Therapy and JAK Inhibitor Safety

For moderate to severe AD, biologics and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors represent important systemic options. Dr. Armstrong reviewed baseline evaluation and monitoring requirements, emphasizing herpes zoster vaccination prior to initiating JAK inhibitor therapy. She also presented extended follow-up data on upadacitinib and abrocitinib, which have not demonstrated increased rates of major adverse cardiovascular events, venous thromboembolism, or malignancy compared with background AD populations.

Targeted Treatment for Head and Neck Dermatitis

Dr. Armstrong highlighted the importance of differential diagnosis in facial dermatitis, referencing work by Peter Lio, MD, and colleagues. Clinicians should consider alternative etiologies, including contact dermatitis and other inflammatory conditions, before attributing findings solely to AD or biologic-associated facial dermatitis.

Dermsquared and the Dermatology Online Journal

Dr. Armstrong was appointed as Editor-in-Chief of the Dermatology Online Journal (DOJ) in October 2025. In this role, she guides the journal's strategic direction while upholding its longstanding commitment to editorial excellence and scientific rigor. She aims to advance evidence-based dermatology and bring innovative research and practical clinical insights to clinicians and researchers alike. Founded in 1995, the Dermatology Online Journal is among the longest-running open-access publications in dermatology. Under Dr. Armstrong’s leadership, DOJ continues to publish timely, evidence-based content that supports clinical decision-making and advances the specialty worldwide.

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