Jane Yoo MD PLLC

01/19/2026

Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose vision of justice, dignity, and equity continues to shape the work we do. His leadership reminds us that meaningful progress requires intention, service, and a willingness to examine the systems that affect people’s lives and health.

In healthcare, his message remains especially relevant. Equity goes beyond equal treatment and speaks to access, representation, and trust. It means recognizing how social and structural factors influence outcomes and committing to care that listens, understands, and serves diverse communities with respect and compassion.

On this MLK Day, we reflect on how his legacy calls us to continue this work through service, accountability, and action, every day.

01/16/2026

If you’ve ever wondered how closely medspas are actually regulated, new reporting out of New York City offers an important reality check.

A New York City Council Oversight and Investigations Division report released in December 2025 detailed the results of inspections conducted between June and September 2024 at 15 medspas across all five boroughs. Every single location inspected was found to be out of compliance with state laws governing medical procedures.

Key findings from the report included:

- All inspected medspas were offering medical procedures without proper licensure
- 93% failed to properly display required licenses
- 73% operated without a medical professional present
- 86% lacked required safety records
- Over half had sanitation or hygiene violations, along with chemical or fire safety concerns
- Several cases have already resulted in license revocations

Following the release of this report, the American Academy of Dermatology Association and the New York State Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery issued a joint statement urging New York State lawmakers to strengthen medspa oversight. Their recommendations focus on clearer disclosure for consumers, stronger enforcement, and public education so patients understand which procedures non-physician facilities are legally prohibited from performing.

As a board-certified dermatologist, these findings highlight why medical procedures, even when considered “cosmetic,” require proper training, licensure, and on-site physician oversight. Treatments involving injections, lasers, or energy-based devices are safest when performed in a medical setting by or under the direct supervision of a licensed physician.

As medspas continue to grow in popularity, transparency and patient education are critical. Knowing who is performing your treatment, and under what medical supervision, matters.

You can read the full New York City Council December 2025 report here for more detail: https://council.nyc.gov/press/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2025/12/OID_Medical_Spas-REPORT_120125-v847.pdf?source=email

01/14/2026

Looking forward to joining later today for an upcoming HAPPI webinar that takes a closer look at K-Beauty beyond the trends.

Today at 1 PM EST, I’ll be speaking on Beyond the Hype and Trends: The Science Behind K-Beauty Skincare, a conversation focused on what truly defines K-Beauty, how the category has evolved, and where it’s headed next. From a dermatology perspective, we’ll be grounding the discussion in skin health, formulation science, and real-world clinical relevance rather than marketing buzz.

I’m honored to be joined by Michelle Shieh, Derma Science Director at Amorepacific Americas R&I Center, who will bring the formulator and innovation lens to the conversation as we explore how technology and science shape modern K-Beauty skincare.

A special thank you to Christine Esposito, Editor-in-Chief of HAPPI, for moderating this thoughtful discussion. Grateful to for creating space for conversations that bridge clinical insight, formulation science, and where the industry is going next.

If you’re interested in the science behind K-Beauty and its future direction, I hope you’ll join us live!

01/12/2026

AI is increasingly showing up in healthcare, and this month both OpenAI and Anthropic announced new health-focused platforms aimed at supporting how people interact with health information and systems.

has introduced ChatGPT Health, a health-focused experience within ChatGPT that lets users choose to connect medical records and wellness app data for more personalized responses. Through a partnership with b.well Connected Health, access to health data is consent-based and secured with added protections. OpenAI states that health conversations are kept separate from other chats, are not used for model training, and are designed to support health understanding and care preparation, not diagnosis or treatment.

Anthropic has also entered the healthcare space with Claude for Healthcare, which is primarily aimed at health systems, payers, and life sciences organizations. The platform is built to work with protected health information and connects to commonly used medical and scientific resources. Claude for Healthcare is intended to support administrative, operational, and research workflows, such as documentation, billing, and prior authorization, while also allowing individuals to review and summarize their own health information when authorized.

Although both companies are entering the healthcare space, their strategies differ. OpenAI is keeping its consumer health features separate from tools built for hospitals and health systems, while Anthropic is combining consumer and healthcare organization features within a single platform. In both cases, the emphasis remains on user consent, privacy protections, and positioning AI as an assistive tool rather than a substitute for medical judgment.

From a dermatology perspective, it’s clear how quickly AI is becoming part of healthcare, but its limitations matter. I’ve seen patients come in after using AI tools to self-diagnose a rash, reassured it was something benign like granuloma annulare, only for a biopsy to later suggest a diagnosis such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Examples like this highlight why these tools must remain supportive, not definitive, and why real clinical evaluation, examination, and pathology remain essential.

01/09/2026

A notable regulatory shift is underway at the FDA, with new guidance reshaping how wearable health technology and AI-driven software are regulated in the U.S.

This week, the FDA finalized two guidance documents clarifying which wearable wellness features and clinical decision support software fall outside of active medical device oversight. The goal is to reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers for low-risk tools while continuing to regulate technologies used for diagnosis, treatment, or time-critical medical decisions.

Key takeaways from the new guidance include:
- Wearable devices that track metrics like heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose may be considered general wellness features when intended for non-medical use and supported by validated data
- Blood pressure can now qualify as a wellness metric when not used for diagnosis or treatment decisions
- Certain AI-based clinical decision support tools may be exempt if clinicians can independently review the basis of the recommendation
- Software used for critical, time-sensitive care, direct image analysis, or diagnostic prediction remains under FDA oversight

This clarification is especially important as AI and wearable technologies continue to evolve rapidly. By distinguishing early awareness and wellness insights from medical diagnosis, the FDA aims to support innovation while preserving patient safety.

As a dermatologist practicing in a field that is increasingly integrating AI and digital health technologies, I see this as a meaningful step toward smarter regulation that reflects real-world use. Clearer boundaries help clinicians, developers, and patients better understand what technology can and cannot replace in medicine.

Read more about the new guidance here: https://www.medtechdive.com/news/fda-exempts-wearable-ai-features-guidance/809099/

In a pair of guidance documents released Tuesday, the regulator clarified the types of wellness features and clinical decision support tools that don’t fall under medical device oversight.

01/07/2026

Sharing that the Physician’s Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (PCDEI) has launched a 5-week email micro-series designed to support dermatology clinicians in delivering more confident, effective care for patients with skin of color. Each short weekly newsletter provides practical, clinic-ready pearls on topics such as pigmentation, aesthetic procedures, eczema, aging, and SPF counseling, along with brief pre- and post-assessments to help measure impact.

This series was developed by leading dermatologists on the PCDEI, and I am proud to be part of this effort to advance knowledge, confidence, and equity in patient care.

Sign up or share with a colleague: https://s.alchemer.com/s3/0581980ae869

01/06/2026

CES 2026 is officially underway in Las Vegas, bringing together global leaders in tech, AI, and beauty to showcase how next-generation devices and digital tools will shape the way we live and care for our skin in the years ahead.

One notable innovation this year comes from Amorepacific, which unveiled Skinsight, a CES Innovation Award Honoree in the Beauty Tech category. Skinsight is a next-generation “electronic skin” platform developed with researchers from my alma mater, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, designed to analyze real-time skin aging signals using a wearable sensor patch. By measuring multiple factors influenced by environment and lifestyle, the system uses AI to deliver personalized skin insights and care recommendations.

I’m truly excited to see beauty tech move beyond visualization toward real-time skin monitoring, longevity science, and truly personalized care. CES continues to highlight how dermatology, data, and design are increasingly intersecting.

12/31/2025

Happy New Year’s Eve! Wishing everyone a joyful and healthy start to the year ahead. Whether you’re welcoming the new year with fireworks, loved ones, or a quiet moment of reflection, I hope 2026 begins on a bright note and brings many moments worth celebrating.

#2026

12/30/2025

Had a wonderful Christmas holiday at with my family. My niece and nephew were fully in their element meeting Disney characters and soaking up the magic, while I appreciated the extra steps and non-stop walking. Every moment together felt special and grounding, especially during such a busy time of year.

Wishing a joyful holiday season to everyone, whether you are celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or simply the close of the year! Seeing the Rockefeller Center tree last night is the perfect reminder of how much light this season brings.

12/24/2025

Can AI replace dermatology? Recently, a patient came in after using an AI chatbot to ask about two lesions on his chest. He uploaded photos and asked whether the spots looked similar and if they were likely benign.

The AI did what it was designed to do. It compared the lesions by size, color, shape, and texture, offered possible benign explanations like skin tags or neurofibromas, and even walked him through the ABCDEs of melanoma. Importantly, it repeatedly emphasized that a visual analysis is not a diagnosis and strongly advised him to seek in-person medical evaluation.

In this case, the lesions were in fact benign.

As AI tools continue to evolve, they can support education, pattern recognition, and patient curiosity, often encouraging people to seek care sooner. But they also underscore the limits of image-based analysis and the importance of clinical context, history, and hands-on expertise. AI can inform, but it does not replace seeing a dermatologist.

12/23/2025

Earlier this month, I attended Sounds of the Season with the New York Philharmonic at the Lincoln Center, a festive matinee that brought together music, storytelling, and the feeling of winter settling in.

Led by conductor Naomi Woo, the program blended beloved seasonal music, including Sleigh Ride, selections from The Nutcracker, and other winter favorites, with moments of warmth and reflection. Concertmaster Frank Huang brought depth and precision to the performance, while narration by Wendell Pierce added a thoughtful, human layer to the afternoon.

It was a reminder of how sound, like the seasons themselves, can anchor memory, create comfort, and invite us to slow down during a busy time of year.

12/18/2025

Last Thursday, I stopped by the Dr. Groot () Korean Night Mart Pop-Up in Flatiron.

This two-day pop-up brought a taste of Seoul to NYC with complimentary scalp health analysis, playful moments like gachapon games with exclusive Dr. Groot prizes, and authentic Korean snacks, all while celebrating hair and scalp health from a Korean brand beloved for its science-forward approach!

Always fun to see how Korean beauty brands translate education, culture, and science into thoughtful in-person experiences.