While chemotherapy has been used as part of cancer treatment for several decades now, the dermatologic subfield of oncodermatology is relatively new. In the early 2000s, cancer specialists began to use newer forms of treatment, including targeted blockers and immunotherapies. According to Dr. Awan, “These newer targeted therapies started causing unique, predictable, and treatable skin side effects.” In response to these new common adverse effects on the skin, dermatologists and oncologists found themselves working together more and more often with the same goal in mind – preserving skin health to optimize patient care outcomes.In the mid-2000s, major academic institutions across the US began forming specialized oncodermatology clinics. The purpose of these clinics is to find effective treatments to restore skin health, so patients can continue their cancer therapy. As oncodermatology continues to grow and evolve, it remains essential to keep patients on their oncology treatments if at all possible. According to Dr. Awan, “In this way, oncodermatology can have a tremendous impact on prolonging lives and on these patients’ quality of lives.