2026 Skin Alliance Forum in Paris & Gangnam Station Dermatology JM

At the end of June 2026,

I had the opportunity to attend the

2026 Skin Alliance Forum held in Paris, France,

as Korea's representative.

This forum is a world-class dermatological science conference

and professional education program

hosted by L'Oréal Dermatological Beauty,

the dermatological beauty division

of the global beauty company L'Oréal Group.

Dermatologists, researchers,

and scientists from around the world gathered

to share the latest research and

clinical insights on skin and hair,

so I attended with high expectations.

The biggest thing I felt through this forum

was not simply

encountering

new devices or procedures.

What mattered more

was that my perspective on skin itself

had broadened to another level.

Rather than viewing skin simply as a surface,

it means seeing it as a single organic system

connected to the Microbiome, Cellular Senescence,

Genetic Skin Disease, Lifestyle, and Environment.

And this perspective seemed to be

deeply aligned with the direction pursued by JM Dermatology.

Skin Alliance Forum

The Skin Alliance Forum is a global academic forum

where renowned dermatologists,

healthcare professionals, researchers,

and scientists from around the world gather

to share the latest advances in skin and hair research.

Key topics of the Skin Alliance Forum

Connecting dermatological research with actual clinical practice

Scientific advances in Dermocosmetics

Building a global dermatology network

Presenting future directions in treatment

In particular, the various lectures and discussions

aimed at narrowing the gap between basic research

and clinical practice were impressive.

Gangnam Station Dermatology JM Dermatology has also

always considered both clinical experience and scientific evidence

to be important,

so this forum was a very

meaningful occasion.

What was the biggest insight from this forum? | From treatment to design

The most valuable part of this forum

was not new devices or procedures

themselves.

Rather,

it was the insight into how to understand skin

more fundamentally.

Cosmeceuticals,

How can treatment and skincare be connected?

Beyond simply introducing good ingredients,

I found myself thinking deeply about

how to use Cosmeceuticals in clinical care

based on scientific evidence.

What matters is not the product itself,

but which skin condition, which treatment,

and which timing it should be connected to.

Ultimately, I reaffirmed that skincare and treatment

are not separate areas,

but should be designed organically together.

Microbiome & Cellular Senescence

Skin aging is more complex

One of the lectures that particularly impressed me

was about the Microbiome and Cellular Senescence.

Skin aging is not caused solely by

the passage of time.

Changes in the skin ecosystem,

changes at the cellular level,

and changes in the inflammatory environment

act together in a complex process.

In future anti-aging care,

what will matter is not how strong a procedure is,

but how deeply its mechanisms are understood.

3. A lecture by a Harvard professor

The lecture by the Harvard professor

left a deeper impression on me

through the researcher's way of thinking

than through the latest research findings themselves.

Forming a hypothesis,

testing it,

and connecting it back to clinical practice.

JM Dermatology also always begins with the same questions

when considering patient care.

“Why did this change occur?”

“What is the more fundamental solution?”

I believe good care ultimately

begins with good questions.

Genetic Skin Disease

Another way to understand normal skin

Research into Genetic Skin Disease

was also very interesting.

Research into genetic skin diseases

is not only for specific conditions.

Rather,

it provides important clues for understanding

the homeostasis of normal skin

and the mechanisms of aging.

When we understand what is abnormal,

the structure of what is normal becomes clearer.

This perspective is also very important

in dermatological care.

Is skin treatment carried out only inside a clinic? | La Roche-Posay Water Lab

The La Roche-Posay Water Lab,

which I visited by TGV,

was also impressive.

What I felt most strongly there

was that skin treatment was not viewed simply

as procedures performed inside a clinic.

I was able to experience firsthand the philosophy

of designing the environment that helps restore the skin

as part of treatment itself,

including thermal spring water, the environment,

and lifestyle habits.

Where is future dermatological care heading? | Socio-Therapy

The concept of Socio-Therapy

was also very impressive.

Rather than treating only the skin,

this approach also considers the skin's appendages—

Hair and Nails—along with

Metal Balance and

Nutrient Supplementation.

In other words, it does not treat only a condition,

but also manages the patient's overall biological balance.

It gave me much to think about

the direction dermatological care should take in the future.

There was also a moment at this forum

that deeply moved me.

A lecture by a female dermatologist

from Burundi, Africa

The medical environment was different.

Resources were limited.

But her sincerity toward her patients

and her passion for continuous learning were the same,

and I believe her example deeply moved me as a physician.

The lecture by John McGrath,

who is also a famous journal editor

and professor,

was also excellent.

The small-group workshops

and discussion sessions

were also among

the most memorable parts of the forum.

In a small seminar room,

we freely discussed various topics with dermatologists

from around the world

and shared different experiences and perspectives.

That time was not about learning the right answers,

but about learning better questions.

What I came to consider more important after the forum

While staying in Paris,

I naturally began starting each day early

in the morning.

I went for a light run early,

felt the city's air,

reviewed the lecture content,

and prepared for the day.

On the way to the conference venue,

I happened to see a view of the Eiffel Tower.

It was only a brief moment,

but it was quite impressive.

Being in the middle of a space

where dermatologists from around the world gathered

to consider and discuss the same topics,

and encountering a scene that felt both familiar and unfamiliar,

was more special than I had expected.

I also remember pausing for a moment

at a small market near Paris

while buying and eating fruit.

It was a brief moment of leisure

in a busy schedule,

but those moments actually helped me

organize my thoughts more clearly.

To keep learning,

to keep asking questions,

and to keep reflecting.

Perhaps that itself

is the greatest blessing

of being a physician.

I also suddenly had this thought:

“I came here just to study, but this place feels like heaven.”

Of course, the schedule was demanding,

and every day was packed with activity,

but spending time learning deeply about a field I love

and exchanging ideas with world-class experts

was certainly a special pleasure.

Through this 2026 Skin Alliance Forum,

the standards that JM Dermatology

has come to consider even more important

are clear.

The direction of care pursued by JM

Treatment based on scientific evidence

Design informed by clinical experience

An approach that understands skin fundamentally

Natural and healthy changes

Gangnam Station Dermatology JM Kim Jung-min Dermatology will continue

to provide care based on scientific evidence and clinical experience,

seeking to understand and design care for each patient's skin

in the most fundamental way.

Adding science to beauty.

Adding science to beauty.

This journey in Paris

was a time that once again made

JM Dermatology's philosophy of care

clearer than ever.