Secaucus, N.J. – September 18, 2026 -- Avène, the sensitive-skin brand owned by Laboratoires Pierre Fabre, is running its third annual Dermfluencer University, a training program that teaches board-certified dermatologists how to create science-backed skincare content for social media and AI-powered search.
Dermatologists learn to compete with viral trends
The program is hosted at the Science of Skin Summit, an educational event founded by Dr. Patricia Farris and Dr. Ted Lain focused on dermatology research and innovation. It gives dermatologists tools and training to produce engaging online content aimed at consumers who now search for skin advice on social platforms and AI tools before booking a doctor's appointment.
"Consumers are now turning to AI and social platforms with the same questions they once reserved for their dermatologist," said Romina Laraia, VP of Consumer, Patient and Professional Activation at Pierre Fabre. She said Avène created the program to ensure answers are rooted in clinical expertise rather than misinformation or viral trends.
This year's cohort reaches a combined 6.5 million followers
Participants include Dr. Jenny Liu, Dr. Maren Locke, Dr. Kunal Malik, Dr. Neera Nathan, Dr. Dustin Portela and Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky, alongside content creators Mimi Banks, Ian Michael Crumm, Leslie Ann Hall, Britt Fallon and Vivian Sullivan of Google. Organizers say attendance this year is expected to be the strongest since the program launched.
Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky said skincare advice regularly goes viral without clinical basis, and the program equips dermatologists to post accurate, engaging content in the same social feeds. Dr. Jenny Liu said patients often make skincare decisions from short-form videos before ever seeing a dermatologist, underscoring the need for more clinically trained voices online.
Avène ties the effort to online, in-office and retail strategy
Pierre Fabre said Avène is expanding dermatologist and healthcare-provider partnerships across three pillars: online, in-office and at retail, aiming to bring science-backed education and its sensitive-skin products closer to consumers wherever they search for answers.