Meet Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

Dr. Irwin’s Professional Career

Dr. Irwin has been a guest medical expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the Weekend Today Show.

She is the author of The Surgery-Free Makeover (Da Capo 2008) and Your Best Face: Looking Your Best Without Plastic Surgery (Hay House, 2002), and has been quoted or cited in the national press from the Associated Press and Allure to Self magazine. Seattle Magazine has three times named her one of Seattle’s best dermatologists based on a poll of 2,500-area doctors.

Dr. Irwin is one of the few nationally known dermatologists who does not represent or derive income from pharmaceutical, skincare, cosmetic, or device companies.   She has no financial ties to them, and gives unbiased information and opinions.

After founding Madison Skin & Laser Center in Seattle in 1999, she is regarded as an expert dermatologist nationally, particularly in the realm of lasers, radiofrequency, and injectibles such as Sculptra, Botox, Restylane, and Juvederm, etc. She has worked continuously with lasers and laser technology since its introduction to dermatology in the mid 1990s.

Dr. Irwin holds board certification in both internal medicine and dermatology, and is a member of the International Society of Laser Surgeons, the American Academy of Dermatology, and many other professional associations.

She graduated with honors (AOA) from the University of Washington Medical School, and did residencies in both internal medicine and dermatology there as well. She received one of the few National Dermatology Foundation Research Fellowship Awards, and has been a clinical faculty member at the University of Washington. In her free time she enjoys hiking, open water swimming, cycling, travelling, cooking, and time with her family and friends.

Dr. Irwin’s Personal Story

Many people have asked me how I got interested in skin in the first place.  I grew up in a small, rainy, lumber town in southwest Washington State – a lot like the town in the Twighlight books and movies (Forks, Washington).  Ok, it was a little bigger than that but not much!

Like most teenagers, I would fry my skin in summer when we had sun, and had the usual acne problems.  Later on, I was too busy studying to spend much time outside in the sun.  In medical school, I thought at first that cardiology and neurosurgery were the most interesting, but then did a dermatology elective and realized that the skin is an amazingly complex and versatile organ.  And even more, you can see it…which means you can tell more easily what is happening when you are treating it.

Since that time, it has only gotten more interesting because not only do we know more about skin diseases and skin health, but the technology to improve skin has exploded.  It makes for an ever-changing skin landscape which is always interesting to me.  I hope you enjoy SkinTour! ~Dr. Irwin

Dr. Irwin’s Curriculum Vitae

Board Certification

  • Dermatology, 1991 (recertified 2011)
  • Internal Medicine, 1987

Honors and Awards

  • Dermatology Foundation Leaders Society, 2002-Present
  • Appearance on Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss aging skin
  • Appearance on Weekend Today show to discussing aging skin
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
  • National Dermatology Foundation Research Fellowship Award, 2990
  • Seattle Magazine, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 top dermatologist in the Puget Sound area.

Laser Education

  • 2005-present Numerous conferences, teaching and preceptorships
  • 2000-2005 ASDS Meetings, AAD Meetings, International Conference on Aging Skin (Paris), Individual Preceptorships
  • 2000 Preceptorship EpiTouch Alexandrite Laser Workship (Los Gattos, CA)
  • 1999 Multi-Light Inservice (Seattle, WA)
  • 1999 Multi-Light Preceptorship (Los Gattos, CA)
  • 1996 UCSF Course: Techniques for facial rejuvenation
  • 1995 Coherent CO2 UltraPulse Training Course (Seattle)
  • 1995 Scripp’s Institute/La Jolla Two Day Preceptor Course with Dr. Richard Fitzpatrick
  • 1993 Stanford Laser Course
  • 1993-Present Use of YAG, Candela, Multi-Light, Alexandrite, Epi-Touch, Erbium and CO2 Ultra Pulse lasers, Elos and Thermage Radiofrequency

Publications

  • The Surgery Free Makeover: All You Need to Know for Great Skin and a Younger Face. DaCapo 2008.
  • Your Best Face: Looking Your Best Without Plastic Surgery. Hay House 2002.

Faculty Positions

  • 1991-2004 Clinical Instructor, Division of Dermatology. Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
  • 1990-1991 Professor (full-time), Division of Dermatology. Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Education

  • 1980-1984 University of Washington, Seattle, WA.  M.D.

Professional Organization

  • American Society of Dermatologist Surgery
  • American Academy of Dermatology
  • International Society for Cosmetic Laser Surgery
  • American Society for Laser Medicine
  • Seattle Dermatologist Society
  • King County Medical Society
  • Washington State Dermatologic Society

State of Licensure

  • Washington: MD-0023014