Dr. John Koo, MD

Expert Publications

• Early rehabilitation program in postmastectomy patients: a prospective clinical trial.
• Current consensus and update on psoriasis therapy: a perspective from the U.S.
• Malignant gastroduodenal obstructions: treatment by means of a covered expandable metallic stent-initial experience.
• Psychodermatology.
• Investigator-masked comparison of tazarotene gel q.d. plus mometasone furoate cream q.d. vs. mometasone furoate cream b.i.d. in the treatment of plaque psoriasis.
• Clearance can be a realistic expectation of psoriasis treatment.
• Image reconstruction using the wavelet transform for positron emission tomography.
• Combination of calcipotriene (Dovonex) ointment and tazarotene (Tazorac) gel versus clobetasol ointment in the treatment of plaque psoriasis: a pilot study.
• Psychotropic and neurotropic agents in dermatology: unapproved uses, dosages, or indications.
• International Consensus Conference on Atopic Dermatitis II (ICCAD II): clinical update and current treatment strategies.
• Quality of life issues in psoriasis.
• Amiloride inhibits the growth of human colon cancer cells in vitro.
• The use of psychotropic medications in clinical dermatology.
• Improved health-related quality of life following a randomized controlled trial of alefacept treatment in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.
• Non-psychotic uses for anti-psychotics.

Media Releases

Get to know Dermatologist Dr. John Koo, who serves patients in San Francisco, California.

Fluent in both English and Japanese, Dr. Koo is a board-certified dermatologist who serves as a Professor of Dermatology at the UCSF School of Medicine and as Director of the UCSF Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center in San Francisco, California. His research interests include psoriasis therapies, phototherapy, eczema, psychodermatology (the connection between mental stress and skin health), and quality of life issues.

A part of UCSF Health, the UCSF Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center is a comprehensive practice that sees patients with severe psoriasis, especially when phototherapy is needed; eczema, including atopic dermatitis; and other phototherapy-responsive disorders such as vitiligo, chronic itching from known or unknown causes, lichen planus, and mycosis fungoides.

In reference to his academic career, Dr. Koo earned his medical degree from Harvard University. He completed a residency in psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, followed by a residency in dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco. 

A pioneer of psychodermatology, the doctor is board-certified in dermatology by the American Board of Dermatology, which is one of the 24 medical specialty boards that make up the American Board of Medical Specialties. He is also board-certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to promoting high-quality patient care for the public through the initial and continuing certification of psychiatrists and neurologists.

Named “Best Doctor in America” year after year for more than a decade, Dr. Koo has lectured widely on topics relating to dermatology both domestically and internationally, as well as has made more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. Currently, he serves on the editorial board for the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 

Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin. The skin is the largest organ of the body. Dermatology is a specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist doctor who manages skin diseases and deals with both internal and external causes and some cosmetic concerns involving the skin. Dermatological duties include taking consultations, providing screening tests, and undertaking non-invasive surgical procedures.

Recommended Articles

• Everything You Need To Know About Major Depressive Disorder

  Major depressive disorder (MDD) — also referred to as clinical depression — and Dysthymia are two of the most common types of depression. While there are some less common types too, MDD is a condition that is quite common among people today. In fact, according to the National Institute of...

• Do You Have Trypophobia?

  What is trypophobia?Trypophobia is the fear or feeling of disgust when looking at closely packed holes. Individuals who have trypophobia tend to feel very unsettled the moment they look at things with small clusters of holes that are closely held together. Few of examples would be the head of a...

• What Causes ADHD?

  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological/behavioral disorder that affects a person's ability to control one's behavior. The real cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is unknown, although numerous factors are thought to be responsible. GeneticsPeople...

• Learning About the Beck Depression Inventory

  Depression and AnxietyDepression and anxiety are disorders that are different from each other, but people suffering from depression often have symptoms that closely resemble those of anxiety. The disorder, in fact, starts out as anxiety, and if not treated at the right time with the right diagnosis,...

• Xanax: Side Effects, Withdrawal Symptoms, & the Safe Way to Get Off the Drug

  Xanax is a medication used to treat patients suffering from panic disorders, anxiety, and depression due to anxiety. Xanax is a part of the drug family or class benzodiazepines.Effects of this drug usually start within twenty-five minutes of taking it and provide relief for up to a few hours....

• When Do the Symptoms of Autism Begin to Surface?

  Autism is a developmental disorder that affects children as early as infancy. It is usually characterized by delay in or deviation from standard patterns of development, primarily in areas such as social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and interests.A lifelong condition, the exact...