Dr. Kathleen Viola, MD

Media Releases

Get to know Dermatologist Dr. Kathleen Viola, who serves patients in Sparks, Maryland.

Dr. Viola is a board-certified dermatologist who practices both medical and cosmetic dermatology in patients of all ages at Dermatology Partners in Sparks, Maryland. She has a special interest in the treatment of skin cancers, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and alopecia.

With a patient-centric dermatological approach, Dr. Viola focuses on the unique needs of each individual, and her translational medicine and clinical trials background allows her access to the most up-to-date treatments in her field. Committed to research, she feels fortunate to be able to translate these innovations into appropriate and optimal care for her patients.

A native New Yorker, Dr. Viola graduated with her medical degree from the Howard University College of Medicine in 2006. She then completed both her residency in dermatology and her fellowship in dermatopharmacology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she served as chief resident in her final year. She also received a Master of Health Science Research degree from the Yale School of Medicine while in the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars program.

Board-certified in dermatology, Dr. Viola is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology (ABD). The ABD is a voluntary, non-profit, private autonomous organization formed for the primary purpose of protecting the public interest by establishing and maintaining high standards of training, education, and qualifications of physicians rendering care in dermatology.

In addition to being a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, she is a member of the Women’s Dermatologic Society, the National Psoriasis Foundation, the National Eczema Association, the American Contact Dermatitis Society, and the Women in Dermatology Advisory Board.

When Dr. Viola became pregnant and started searching for a safe and effective swap to her current anti-aging routine, she had difficulty finding multi-tasking skincare with pregnancy safe ingredients that also offered anti-aging benefits. So, she decided to create her own with the help of a board-certified OB/GYN and reproductive health toxicologist.

With that, Lady Polpo was born, sustainable anti-aging skincare formulated with pregnancy safe ingredients.

Named after the world’s best mother, the octopus (or polpo in Italian) guards her eggs for 4 years- as long as it took Dr. Viola to create the Sister Serum and the longest egg-brooding period of any animal. The Lady Polpo woman is synonymous with the octopus: a fiercely protective mama with her hands full.

Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin, which is the largest organ of the body. It is a specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist who manages skin diseases and addresses both internal and external causes, including cosmetic concerns, involving the skin. Dermatological duties include providing consultations and screening tests, as well as undertaking cutaneous surgical procedures.

Successful in her field, Dr. Viola has published research in several academic journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Archives of Dermatology, the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, and the British Journal of Dermatology.

When not practicing medicine, Dr. Viola enjoys traveling and cooking with her husband and young son.

Recommended Articles

• What to Expect After a Biopsy

  Biopsies may vary differently depending on the type and location of the tissues and how hard are they to obtain. The medical term used to describe such method is “invasiveness.” A less invasive procedure will, for example, take place in a doctor’s office the same day an abnormal tissue is...

• What Are the Effective Home Remedies for Rosacea?

  What is Rosacea?It is a chronic skin condition that typically affects the face. It causes redness, swelling, and a pimple-like appearance on your cheeks, nose, and forehead. Anyone can develop rosacea, but it is more commonly seen among females between the ages of 30 and 50 years old. Although...

• Ringworm in Dogs: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

  What is Ringworm? Ringworm is a fungal skin disease. The fungi live on the skin surface and skin follicle. They feed on dead skin tissue and hair. The most predominant fungus that can cause ringworm is Microsporum canis, which can affect the superficial layer of hair, nails, and skin. Medically,...

• All About Skin Abrasions

  What is an abrasion?An abrasion is an open wound caused by the skin coming into contact with a rough surface, rubbing away the upper epidermal layer of the skin. The parts of the body that are more prone to abrasions are thin-skinned bony areas, such as the elbows, knees, ankles, shins, and upper...

• How to Take Care of Dry Skin

  There are a number of different factors that affect someone's skin, whether it be the person's overall health, their genes, their age, or even the cold temperature outside. But, having it can be a little embarrassing. While hydrating and replenishing the lost moisture are vital steps in keeping the...

• Don't Be a Flake: Tips for Dry Skin

  What is dry skin?Dry skin is one of the most common skin problems, and can cause discomfort and embarrassment. Dry skin may look red and flaky and feel tight or painful. It can also cause intense itching, which can disrupt sleep. Often, dry skin is a symptom of some underlying medical issue that...