Kurt A. Ashack, MD, Board Certified, Dermatology

Dear Patient,
Our skin is the largest and one of the most important organs in the body. It often demonstrates some “wear and tear” as a result of environmental exposures, and can also tell us if something is wrong inside of the body. It is my goal to help you understand these signs and help you maintain healthy skin, hair, and nails. In your visit with me, I will provide compassionate care using the most current dermatological treatments. I will also help you understand how to keep your skin healthy while answering all of your questions and concerns.

My professional interests include connective tissue diseases (i.e. cutaneous lupus, dermatomyositis), blistering diseases, psoriasis, skin of color, pediatric dermatology, procedural dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, and laser dermatology.

I am a native of Grand Rapids. I graduated in the top 10 of my class from East Kentwood High School. I completed my undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. I obtained a masters degree in Biomedical Sciences at Grand Valley State University and then went to medical school at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in Grand Rapids. I completed an internship at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, and my residency training in dermatology at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

I married my medical school sweetheart, Laura, whom I met at a Whitecaps baseball game! I enjoy spending time with my wife and our new Shichon puppy, Guinness. My other personal interests include traveling within and outside of the US, attempting to cook, running marathons and half-marathons, water sports, golf, watching the Detroit Tigers, and Indiana Hoosier Basketball.

I look forward to participating in your dermatological care.

  • BA, Hope College

    MHS, Grand Valley State University

    MD, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

    Internship: St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis

    Dermatology: University of Illinois at Chicago

  • Pediatric Dermatology

    Procedural Dermatology

    Cosmetic Dermatology

    Blistering diseases

    Connective tissue diseases

    Skin of color

  • American Medical Association

    American Academy of Dermatology

    American Society for Dermatologic Surgery

    American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery

    National Psoriasis Foundation

  • Assistant Professor: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

    Resident of the year nominee – University of Illinois at Chicago

    Winner of the 2019  June K. Robinson CDS poster competition, Chicago Dermatological Society

    2nd place – 2019 RWDR National Article Competition

    West Michigan Spartans Steve Wolf Memorial Scholarship

    Alpha Omega Alpha

  • St Claire K, Bunney R, Ashack KA, Bain M, Braniecki M, Tsoukas MM. Langerhans cell histiocytosis: A great imitator.Clin Dermatol. 2020;38(2):223-234. PMID: 32513402

    Ashack KA, Kuritza V, Visconti MJ, Ashack L. Dermatologic Sequelae Associated with Radiation Therapy. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 32410134

    Patel RA, Patel PD, Ashack K, Borrelli MR, Trickey A, Wan DC. Compounding Benefits of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Perineal Melanoma: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Analysis. Ann Plast Surg. 2020;84(5S Suppl 4):S257-S263. PMID: 32282396

    Ring NG, Craiglow BG, Panse G, Antaya RJ, Ashack K, Ashack R, Faith EF, Paller AS, McNiff JM, Choate KA, Ko CJ. Histopathologic findings characteristic of CARD14-associated papulosquamous eruption. J Cutan Pathol. 2019;47(5):425-430. PMID: 31849081

    Dunnick CA, Lehrer M, Flaten H, Laughter MR, Mirhossani R, Schultz A, Bennett P, Ashack K, Dellavalle RP, Pearson DR. Derm Tacile Learning Tool: Development and student evaluation of an interactive 3-dimensional skin lesion model for medical student education. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 31704218

    Ben Lagha I, Ashack KA, Khachemoune A. Hailey-Hailey Disease: An Update Review with a Focus on Treatment Data. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2020;21(1):49-68. PMID: 31595434

    Puyana C, Ashack KA. Excimer Laser for Oral Lichen Planus. The Dermatologist. 2019; 27(10):46-48.

    Ashack KA. Dermatologic Manifestations in the Oral Mucosa. The Dermatologist. 2019; 27(7):44-46.

    Barber C, Ashack KA, Boulter J, Ashack RJ. Ampicillin Use in Acne. SKIN. 2019; 3(5):316-320.

    Visconti MJ, Ashack KA, Ashack RJ. Granuloma annulare: strengthening potential associates and pentoxifylline as a therapeutic option. J Dermatol Treat. 2019; 10:1-2. PMID: 31046904

    St Claire K, Hoover A, Ashack K, Khachemoune A. Extramammary Paget disease. Dermatol Online J. 2019; 25(4). PMID: 31046904

    Visconti MJ, Ashack KA. Dermatologic manifestations associated with electronic cigarette use. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019; 81(4):1001-1007. PMID: 30965061

    Schlager E, Ashack K, Khachemoune A. Erosion interdigitalis blastomycetica: A review of interdigital candidiasis. Dermatol Online J. 2018; 24(8). PMID: 30677843

    Patel P, Ashack KA, Aronson IK. Postpartum polymorphic eruption of pregnancy: an unusual presentation. Int J Dermatol. 2019; 58(3):357-359. PMID: 29907959

    Craiglow BG, Boyden LM, Hu R, Virtanen M, Su J, Rodriguez G, McCarthy C, Luna P, Larralde M, Humphrey S, Holland KE, Hogeling M, Hidalgo-Matlock B, Ferrari B, Fernandez-Faith E, Drolet B, Cordoro KM, Bowcock AM, Antaya RJ, Ashack K, Ashack RJ, Lifton RP, Milstone LM, Paller AS, Choate KA. CARD14-Associated Papulosquamous Eruption (CAPE): A Spectrum Including Features of Psoriasis and Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018; 79(3):487-494. PMID: 29477734

    Ashack KA, Burton KA, Barber C, St Claire K, Mounessa J, Dunnick CA, Norris DA, Dellavalle RP. Dermatology Training Across the Globe, Part II: A summary of the literature. Br J Dermatol. 2018; 178(6):1460-1461. PMID: 29451700

    Ashack KA, Ashack LL, Schlager E, Ashack RJ. Angiosarcoma following treatment of basal cell carcinoma: a report of two cases. Int J Dermatol. 2018 Apr;57(4):496-498. PMID: 29345300

    Barber C, Claire KS, Ashack KA, Dellavalle RP. Dermatology training across the globe. Br J Dermatol. 2018; 178(5):1207-1208. PMID: 29336008

    Chapman S, Ashack KA, Bell E, Sendelweck MA, Dellavalle R. Risky business: Behaviors associated with indoor tanning in US high school students. Dermatol Online J. 2017 Sep; 23(9): 3. PMID: 29469714

    Schlager E, St Claire C, Ashack KA, Khachemoune A. Black Hairy Tongue: Predisposing Factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017 Feb; 17(3): 563-569. PMID: 28247090

    Burton KA, Ashack KA, Khachemoune A. Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Review of High-Risk and Metastatic Disease. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2016 Oct; 17(5): 491-508. PMID: 27358187

    Ashack KA, Haley LL, Luther CA, Riemer CA, Ashack RJ. Assessing the clinical effectiveness of an algorithmic approach for mucosal lichen planus: a retrospective review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 June; 74(6): 1073-1076.e2 PMID: 27185423

    Ashack KA, Burton KA, Johnson TR, Currie DW, Comstock DR, Dellavalle RP. Skin Infections among US High School Athletes: A National Survey. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Apr; 74(4): 679-684.e1. PMID 26850656.

    Sendelweck MA, Anderson AM, Ashack KA, Pindyck T, Townley C, Dellavalle RP. Indoor Tanning is Associated with Various Substance Use among Colorado High School Students. JAMA Dermatol. 2016 May 1; 152(5): 575-7. PMID 26791966.

    Ashack KA, Burton KA, Dellavalle RP. Conflicts of interest in dermatology: A medical student and mentor perspective. Brit J Dermatol. 2015 Dec; 173(6): 1518-21. PMID: 26708549

    Ashack KA, Jansen RM, Lim HW. Abdominal Pain and Subcutaneous Nodules. JAMA. 2014 (Feb 12); 311(6): 615-616. PMID: 24519301

  • Podium:

    Ashack KA, Barber C, Dellavalle RP. Dermatology Training Across the Globe. 24th World Congress of Dermatology, Milan Italy. June 11, 2019.

    Ashack KA, Wilson C, Roman B, Aronson IK. Anti-SAE1 antibodies and Dermatomyositis: Case series of three patients. June K. Robinson Chicago Dermatological Poster Competition, Chicago, Illinois. June 5, 2019.

    Ashack KA, Burton KA, Johnson TR, Currie DW, Comstock DR, Dellavalle RP. Skin Infections among US High School Athletes: A National Survey. 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, Washington, D.C. March 6, 2016.

    Ashack KA, Haley LL, Peterson C, Riemer C, Ashack RJ. Assessing the clinical effectiveness of an algorithmic approach for mucosal lichen planus: a retrospective review. Summer Academy Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, New York, NY. August 20, 2015.

    Poster:

    Chapman S, Ashack KA, Bell E, Sendelweck MA, Dellavalle RP. Associations between indoor tanning and risky health-related behaviors in the US. 2016 IDEA-KeraCon Conference, Denver, CO. September 28-30, 2016.

    Ashack KA, Ashack RJ. Ustekinumab as a treatment for recalcitrant juvenile pityriasis rubra pilaris associated with a CARD14 mutation. The Sixth Annual Graduate Academic Conference, East Lansing, MI. March 27, 2014.

    Ashack KA, Haley LL, Ashack RJ. Unexpected finding of cutaneous angiosarcoma following treatment of basal cell carcinoma. The Sixth Annual Graduate Academic Conference, East Lansing, MI. March 27, 2014.