# Howard Maibach

Howard I Maibach is an American dermatologist, professor of Dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). His major contributions include seminal work in wound management, and extensive work in patient care, dermatophysiology, dermatophamacology, and dermatotoxicology. In 2013, he was awarded the "Master Dermatologist Award" by the American Academy of Dermatology for his outstanding contributions to the practice and teaching of Dermatology.

## Biography

Maibach was born on 18 July 1929, in New York, NY. He graduated from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1955, and completed his internship from William Beaumont Army Hospital, El Paso, TX in 1956. He later completed his Fellowship from Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 1961. He also practiced neuropsychiatry for few months in 1956.

## Professional work

He is a specialist in contact and occupational dermatitis, including the toxicological and pharmacological aspects. . He is also known for his work in neonatal skin, dose response of topical drugs and per-cutaneous penetration. The UCSF Dermatology Department website lists 1,500 medical journal articles by Dr. Maibach published from 1960 to 2025.

## Research ethics

In December 2022, UCSF released the results of a preliminary investigation into his research conducted on prisoners at the California Medical Facility at Vacaville. The report raised ethical concerns over how the research was conducted, especially with regards to getting informed consent from and communicating research risks to participants, and the fact that many of the prisoners were being assessed or treated for psychiatric conditions. The report noted that the experiments did not involve treating medical conditions the patients had, in some cases involved exposing patients to herbicides and insecticides. In his response to the report, Maibach expressed remorse regarding his involvement in the research, stating "[While] the work I did with colleagues at CMF was considered by many to be appropriate by the standards of the day, [in retrospect] those standards were clearly evolving. I obviously would not work under those circumstances today... I have sincere remorse in relationship to these efforts some decades ago." The University of California at San Francisco issued an apology for its role in supporting the research.

## Honors

Maibach was awarded an honorary PhD by Universite de Paris-Sud in 1985 and Université Claude Bernard, Lyon in 2008. In 2013, he was awarded the "Master Dermatologist Award" by the American Academy of Dermatology.

## Books

Cutaneous Biometrics by Howard Maibach (Editor) and Nily Osman (Editor), published 2024.
Textbook of Cosmetic Dermatology (Series in Cosmetic and Laser Therapy) by Robert Baran (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2024.
In Vitro Percutaneous Absorption: Principles, Fundamentals, and Applications by Robert L. Bronaugh and Howard Maibach, published 2023.
Handbook of Systemic Drug Treatment in Dermatology by Sarah H. Wakelin (Editor), Howard Maibach (Editor) and Clive B. Archer (Editor), published 2023.
Handbook of Occupational Dermatoses (Updates in Clinical Dermatology) by Ana M. Gimenez-Arnau (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2023.
Dermal Absorption and Decontamination: A Comprehensive Guide by Aileen M. Feschuk (Editor), Rebecca M. Law (Editor), and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2022.
Cutaneous Drug Hypersensitivity: Clinical Features, Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Management by Andrea J. Bircher (Editor), Howard Maibach (Editor), Knut Brockow (Editor) and Annick Barbaud (Editor), published 2022.
Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology, 5th Edition by Frank Dreher (Editor), Elsa Jungman (Editor), Kazutami Sakamoto (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2022.
Ethnic Skin and Hair and Other Cultural Considerations (Updates in Clinical Dermatology) by Becky S. Li (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2021.
Rosacea (Updates in Clinical Dermatology) by John Havens Cary and Howard Maibach, published 2020.
Nickel and the Skin: Absorption, Immunology, Epidemiology, and Metallurgy (Routledge Revivals) by Jurij J. Hostynek and Howard Maibach, published 2020.
Local Wound Care for Dermatologists (Updates in Clinical Dermatology) by Afsaneh Alavi and Howard Maibach, published 2020.
Pesticide Dermatoses (Routledge Revivals) by Homero A. Penagos (Editor), Howard Maibach (Series Editor), Michael A. O'Malley (Editor) et al, published 2020.
Skin Reactions to Drugs (Dermatology: Clinical & Base Science Book 15) by Kristi Kauppinen (Editor), Matti Hannuksela (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2020.
Microneedling in Clinical Practice by Boris Stoeber (Editor), Raja K. Sivamani (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2020.
Bioengineering of the Skin: Methods and Instrumentation, Volume III (Dermatology: Clinical & Basic Science Book 9) by Enzo Berardesca (Editor), Peter Elsner (Editor), Klaus-Peter Wilhelm (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2020.
Kanerva's Occupational Dermatology, Third Edition by Swen Malte John (Editor), Jeanne Dubs Johansen (Editor), Thomas Rustemeyer (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2020.
Patch Testing and Prick Testing: A Practical Guide (Official Publication of the ICDRG) by Jean-Marie Lachapelle (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2019.
Dermatotoxicology Methods: The Laboratory Worker's Ready Reference by Francis N. Marzulli (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2019.
Skin Decontamination: A Comprehensive Clinical Research Guide by Hanjiang Zhu and Howard Maibach, published 2019.
Gender and Dermatology by Ethel Tur (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2018.
Contact Urticaria Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management (Updates in Clinical Dermatology) by Ana M. Gimenez-Arnau (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2018.
Health Risk Assessment: Dermal and Inhalation Exposure and Absorption of Toxicants (CRC Press Revivals) by Rhoda G.M. Wang, James B. Knaak, and Howard Maibach, published 2017.
Percutaneous Penetration Enhancers: Drug Penetration Into/Through the Skin by Nina Dragicevic (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2017.
Alternatives for Dermal Toxicity Testing by Chantra Eskes (Editor), Erwin van Vliet (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2017.
Dermaanthropology of Ethnic Skin and Hair by Neelam A. Vashi (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2017.
Textbook of Aging Skin, Second Edition, by Miranda A. Farage (Editor), Kenneth W. Miller (Editor), and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2017.
Topical Drug Bioavailability, Bioequivalence, and Penetration, Second Edition, by Vinod P. Sha (Editor), Howard Maibach (Editor), and John Jenner (Editor), published 2015.
Applied Dermatotoxicology: Clinical Aspects by Howard Maibach and Golara Honari, published 2014.
Textbook of Hand Eczema by Ali Alikhan (Editor), Jean-Marie Lachapelle (Editor), and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2014.
Filaggrin: Basic Science, Epidemiology, Clinical Aspects and Management by Jacob B. Thyssen (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2014.
Non Invasive Diagnostic Techniques in Clinical Dermatology by Enzo Berardesca (Editor), Howard Maibach (Editor), and Klaus-Peter Wilhelm (Editor), published 2013.
Dermatotoxicology, Eighth Edition, by Klaus Peter Wilhelm (Editor), Hongbo Zhai (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2012.
Skin Microbiology: Relevance to Clinical Infection by Howard Maibach and Raza Aly, published 2012.
Topical Nail Products and Ungual Drug Delivery by S. Narasimha Murthy (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2012.
A Dermatological View: from Physiology to Therapy by Howard Maibach et al, published 2011.
Evidence Based Dermatology, Second Edition, by Howard Maibach and Farzam Gorouhi, published 2011.
Ethnic Skin and Hair (Dermatology: Clinical and Basic Science, 28) by Enzo Berardesca (Editor), Jean-Luc Leveque (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2006.
Copper and the Skin (Dermatology: Clinical and Basic Science) by Jurij J. Hostynek and Howard Maibach, published 2006.
Wound Healing and Ulcers of the Skin: Diagnosis and Therapy by Avi Shai and Howard Maibach, published 2005.
Irritant Dermatitis by Ai-Lean Chew and Howard Maibach, published 2005.
Bioengineering of the Skin: Water and the Stratum Corneum, Second Edition, by Joachim W. Fluhr (Editor), Peter Elsner (Editor), Enzo Berardesca (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2004.
Protective Gloves for Occupational Use (Dermatology: Clinical and Basic Science) by Jurij J. Hostynek and Howard Maibach, et al, published 2004.
The Epidermis in Wound Healing by David T. Rovee (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2003.
Toxicology of Skin (Target Organ Toxicology Series) by Howard Maibach (Editor), published 2001.
Dermatologic Botany (Dermatology: Clinical and Basic Science) by Javier Avalos (Editor) and Howard Maibach (Editor), published 1999.
Atlas of Infections of the Skin by Raza Aly and Howard Maibach, published 1998.
Pigmentation and Pigmentary Disorders (Dermatology: Clinical and Basic Science) by Norman Levine and Howard Maibach, published 1993.
Pocket Atlas of Dermatology by G.K. Steigleder and Howard Maibach, published 1993.
Dermatology by Milton Orkin, Howard Maibach, and Mark V. Dahl, published 1992.
Topical Corticosteroids by Howard Maibach (Editor) and C. Surber (Editor), published 1991.
Psoriasis (Dermatology Series) by Henry H. Roenigk and Howard Maibach, published 1991.
Clinical Dermatology Illustrated: A Regional Approach, Second Edition, by John R.T. Reeves and Howard Maibach, published 1991.
Color Text of Contact Dermatitis by Howard Maibach, Robert M. Adams, and Walter G. Larsen, published 1991.
Exogenous Dermatoses: Environmental Dermatitis by Torkil Menne and Howard Maibach, published 1990.