Pearl E. Grimes, MD, FAAD is a globally recognized dermatologic expert and a leading international authority on vitiligo and pigmentation disorders. As Director of the Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California, she treats patients from all over the world who seek her expertise and extraordinary patient care.
In her role as the director of the Grimes Institute for Medical and Aesthetic Dermatology, Dr. Grimes expertly treats a wide range of dermatologic health and aesthetic concerns in patients of all ethnicities and skin types. From treating everyday cosmetic concerns to treating and managing complex medical conditions, Dr. Grimes’ brings her scientific background and extensive medical training to skillfully perform dermatologic procedures and manage treatments, always with patient safety at the forefront.
She is a dedicated clinician, researcher, and speaker, lecturing globally on pigmentation disorders, cosmetic procedures such as chemical peeling, fillers, and microdermabrasion. She also serves as a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Dr. Grimes is also Chief Dermatologist for Versicolor Technologies, which has developed the world’s first cosmetic and therapeutic technology platform to address pigmentation and skin aging, by leveraging small molecule compounds produced naturally in the human microbiome.
Dr. Grimes is an accomplished author, having written over 100 professional articles, abstracts and two textbooks.
Recently, Dr. Grimes published a seminal hypothesis paper on low Vitamin D levels and COVID-19 infections in people of color in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (July 2020, with Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH and Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc). She has been a longtime champion of Vitamin D supplementation in patients of color, well before the COVID-19 pandemic underscored its vital importance in supporting immune health. In light of the dire COVID-19 outcomes in people of African and Latin descent, Dr. Grimes says her fervent mission to educate patients and the general public regarding the role of Vitamin D is about “our health, our humanity and saving lives.”
Dr. Grimes’ work was recently published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, studying “The Impact of Iron-Oxide Containing Formulations Against Visible Light-Induced Skin Pigmentation in Skin of Color Individuals.” She frequently speaks about the effects of visible or blue light on the skin.
Dr. Grimes is an active, contributing member of the following major societies: American Academy of Dermatology; American Society of Dermatologic Surgery; American Dermatological Association; Dermatology Foundation; Global Vitiligo Foundation (Founding Member); International Peeling Society; International Pigment Cell Society; Skin of Color Society; Society of Investigative Dermatology, and Women’s Dermatologic Society (President, 2017-2018).
She has received numerous awards in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field, including: the 2019 Alan Shalita Memorial Award; the 2017 Lifetime Achievement in Dermatology Award from the American Skin Association, the 2017 Everett C. Fox Memorial Award and Lectureship from the American Academy of Dermatology; the 2017 Goldman Humanitarian Award from the American Academy of Dermatology; 2017 Women’s Dermatologic Society Legacy Award, the 2011 Women’s Dermatologic Society Mentor of the Year Award, the 2011 Dermatology Foundation Practitioner of the Year, as well as longstanding inclusion on lists such as Los Angeles Magazine Super Doctor, Best Doctors of America and the Hollywood Reporter’s Top Hollywood Doctors (voted by her peers).
Dr. Grimes is widely recognized for her passion in providing patients with outstanding medical care. She communicates directly and fully to her patients and emphasizes complete disclosure and honesty, which are essential to the success of her treatments.
In 2006, she founded CARRY (Coalition for At-Risk Restoring Youth), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk and foster care youth through a variety of innovative programs including: pro bono dermatology clinics and other enrichment programs designed to enhance self-esteem, self-worth, self-sufficiency and long-term success. www.foratriskyouth.org
