The Scientific Legacy of Stephen Rothman
TLDR Stephen Rothman made important discoveries in dermatology, including the use of PABA in sunscreens, but never profited from his work.
In 2014, the scientific community celebrated the 120th anniversary of Stephen Rothman's birth and the 60th anniversary of his influential work in dermatology. Rothman, born in 1894, made significant contributions to the field, including research on the epidermis, epidermal lipids, melanogenesis, and the effects of ultraviolet radiation on skin. He demonstrated the photoprotective properties of PABA in sunscreens in 1947, studied the antimicrobial properties of skin surface lipids, and found systemic cortisone effective in treating alopecia areata. Despite his groundbreaking work, Rothman never profited from his discoveries, such as PABA sunscreens and undecylenic acid antifungal agents. His legacy is honored by The Society for Investigative Dermatology through The Stephen Rothman Medal and his philosophy on basic research continues to influence the field.
