Murad Alam MD

Dermatology•Chicago, IL

Cosmetic Dermatology, Dermatologic Surgery

Professor, Dermatology, Northwestern University Medical School

Join to View Full Profile

680 N Lake Shore DrSte 1000Chicago, IL 60611
Phone+1 312-695-6647
Fax+1 312-695-0529

Education & Training

New York Presbyterian Hospital (Cornell Campus)Residency, Dermatology, 1997 - 2000
University of MichiganInternship, Internal Medicine, 1996 - 1997
Yale School of MedicineClass of 1996

Certifications & Licensure

FL State Medical License 2020 - 2026
IL State Medical License 2002 - 2026
NY State Medical License 1998 - 2025
TX State Medical License 2001 - 2008
MI State Medical License 1996 - 1997
American Board of Dermatology Dermatology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Chicago Magazine: Top Doctors Castle Connolly, 2012
Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2011
America's Top Doctors for Cancer Castle Connolly, 2007
Super Doctor SuperDoctors.com
Fellow (FAAD) American Academy of Dermatology
Fellow (FASDS) American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
Join now to see all

Clinical Trials

Effects of Topical Vitamin K, Vitamin K and Retinol, and Arnica on Post-Laser Bruising Start of enrollment: 2006 Jul 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Effect of the Subconscious on Mohs Micrographic Surgery Start of enrollment: 2007 Dec 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Study of Acid Peel and Laser for the Treatment of Melasma Start of enrollment: 2007 May 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Non-prescription Versus Prescription Topical Treatments Versus no Treatment in the Control of Sweating Start of enrollment: 2007 Jun 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Study of Light Treatment and Laser Treatment for Melasma Start of enrollment: 2007 Apr 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Treatment of Acne Scarring With a Novel Procedure Combination Start of enrollment: 2007 Jun 01
Completed
Not Applicable
An Evaluation of an Injectable Material for Correction of Wrinkles Start of enrollment: 2007 Jul 01
Withdrawn
Phase 3
Quality of Life in Patients With Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Start of enrollment: 2006 Jun 01
Completed
The Effect Of Light On Scar Appearance Start of enrollment: 2005 Nov 01
Terminated
Not Applicable
A Photodynamic Therapy for Treatment of Actinic Keratoses Start of enrollment: 2007 Aug 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Photo-therapy With a Topical Retinoid Versus Photo-therapy Alone for Actinic Keratoses Start of enrollment: 2016 Mar 01
Withdrawn
Not Applicable
A Novel Treatment for Metastatic Melanoma Start of enrollment: 2008 Apr 01
Terminated
Phase 1
Comparison of Electrodessication, Potassium Titanyl Phosphate (KTP) Laser and Pulsed Dye Laser for Treatment of Cherry Angiomata Start of enrollment: 2006 Sep 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Serum Concentration of Lidocaine After Local Injection During Mohs Micrographic Surgery Start of enrollment: 2007 Sep 01
Completed
Effect of Externally Implantable Tissue Expansion Device on Scar Length Start of enrollment: 2008 Apr 01
Withdrawn
Not Applicable
Comparison of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D Level in Caucasian Women Receiving Vitamin D Supplementation and Not Receiving Supplementation: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Start of enrollment: 2009 Apr 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Basal Cell Carcinoma Recurrence After Mohs Surgery Start of enrollment: 2008 May 01
Completed
Quantitative Evaluation of Skin Shrinkage Caused by a Non-invasive Tightening Device Start of enrollment: 2009 Apr 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Study of the Carbon Dioxide Treatment for Fat Reduction
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
NA
A Pilot Study Testing the Efficacy of a Needling Device for the Treatment of Acne Scars Start of enrollment: 2009 Nov 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Treatment of Forehead/Glabellar Rhytide Complex With Combination Botulinum Toxin A and Hyaluronic Acid Versus Botulinum Toxin A Injection Alone Start of enrollment: 2011 Feb 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Fractional Laser and Ultrasound for Striae Distensae Start of enrollment: 2010 Aug 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Cryolipolysis and Subcision for Treatment of Cellulite Start of enrollment: 2010 Oct 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Tolerability Study of the Application of a 3M Microstructure Transdermal System Start of enrollment: 2010 May 01
Completed
Phase 1
Botox and Suction-Curettage for Treatment of Excessive Underarm Sweating (Axillary Hyperhidrosis) Start of enrollment: 2010 Dec 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Treatment of Keratosis Pilaris With 810 nm Diode Laser Start of enrollment: 2011 Mar 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Comparing the Pain Experience Between Patients Who Have and Who Have Not Undergone Dermatologic Procedures Start of enrollment: 2011 Feb 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Closure Techniques and Scar Appearance Start of enrollment: 2016 Jul 01
Withdrawn
Not Applicable
Effect of Platelet Rich Plasma on Photoaged Skin Start of enrollment: 2011 May 01
Active, not recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2
Fractional Laser Vs. Ultrasound for Periorbital Wrinkles
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
EARLY_PHASE1
Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) vs. Microsecond 1064-nm Nd:YAG Laser for Treatment of Diffuse Facial Redness Start of enrollment: 2012 Jan 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Patient Satisfaction in Cutaneous Surgery
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Identifying Skin Biopsy Sites Start of enrollment: 2012 Jul 01
Completed
Skin Elasticity Measurements of the Face and Surgical Scars Stratified by Age and Skin Type
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Treatment of Forehead/Glabellar Rhytide Complex with Botulinum Toxin a Injection
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE4
The Effect of Facial Exercise on the Appearance of Aging Start of enrollment: 2012 Sep 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Effect of Subcision and Suction on Acne Scars
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
NA
Collagen Injections for the Treatment of Acne Scars and Wrinkles Start of enrollment: 2013 Apr 01
Terminated
Phase 1
Reducing and Removing Hyaluronic Acid Filler with Hyaluronidase
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
EARLY_PHASE1
Study of Skin and Muscle Parameters Using a Skin Sensor Start of enrollment: 2013 Jun 04
Completed
Not Applicable
Combination of Ultrasound Treatment and Neck Liposuction for Skin Tightening Start of enrollment: 2016 Mar 01
Withdrawn
Not Applicable
Ingenol Mebutate Compared to Cryotherapy for the Treatment of Skin Lesions Start of enrollment: 2012 Oct 01
Withdrawn
Early Phase 1
A Pilot Study Testing a Noninvasive Cryolipolysis Device Versus a High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Device for Fat Reduction
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE1
A Pilot Study Testing Fractional Radiofrequency Versus Fractional Photothermolysis for the Treatment of Acne Scars
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE2
A Pilot Study Testing 1064nm Q-switch Laser Versus Glycolic Acid Peels for the Treatment of Melasma Start of enrollment: 2013 Oct 01
Completed
Not Applicable
A Pilot Study Testing Salicylic Acid Peels Versus Glycolic Acid Peels for the Treatment of Melasma
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
NA
A Pilot Study of Needle Size and Pain Perception With Botulinum Toxin A Injections Start of enrollment: 2013 Nov 01
Completed
Not Applicable
A Pilot Study Testing Onabotulinum Toxin a Versus Incobotulinum Toxin a Injections for Facial Wrinkles
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
EARLY_PHASE1
Treatment of Facial Flushing with Botulinum Toxin a Injections
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE4
Effect of Multiple Subcisions on Rolling Acne Scars
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
NA
Patient Comfort During Dermatologic Procedures Start of enrollment: 2017 Jan 24
Completed
Not Applicable
Pain Perception: Lidocaine Rate/Temp/Buffer Start of enrollment: 2016 Jun 01
Active, not recruiting
Not Applicable
The Effect of Platelet-rich Plasma in Subjects With Androgenetic Alopecia Start of enrollment: 2019 Jun 01
Withdrawn
Phase 2
PDL and Fractional Photothermolysis for Postsurgical Scars Start of enrollment: 2017 Mar 01
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
NA
Photodynamic Therapy Incubation Times for Actinic Keratosis Start of enrollment: 2017 Mar 01
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
NA
Fraxel Laser for Alopecia Start of enrollment: 2019 Apr 24
Withdrawn
Not Applicable
Cryolipolysis Versus ATX-101 (Deoxycholic Acid) for Upper Back Fat Start of enrollment: 2017 Nov 27
TERMINATED
NA
Botox for Gummy Smile Start of enrollment: 2019 Apr 24
Withdrawn
Not Applicable
Diagnostic Ultrasound for Measuring Fat of the Body Start of enrollment: 2019 Mar 20
Completed
Not Applicable
Platelet-rich Plasma for Eyebrows Start of enrollment: 2019 Sep 25
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE2
Compression and CO2 Laser for Leg Wounds Start of enrollment: 2020 Feb 17
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
NA
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride for Pain Control in Cutaneous Surgery Start of enrollment: 2024 Jan 24
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
PHASE1
Essential Oils for Electrocautery Start of enrollment: 2020 Dec 22
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
NA
PDT vs Peels for Treatment of Actinic Keratoses
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
PHASE2
Treatment of Sebaceous Hyperplasia With PDL and Nd:YAG Versus Erbium:YAG: A Randomized Controlled Trial
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
PHASE2
Reconstruction Flaps for Nasal Surgical Wounds RCT
WITHDRAWN
NA
Join now to see all

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Bacteremia, Infective Endocarditis, and Prosthetic Joint Infection After Dermatologic Surgery: Findings From a Global, Retrospective Cohort Study.
Kyle C Lauck, Areeba Ahmed, Stanislav N Tolkachjov, Murad Alam
Dermatologic Surgery. 2025-06-11
Consensus Statement on the Prevention and Management of Complications of Fully Ablative Laser Resurfacing of the Face.
Bianca Y Kang, Joel L Cohen, Roy Geronemus, Suzanne L Kilmer, Edward Victor Ross
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2025-06-11
Barriers to clinical cosmetic and laser dermatology research in the academic setting by source of funding: a systematic review.
Bianca Y Kang, Saranya P Wyles, Yakir Levin, Rawaa Almukhtar, Stephanie R Jackson Cullison
Archives of Dermatological Research. 2025-05-31

Journal Articles

Rates of Vascular Occlusion Associated with Using Needles vs Cannulas for Filler Injection
Murad Alam, Rohit Kakar, Jeffrey S Dover, Derek H Jones, JAMA Dermatology
What Is Mohs Surgery?
Jeremy R Etzkorn, Murad Alam, JAMA Dermatology
Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection for Rejuvenation of Photoaged Facial Skin
Amanda Champlain, Dennis Whiting, Murad Alam, Kapila Paghdal, JAMA

Lectures

Botulinum Toxin Applications: Past, Present, and Future
American Academy of Dermatology - Annual Meeting 2019 - Washington, D.C. - 3/2/2019

Press Mentions

FDA Panel Backs Cryoablation in Early Breast Cancer as Alternative to SurgeryNovember 8th, 2024
Physicians Say Faulty Oxygen Devices Put Lives in PerilNovember 3rd, 2022
Pulse Oximeters Need to Work Better for Dark-Skinned Patients, FDA Panel SaysNovember 2nd, 2022
Join now to see all