Dr. Lycia Thornburg Embraces Healthy Outdoor Fun in the Sun
Lycia Thornburg grew up knowing she wanted to be a doctor. There was something about science and helping people that drew her in. “I didn’t know exactly what kind of doctor I wanted to be back then, but I knew I wanted to be one.”
A battle with eczema as a young girl sparked an early appreciation for the power of medicine—and a lasting impression of the dermatologist who helped her feel confident in her own skin. That early experience stuck with her, quietly shaping her path through college and medical school.
“In med school, dermatology just made sense,” Lycia said. “It combined everything I loved: medicine, psychology, even artistry. I realized I could not only help people live healthier lives but also help them feel more confident in their skin. That’s still the heart of what drives me today.”
Now as a dermatologist herself, Lycia is passionate about helping others take care of their skin – especially while enjoying the outdoors. “Our skin tells a story. It reflects our health, our stress and our environment,” she said. “I am passionate about teaching people how to care for it in a way that aligns with both their inner and outer well-being.”
Originally from Wisconsin, Lycia has called Rapid City home since 2003, when she began practicing dermatology and quickly fell in love with the area. “The Black Hills really felt like home the first time I visited. I loved the sense of community, the beauty of the outdoors and the slower pace that lets you actually breathe a little,” she said. “As a mom, it also felt like the kind of place where I could raise my kids and build something meaningful.”
And that’s exactly what she’s done—building both a thriving career and a fulfilling life, while sharing her passion and expertise far beyond South Dakota.
Lycia’s work in dermatology extends far beyond the exam room. She’s the author of Chasing Beauty: The Art, Science, and Business of Aesthetics, a book that explores the ethics of aesthetic medicine—an area she believes must balance science, art, and integrity. Most recently, she was one of just 22 professionals nationwide selected for the elite Master’s of Botox program, where she trained under some of the leading experts in the field. “It goes far beyond technique; it’s about deep anatomy, patient safety and learning how to deliver results that feel natural and personal,” Lycia said. “That experience will allow me to bring advanced techniques and connectivity to the Black Hills and beyond.”
Among her proudest accomplishments is Made for Shade, a nonprofit she founded in 2006 with the help of colleagues from the Rapid City Medical Center Skin Institute and Riddle’s Jewelry. The organization funds shade structures to protect kids from harmful sun exposure while encouraging active, outdoor lifestyles.
“We focus on educating children about sun safety and building shade structures in public places. Prevention starts young,” she said. “I want people to hike, bike, garden – but I also want them to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen, reapply it and know how to check their skin,” Lycia said. “It’s possible to love the outdoors and protect your future at the same time. Sun-safe doesn’t mean boring – it means being smart.”
With an active family that loves to be outdoors, Lycia follows a consistent routine balancing fun and safety – sunscreen on all exposed skin, wide-brim hats and reapplying every two hours. “If the UV index is especially high, we adjust – we’ll find a shaded spot or choose a different activity that’s more sun-safe. It’s about being intentional, not rigid.”
It’s a routine she encourages other individuals and families to adopt.
And just as she’s helped her own family build healthy habits, she’s seen the field evolve toward a more health-centered personalized kind of care.
“We’ve gone from treating only disease to embracing a more holistic, preventive and personalized approach. Science has also caught up. We have data-driven skincare, non-invasive lasers and regenerative medicine. It’s an exciting time to be in this field.”
Whether it’s protection against the sun, treating diseases like eczema or psoriasis, or aesthetics, for Lycia it all goes back to the science and helping people – the same curiosity and compassion that first drew her to medicine as a child. She continues to build a legacy of care that reflects not only her expertise, but her heart for her patients, her community and those sun-loving outdoor adventurers.
This story was originally published in the August 2025 issue of Elevate Magazine.
