A newsletter that delivers the latest in dermatology research directly to you.
One Hundred and FIFTH issue
MARCH 4th, 2026
Development of a patient decision aid for atopic dermatitis systemic strategies un adults
JAMA Dermatology
JAMA Dermatology
Turning complexity to clarity in atopic dermatitis decision making
Adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) often face a rapidly expanding list of systemic treatment options, including biologics, JAK inhibitors, phototherapy, and traditional immunosuppressants. While shared decision-making and patient decision aids (PDAs) improve patient knowledge and satisfaction in other conditions, no PDA previously existed for adult AD. In this qualitative study conducted from 2020 to 2025 at a single academic center, investigators followed International Patient Decision Aid Standards to develop and iteratively refine a PDA through steering groups, alpha and beta testing, and staged redesign.
What did they find?
Adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) often face a rapidly expanding list of systemic treatment options, including biologics, JAK inhibitors, phototherapy, and traditional immunosuppressants. While shared decision-making and patient decision aids (PDAs) improve patient knowledge and satisfaction in other conditions, no PDA previously existed for adult AD. In this qualitative study conducted from 2020 to 2025 at a single academic center, investigators followed International Patient Decision Aid Standards to develop and iteratively refine a PDA through steering groups, alpha and beta testing, and staged redesign.
What did they find?
- Patients prioritized clear formatting, simplified language, and focused themes such as effectiveness, adverse effects, dosing, route of administration, and cost.
- Clinicians emphasized detailed data, including laboratory monitoring, black box warnings, and efficacy metrics.
- A staged-format PDA organized by medication class allowed patients to first compare broad categories, then access more detailed pages as needed.
- Both patients and clinicians ultimately favored this staged approach as a balanced way to present complex systemic therapy information while supporting shared decision-making.
When atopic dermatitis flares, maternal mental health may too.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) affects up to 20% of children worldwide and is characterized by chronic, relapsing flares that contribute to sleep disruption and significant caregiver burden. Despite this, longitudinal data on its impact on caregiver mental health remain limited. Using data from 12,124 mother-child dyads in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, investigators examined associations between active childhood AD (assessed at 12 ages between 6 months to 18 years) and maternal depressive symptoms measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) (measured at 12 timepoints between pregnancy and 22 years of child age), with mixed-effects regression models adjusting for socio-demographic and -economic factors.
What did they find?
Atopic dermatitis (AD) affects up to 20% of children worldwide and is characterized by chronic, relapsing flares that contribute to sleep disruption and significant caregiver burden. Despite this, longitudinal data on its impact on caregiver mental health remain limited. Using data from 12,124 mother-child dyads in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, investigators examined associations between active childhood AD (assessed at 12 ages between 6 months to 18 years) and maternal depressive symptoms measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) (measured at 12 timepoints between pregnancy and 22 years of child age), with mixed-effects regression models adjusting for socio-demographic and -economic factors.
What did they find?
- Active child AD was associated with an average +0.33-point increase in EPDS score (95% CI, 0.17-0.49) compared with no AD.
- Moderate-to-severe AD was associated with a +0.68-point increase in EPDS score (95% CI, 0.46-0.90) and a 45% increased odds of clinically significant depressive symptoms (aOR 1.45; 95% CI, 1.12-1.87).
- Higher maternal EPDS scores were associated with peak childhood AD severity in a dose-dependent manner: mild AD, aOR 1.27 (95% CI, 1.07-1.50); moderate/severe AD, aOR 1.57 (95% CI, 1.29-1.91).
- In mothers of lower socioeconomic status with children experiencing moderate/severe AD, EPDS scores increased by +0.98 points (95% CI, 0.66-1.30) compared to +0.40 points (95% CI, 0.10-0.70) in the higher socioeconomic group.
3D total body photography reveals phenotypes linked to invasive melanoma risk
British Journal of Dermatology
British Journal of Dermatology
The future of melanoma surveillance, in 3D.
High nevus counts and ultraviolet photodamage are established melanoma risk factors, but traditional assessments often overlook variation across body sites. In this translational study, investigators used three-dimensional total body photography (3D-TBP) with AI clustering to identify cutaneous phenotypes associated with melanoma risk in adults aged >50 years with a history of melanoma.
What did they find?
Main Takeaway: Phenotype mapping suggests distinct nevus-driven and photodamage-driven melanoma pathways. AI-integrated 3D-TBP can identify distinct whole-body phenotypes associated with invasive melanoma risk, highlighting how site-specific patterns of photodamage and nevi may refine risk stratification and guide personalized surveillance.
High nevus counts and ultraviolet photodamage are established melanoma risk factors, but traditional assessments often overlook variation across body sites. In this translational study, investigators used three-dimensional total body photography (3D-TBP) with AI clustering to identify cutaneous phenotypes associated with melanoma risk in adults aged >50 years with a history of melanoma.
What did they find?
- Among 117 high-risk individuals, investigators identified four distinct cutaneous phenotypes: moderate photodamage with few nevi; moderate photodamage with higher nevus burden; severe photodamage with few nevi; severe generalized photodamage with minimal nevi.
- The severe photodamage with few nevi phenotype was associated with a higher likelihood of multiple invasive melanomas (PPR 2.00, 95% CI 1.06-3.77).
- In individuals with moderate photodamage, melanomas were more likely to arise at body sites with higher counts of larger nevi (>5 mm).
- In contrast, within severe photodamage phenotypes, melanoma risk did not vary with nevus count, indicating that cumulative UV damage may be the dominant driver.
- When applied to a control cohort without melanoma (n = 114), only 15.8% matched high-risk phenotypic patterns, supporting specificity of these phenotype signatures.
Main Takeaway: Phenotype mapping suggests distinct nevus-driven and photodamage-driven melanoma pathways. AI-integrated 3D-TBP can identify distinct whole-body phenotypes associated with invasive melanoma risk, highlighting how site-specific patterns of photodamage and nevi may refine risk stratification and guide personalized surveillance.
DM: Don’t Miss.
Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) can closely resemble scar on histopathology, making evaluation of re-excision specimens for residual disease challenging. Although S100 and SOX10 stains are sensitive for DM, they also stain re-excision scars, limiting specificity. This study investigated whether Verhoeff-Van Gieson (EVG) elastin staining could differentiate DM (n=17) from re-excision scars (n=17) by comparing elastin fiber patterns on histopathology.
What did they find?
Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) can closely resemble scar on histopathology, making evaluation of re-excision specimens for residual disease challenging. Although S100 and SOX10 stains are sensitive for DM, they also stain re-excision scars, limiting specificity. This study investigated whether Verhoeff-Van Gieson (EVG) elastin staining could differentiate DM (n=17) from re-excision scars (n=17) by comparing elastin fiber patterns on histopathology.
What did they find?
- Preserved intratumoral elastin fibers were identified in 76% of DM cases (13/17) on EVG stain.
- Two DM cases lacked intratumoral elastin but demonstrated layered elastin deposition at the lesion base on EVG stain.
- No elastin fibers were detected in 100% of re-excision scars (17/17) excised within 3 months of biopsy.
- Two DM cases from elderly patients were entirely elastin-poor, potentially reflective of age-related degenerative changes.
Efficacy and comparative evaluation of psychotherapeutic interventions for body dismorphic disorder
DermSurg
DermSurg
How changing thoughts changes reflections: CBD for BDD
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) affects 1.7-2.9% of the general population and up to 15% of cosmetic surgery seekers, significantly impairing function and increasing suicide risk. This systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) included 16 randomized controlled trials (914 participants) comparing psychotherapies using Body Dysmorphic Disorder–Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (BDD-YBOCS) and Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale (BABS) outcomes.
What did they find?
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) affects 1.7-2.9% of the general population and up to 15% of cosmetic surgery seekers, significantly impairing function and increasing suicide risk. This systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) included 16 randomized controlled trials (914 participants) comparing psychotherapies using Body Dysmorphic Disorder–Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (BDD-YBOCS) and Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale (BABS) outcomes.
What did they find?
- Traditional CBT was most effective, reducing BDD-YBOCS by -9.24 points and ranking highest (77.9% SUCRA).
- Digital CBT was also effective (-5.89 vs WLC; 60.2% SUCRA), supporting scalability.
- Cognitive Therapy (CT) best reduced delusional belief severity (BABS -11.84).
- Supportive and non-CBT-based therapies showed comparatively weak outcomes.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficancy of a nutraceutical supplement with standardized botaincals in males with thinning hair
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
DHT isn’t the whole story.
Male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) affects the majority of men by mid-adulthood and is traditionally managed with minoxidil, finasteride, or procedural therapies. However, emerging data suggest that hair thinning is influenced not only by androgens but also by stress (cortisol), oxidative stress, inflammation, metabolism, and aging-related pathways. Botanicals such as saw palmetto (5-α-reductase modulation), ashwagandha (stress reduction), curcumin (anti-inflammatory), and antioxidant vitamins have mechanistic plausibility in addressing these contributors. Despite widespread supplement use, high-quality randomized controlled data in men remain limited. This 6-month multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated a standardized multi-target nutraceutical in men with Norwood-Hamilton II-IV thinning hair.
What did they find?
Male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) affects the majority of men by mid-adulthood and is traditionally managed with minoxidil, finasteride, or procedural therapies. However, emerging data suggest that hair thinning is influenced not only by androgens but also by stress (cortisol), oxidative stress, inflammation, metabolism, and aging-related pathways. Botanicals such as saw palmetto (5-α-reductase modulation), ashwagandha (stress reduction), curcumin (anti-inflammatory), and antioxidant vitamins have mechanistic plausibility in addressing these contributors. Despite widespread supplement use, high-quality randomized controlled data in men remain limited. This 6-month multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated a standardized multi-target nutraceutical in men with Norwood-Hamilton II-IV thinning hair.
What did they find?
- 79% of participants had improved hair growth at 6 months vs 51% placebo (P < 0.01).
- 74% of participants had improved hair quality vs 54% placebo (P = 0.026).
- 85% of active participants reported slowing of hair loss vs 55% placebo.
- Mild GI upset was the only reported adverse events
The cutaneous cost of displacement: infection, inflammation, and inequity.
Many migrants traveling through Latin America spend months in temporary camps with limited access to clean water, hygiene supplies, and medical care. This cross sectional study analyzed clinical visits from humanitarian clinics in Matamoros and Reynosa, Mexico between 2020 and 2022 to better understand the burden of dermatologic disease among displaced individuals near the Mexico US border.
What did they find?
Many migrants traveling through Latin America spend months in temporary camps with limited access to clean water, hygiene supplies, and medical care. This cross sectional study analyzed clinical visits from humanitarian clinics in Matamoros and Reynosa, Mexico between 2020 and 2022 to better understand the burden of dermatologic disease among displaced individuals near the Mexico US border.
What did they find?
- In 10,894 clinical visits, 656 encounters (6.0%) included a dermatologic diagnosis, representing 645 unique patients.
- Cutaneous infections (36.3%) were most common, followed by unspecified rash (29.9%) and inflammatory conditions (20.0%).
- Fungal infections (17.3%) and bacterial abscesses (6.9%) accounted for the majority of infectious diagnoses
- Children were more likely than older patients to receive a dermatologic diagnosis, including ages 0 to 5 (AOR 1.67) and 6 to 12 (AOR 1.42).
DERMLITE Dermoscopy QUESTION OF THE WEEK
ContactInterested in joining the team or advertising with us?
Do you have questions or feedback? Contact us below! |
PODCAST & RESEARCH |
Content of sk(in depth) is for medical education purposes only.
Copyright © 2025 - All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2025 - All Rights Reserved.