A newsletter that delivers the latest in dermatology research directly to you.
One Hundred and Sixth issue
MARCH 18th, 2026
Melanoma prognosis lives in the fine print…
Most cutaneous melanomas are diagnosed at early stages (I–II), yet recurrence remains a major driver of melanoma mortality. Notably, thin melanomas (<1 mm) account for a meaningful share of melanoma deaths despite a relatively low individual risk of recurrence. Few studies have focused specifically on clinicopathologic predictors of recurrence in localized melanoma. This retrospective cohort study analyzed 1,092 stage IA–IIC melanomas diagnosed between 2010–2017 to identify factors associated with recurrence and time to recurrence.
What did they find?
Most cutaneous melanomas are diagnosed at early stages (I–II), yet recurrence remains a major driver of melanoma mortality. Notably, thin melanomas (<1 mm) account for a meaningful share of melanoma deaths despite a relatively low individual risk of recurrence. Few studies have focused specifically on clinicopathologic predictors of recurrence in localized melanoma. This retrospective cohort study analyzed 1,092 stage IA–IIC melanomas diagnosed between 2010–2017 to identify factors associated with recurrence and time to recurrence.
What did they find?
- Overall recurrence was 16.3%, increasing with stage (IA 4.3%, IIA 28.3%, IIC 36.4%).
- Ulceration was a strong predictor of recurrence (HR 3.9, 95% CI 1.98–7.70; P < 0.001).
- Increasing tumor thickness was associated with higher recurrence risk (HR 1.12; P < 0.001).
- Primary tumors on the face, scalp, and neck had higher recurrence risk (HR 4.6–6.4; P < 0.03) compared with arm or shoulder melanomas.
Exploring the future uses of ultraviolet-induced fluorescent dermoscopy with a multicenter retrospective study
Innovation/Scoop
Innovation/Scoop
Turn on the UV, turn up the tumor details
Dermoscopy has been used for decades to improve skin cancer diagnosis. Incorporating ultraviolet-induced fluorescent dermoscopy (UVFD) can enhance certain structures through the Stokes shift phenomenon using a 365 nm UV LED (10 mW/cm²) to generate fluorescence. While UVFD has helped characterize both neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions, its role in skin tumors has been less well defined. This multicenter study evaluated how skin tumors appear under UVFD compared with standard dermoscopy.
What did they find?
Dermoscopy has been used for decades to improve skin cancer diagnosis. Incorporating ultraviolet-induced fluorescent dermoscopy (UVFD) can enhance certain structures through the Stokes shift phenomenon using a 365 nm UV LED (10 mW/cm²) to generate fluorescence. While UVFD has helped characterize both neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions, its role in skin tumors has been less well defined. This multicenter study evaluated how skin tumors appear under UVFD compared with standard dermoscopy.
What did they find?
- Images were obtained from 551 cases using polarized, nonpolarized, and UVFD, with final diagnoses confirmed by histopathology. Two blinded dermatologist evaluators assessed dermoscopic features.
- Under UVFD, the most frequent structures were keratin (33%), vessels (20.3%), and network (11.8%), with well-defined borders in 96.7%.
- Agreement of features between polarized dermoscopy and UVFD was >90%, with lower agreement for keratin and border definition.
- UVFD improved visualization of keratin (OR 9.8, 95% CI 4.3–27.9), ridges and fissures (OR 5.0, 95% CI 0.6–236.5), border definition (OR 12.4, 95% CI 6.5–26.5), and comedo-like openings (OR infinite).
- Ochre color was seen in 8.8% of in situ melanomas vs 44% of invasive melanomas (P < 0.002).
Not every skin cancer is sunburn’s fault… plot twist: it’s viral!
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) arises through two major oncogenic pathways: Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV)-driven tumors and ultraviolet (UV)-induced tumors. Virus-positive MCC (VP-MCC) generally has better outcomes than virus-negative MCC (VN-MCC), but how virus status relates to anatomic site, UV exposure, and race and ethnicity is not fully understood. This multi-cohort retrospective analysis combined institutional data, national registries (SEER and NCDB), and pooled global cohorts to evaluate how UV exposure, tumor location, and patient race and ethnicity correlate with MCC virus status and outcomes.
What did they find?
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) arises through two major oncogenic pathways: Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV)-driven tumors and ultraviolet (UV)-induced tumors. Virus-positive MCC (VP-MCC) generally has better outcomes than virus-negative MCC (VN-MCC), but how virus status relates to anatomic site, UV exposure, and race and ethnicity is not fully understood. This multi-cohort retrospective analysis combined institutional data, national registries (SEER and NCDB), and pooled global cohorts to evaluate how UV exposure, tumor location, and patient race and ethnicity correlate with MCC virus status and outcomes.
What did they find?
- VP-MCC had better survival than VN-MCC (5-year MCC-specific survival 73.4% vs 35.4%, HR 2.48, P < 0.001).
- VP-MCC was more likely to arise on UV-protected sites than on UV-exposed sites (P < 0.001).
- In SEER and NCDB cohorts, Black and Hispanic patients had more MCC on UV-protected sites than White patients (P < 0.001).
- Global UV exposure strongly correlated with VN-MCC incidence, but only weakly with VP-MCC incidence.
Nailing the overlooked clues at our fingertips!
Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is the most common chromosomal abnormality worldwide and is associated with multisystem involvement, including a wide range of dermatologic manifestations. While prior studies have described many skin conditions in Down syndrome, nail findings remain less well characterized. This multicenter, case-control study evaluated nail disorders in children with Down syndrome to better define prevalence and patterns and to explore potential clinical relevance.
What did they find?
Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is the most common chromosomal abnormality worldwide and is associated with multisystem involvement, including a wide range of dermatologic manifestations. While prior studies have described many skin conditions in Down syndrome, nail findings remain less well characterized. This multicenter, case-control study evaluated nail disorders in children with Down syndrome to better define prevalence and patterns and to explore potential clinical relevance.
What did they find?
- Multicenter case-control study of 221 children with Down syndrome and 160 controls across 9 dermatology centers, using clinical and dermoscopic nail exams.
- Nail disorders were more common in Down syndrome (57% vs 13.1%, P < 0.001), with greater toenail involvement (P = 0.03).
- Most common findings were brittle nails (19%), Beau’s lines/onychomadesis (16.2%), longitudinal ridging (12.7%), and self-induced nail disorders (10%), all higher than controls (P < 0.05).
- Children with Down syndrome had about 3× higher odds of any nail disorder, including 4.3× higher odds of brittle nails and 5.6× higher odds of Beau’s lines/onychomadesis.
PG diagnostic criteria: clinical exam, biopsy… and every imaging modality.
Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a neutrophilic dermatosis with painful ulcerations that can mimic venous ulcers and soft tissue infection, often creating diagnostic uncertainty. This study evaluated how often diagnostic imaging is used in PG workups and how imaging patterns compare with venous ulcers (VU).
What did they find?
Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a neutrophilic dermatosis with painful ulcerations that can mimic venous ulcers and soft tissue infection, often creating diagnostic uncertainty. This study evaluated how often diagnostic imaging is used in PG workups and how imaging patterns compare with venous ulcers (VU).
What did they find?
- 51.7% of PG patients underwent at least one imaging study, with a mean of 4.7 imaging studies per patient.
- 93% of PG imaging was ordered by non-dermatologists, suggesting uncertainty among nonspecialists.
- Most common studies were duplex ultrasound (32.4%), X-ray (23.4%), and CT (14.7%). Compared with VU patients, PG patients were more likely to receive CT scans.
- Many PG patients had comorbid contributors to ulcerations, including venous insufficiency (39.7%), DVT (21.4%), peripheral arterial disease (11.7%), and osteomyelitis (8.3%).
Wash away your worries about eczema with this new study!
Atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly known as eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects patients of all ages. Although medical care is essential for disease control, it is equally important for patients to self-manage their eczema at home. This randomized control trial aimed to answer a commonly asked question from eczema patients: how often should you bathe? They randomized 438 participants into the weekly bathing group or the daily bathing group, and for 4 weeks, reported various measurements of disease severity and control.
What did they find?
Main Takeaway: Patients with eczema should choose a bathing schedule that best suits their needs without worry of negatively impacting their symptoms.
Atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly known as eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects patients of all ages. Although medical care is essential for disease control, it is equally important for patients to self-manage their eczema at home. This randomized control trial aimed to answer a commonly asked question from eczema patients: how often should you bathe? They randomized 438 participants into the weekly bathing group or the daily bathing group, and for 4 weeks, reported various measurements of disease severity and control.
What did they find?
- There was no difference in mean scores of eczema symptoms between the weekly bathing group vs the daily bathing group (–0.4; 95% CI: –1.3 to 0.4; P = 0.30).
- Improvement in itch intensity, eczema control, and quality of life scores were similar in both bathing groups at 4 weeks (3.5; 95% CI: –6.6, 13.6).
- The weekly bathing group reported less number of days using flare-control creams on average compared to the daily bathing group (–0.5; 95% CI –0.8 to –0.1).
Main Takeaway: Patients with eczema should choose a bathing schedule that best suits their needs without worry of negatively impacting their symptoms.
Improving dermatologic care for migrants can set the first domino in motion toward global skin health equity
The number of forcibly displaced persons worldwide is rising, and many spend prolonged periods in temporary shelters during migration. These environments are associated with significant health challenges, including a high burden of dermatologic infections. To better understand the dermatologic conditions affecting displaced populations, this study analyzed clinical visits from two refugee camps (Matamoros and Reynosa) located near the U.S.-Mexico border.
What did they find?
Main Takeaway: Dermatologic conditions, especially infectious and inflammatory diseases, are common among migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly in children and in overcrowded camp settings. These findings highlight the impact of migration-related exposures and structural conditions and underscore the need for improved dermatologic care, sanitation infrastructure, and supportive policy responses.
The number of forcibly displaced persons worldwide is rising, and many spend prolonged periods in temporary shelters during migration. These environments are associated with significant health challenges, including a high burden of dermatologic infections. To better understand the dermatologic conditions affecting displaced populations, this study analyzed clinical visits from two refugee camps (Matamoros and Reynosa) located near the U.S.-Mexico border.
What did they find?
- Researchers analyzed 10,894 clinical visits from 7,864 patients (median age 29 years) across the two camps .
- 656 visits (6.0%) involved dermatology-related concerns, which affected 645 unique patients.
- 656 visits (6.0%) involved dermatology-related concerns, which affected 645 unique patients.
- Most commonly diagnosed dermatologic conditions included cutaneous infections (36.3%), unspecified rash (29.9%), and inflammatory dermatoses (20.0%).
- Among cutaneous infections, the most common diagnoses were fungal infections (17.3%), bacterial abscesses (6.9%), folliculitis (1.8%), and viral infections including herpes simplex (2.3%) and varicella zoster (1.0%).
- Inflammatory conditions included dermatitis (16.0%), psoriasis (2.3%), and urticaria (1.7%).
- Among cutaneous infections, the most common diagnoses were fungal infections (17.3%), bacterial abscesses (6.9%), folliculitis (1.8%), and viral infections including herpes simplex (2.3%) and varicella zoster (1.0%).
- Children under 5 years (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.67) and between 6 and 12 years (AOR 1.42) were more likely to be diagnosed with dermatologic conditions than adults.
- Skin conditions were more common in the Matamoros refugee camp vs the Reynosa refugee camp (AOR 1.33), likely reflecting overcrowding and limited hygiene resources in Matamoros.
Main Takeaway: Dermatologic conditions, especially infectious and inflammatory diseases, are common among migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly in children and in overcrowded camp settings. These findings highlight the impact of migration-related exposures and structural conditions and underscore the need for improved dermatologic care, sanitation infrastructure, and supportive policy responses.
DERMLITE Dermoscopy QUESTION OF THE WEEK
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