Our January issue is live!

Welcome to this week's edition of Dermatology Times' LinkedIn newsletter!

We're excited to share that our January issue is now live on our website. We invite you to visit our website to download and explore the issue, which features insights into the current and future state of chronic hand eczema, ancestry-specific clinical end points in diverse trials, and more. We also introduce our 2025 Editor in Chief, Christopher Bunick, MD, PhD.

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If you have questions, suggestions, or would like to contribute to a future edition, please contact us via LinkedIn or via email at [email protected].

?? January Issue Spotlight

Our January cover story delves into chronic hand eczema (CHE), exploring its complex etiology, clinical variability, and significant psychosocial and economic impacts. Matthew Zirwas , MD, introduces this "state-of-the-state update," highlighting the challenges in diagnosing CHE due to overlapping subtypes like allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis. Emerging therapies, particularly JAK inhibitors like delgocitinib, are discussed as promising options addressing unmet treatment needs, overcoming limitations of traditional corticosteroids. Real-world data from large-scale studies like CHECK and RWEAL underscore the condition's prevalence and burden, while innovative treatments like tofacitinib show potential in targeting immune imbalances driving CHE.

Psoriasis is associated with various comorbidities, including obesity and depression. Karan Lal DO,MS FAAD , highlights the potential to address these conditions using targeted treatments and lifestyle interventions. Clinicians are encouraged to screen for depression and tailor biologic therapies—such as IL-17 or IL-23 inhibitors—based on psychiatric considerations, always prioritizing referrals for comprehensive mental health care.

The FDA ’s November 2024 approval of 40-mg minocycline hydrochloride (Emrosi; Journey Medical Corporation), formerly known as DFD-29, marked a pivotal advancement in rosacea treatment. As the first oral, systemic therapy approved in the US to address both erythema and inflammatory lesions—2 hallmark symptoms of rosacea—DFD-29 offers a novel, patient-centric option with proven efficacy and a favorable safety profile.

?? Breaking News Brief

Quoin Pharmaceuticals announced positive interim data from an open-label study evaluating QRX003, a topical lotion for Netherton Syndrome, showing significant improvements in disease severity, itch severity, and skin appearance, as measured by IGA, WINRS, and M-IASI scores. The 12-week study, involving patients aged 14 and older, demonstrated disease improvement from moderate to almost clear with no reported adverse reactions and high patient satisfaction.

Eirion Therapeutics reported positive results from a phase 1 clinical trial of ET-02, a novel topical therapy for androgenic alopecia, demonstrating safety, tolerability, and significant hair growth as early as 5 weeks. The 5% ET-02 solution achieved a 6-fold increase in non-vellus hair count and a 10% improvement in hair width, surpassing the efficacy of minoxidil in separate trials.

?? Research Roundup

Ruxolitinib cream demonstrated significant efficacy and safety in children aged 2 to 11 years with extensive, moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in a maximum-use trial. The open-label study enrolled 29 pediatric patients, achieving substantial reductions in disease severity, with mean body surface area involvement decreasing from 58% at baseline to 2.2% by week 52. Rapid improvements were observed, including 84% of patients attaining EASI-75 at week 8 and median itch relief within 4 days.

A novel 730-nm titanium:sapphire (Ti:Sapphire) picosecond laser demonstrated safety and efficacy in treating freckles in a clinical study involving 12 Chinese patients. After a single treatment session, an average clearance rate of 74.46% was achieved, with minimal pain and transient adverse effects, such as mild erythema and edema. Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation occurred in 1 patient each, with no scarring observed.

Long-distance running often leads to dermatological issues like blisters, chafing, runner’s purpura, and nail abnormalities due to repetitive trauma and environmental factors. Preventive measures, such as wearing moisture-wicking clothing, cushioned footwear, and applying sunscreen, are critical for skin health. Allergic and irritant contact dermatitis, as well as infections like tinea pedis, are common, requiring proper hygiene and avoidance of irritants. Chronic conditions like psoriasis may worsen with running, while sun exposure increases risks of skin cancer.

?? Continuing Education Opportunities

Discover ways to further your education and knowledge of specific disease states by exploring CME opportunities from Physicians' Education Resource?, LLC (PER?) below.

For more information, visit PER's website or click on the graphic below.

Thank you for reading!