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The following represent additions to UpToDate from the past six months that were considered by the editors and authors to be of particular interest. The most recent What's New entries are at the top of each subsection.

ATOPIC DERMATITIS AND OTHER DERMATITIS

Dupilumab for recalcitrant chronic hand eczema (February 2024)

Treatment of severe chronic hand eczema (CHE) is challenging and may require systemic immunosuppressants or oral alitretinoin (a retinoid not available in the United States) or phototherapy. In a small randomized trial, 29 adults with severe CHE were assigned to treatment with dupilumab (an interleukin [IL] 4/IL-13 inhibitor approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis) or placebo [ 1 ]. At week 16, more patients in the dupilumab group than in the placebo group achieved 75 percent improvement in the Hand Eczema Severity index (95 versus 33 percent). Treatment was well tolerated. Ocular pruritus occurred in three patients in the dupilumab group and was the only treatment-associated adverse effect. These findings indicate dupilumab as a valuable option for recalcitrant CHE, although it is not yet approved for this indication. (See "Chronic hand eczema", section on 'Dupilumab' .)

Topical roflumilast for seborrheic dermatitis (January 2024)

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing dermatitis involving areas rich in sebaceous glands (eg, scalp, face) that requires repeated or long-term maintenance treatment with topical anti-inflammatory agents. In a randomized trial that included 226 adults with moderate to severe seborrheic dermatitis, topical roflumilast , a potent phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor with anti-inflammatory properties, was more effective than vehicle in achieving an Investigator Global Assessment score of clear/almost clear at eight weeks (74 versus 41 percent, respectively) [ 2 ]. Treatment was generally well tolerated. These findings contributed to approval by the US Food and Drug Administration of roflumilast 0.3% foam for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in adults and children older than nine years [ 3 ]. (See "Seborrheic dermatitis in adolescents and adults", section on 'Topical anti-inflammatory agents' .)

Investigational nemolizumab for prurigo nodularis (November 2023)

Treatment of prurigo nodularis (PN), a chronic skin disorder characterized by severe pruritus and multiple itchy nodules predominantly located on the extremities, is aimed at interrupting the itch-scratch cycle. In a phase 3, randomized trial that included 274 adults with moderate-to-severe PN, improvement in itch and skin appearance at 16 weeks, as measured by validated scoring systems, was greater for patients assigned to subcutaneous nemolizumab (an antagonist of interleukin-31, a cytokine linked to pruritus) than those assigned to placebo [ 4 ]. Adverse events in the nemolizumab group included exacerbation/new onset of atopic dermatitis and peripheral or facial edema. These findings, along with a prior small trial, indicate that nemolizumab has efficacy for the treatment of PN, although its use for this condition remains investigational. (See "Prurigo nodularis", section on 'Nemolizumab' .)

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY

Second primary cancers in pediatric and young adult survivors of cutaneous melanoma (March 2024)

In an analysis of data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program that included over 7100 patients aged 0 to 29 years diagnosed with a first primary cutaneous melanoma between 2000 to 2018, 632 (9 percent) developed a second primary cancer, with an overall fivefold increased risk of any cancers compared with the general population [ 5 ]. Of note, 77 percent of second primary cancers were melanomas. These findings highlight the importance of frequent total body skin examination in pediatric and young adult survivors of cutaneous melanoma. (See "Melanoma in children", section on 'Risk of second primary cancers' .)

PSORIASIS AND OTHER PAPULOSQUAMOUS DISORDERS

Oral apremilast for pediatric plaque psoriasis (April 2024)

Apremilast (a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor) is an established oral therapy for plaque psoriasis in adults. However, efficacy data in children have been limited. In the first phase 3 trial to assess efficacy of apremilast in children, 245 children (ages 6 to 17 years) with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were randomly assigned to treatment with either apremilast or placebo [ 6 ]. At week 16, children treated with apremilast were more likely to have clear or almost clear status and at least a two-point improvement from baseline (based on the five-point static Physician Global Assessment scale) than children in the placebo group (33 versus 12 percent). Apremilast therapy was generally well tolerated. The most commonly reported adverse events were diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain. These findings support apremilast as an additional oral treatment option for pediatric plaque psoriasis. (See "Psoriasis in children: Management of chronic plaque psoriasis", section on 'Apremilast' .)

SKIN CANCER

OTHER DERMATOLOGY

New guidelines for protoporphyria (March 2024)

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) are rare cutaneous porphyrias that cause severe, nonblistering photosensitivity and liver disease; their rarity makes evidence-based management challenging. Two new guidelines from the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network are available to help guide diagnosis and management of EPP and XLP:

● Consensus guidelines discuss use of biochemical and genetic testing, use of afamelanotide , avoidance of ineffective therapies, methods of sun protection, and prevention of liver disease [ 7 ].

● Liver-specific guidelines discuss screening, prevention, and treatment of liver disease, including liver and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for advanced disease [ 8 ].

● (See "Erythropoietic protoporphyria and X-linked protoporphyria", section on 'Management' .)

Risankizumab for dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (November 2023)

Oral antibiotics, oral isotretinoin , biologic tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, and surgical excision are the mainstays of treatment for dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (DCS), a debilitating form of scarring alopecia that can be challenging to treat. In a report of two patients with oral antibiotic-refractory DCS treated with risankizumab (a biologic interleukin [IL] 23 inhibitor), marked clinical improvement occurred within 4 to 13 months [ 9 ]. These findings add to other isolated reports suggesting benefit of biologic IL-23 inhibition for DCS. While promising, more evidence regarding safety and efficacy are needed. (See "Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp", section on 'Other therapies' .)

• Voorberg AN, Kamphuis E, Christoffers WA, Schuttelaar MLA. Efficacy and safety of dupilumab in patients with severe chronic hand eczema with inadequate response or intolerance to alitretinoin: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase IIb proof-of-concept study. Br J Dermatol 2023; 189:400.
• Zirwas MJ, Draelos ZD, DuBois J, et al. Efficacy of Roflumilast Foam, 0.3%, in Patients With Seborrheic Dermatitis: A Double-blind, Vehicle-Controlled Phase 2a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol 2023; 159:613.
• Roflumilast topical foam, 0.3%. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved product information. Revised December 2023. US Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/217242s000lbl.pdf (Accessed on January 05, 2024).
• Kwatra SG, Yosipovitch G, Legat FJ, et al. Phase 3 Trial of Nemolizumab in Patients with Prurigo Nodularis. N Engl J Med 2023; 389:1579.
• Luu Y, Han J, Agarwal A, et al. Risk for second primary cancers among pediatric and young adult melanoma survivors. Pediatr Dermatol 2024; 41:12.
• Fiorillo L, Becker E, de Lucas R, et al. Efficacy and safety of apremilast in pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: 16-week results from SPROUT, a randomized controlled trial. J Am Acad Dermatol 2024.
• Dickey AK, Naik H, Keel SB, et al. Evidence-based consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and management of erythropoietic protoporphyria and X-linked protoporphyria. J Am Acad Dermatol 2023; 89:1227.
• Levy C, Dickey AK, Wang B, et al. Evidence-based consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and management of protoporphyria-related liver dysfunction in erythropoietic protoporphyria and X-linked protoporphyria. Hepatology 2024; 79:731.
• Nagshabandi KN, Alsalhi A, Alahmadi D, et al. Refractory dissecting cellulitis of the scalp treated with risankizumab. JAAD Case Rep 2023; 42:P87.

Editor's Choice: Symptoms of Cognitive Impairment in Children With AD

Shirin Bajaj, MD; Joy Tao, MD; David A. Hashemi, MD, MBA; et al

Original Investigation | April 17, 2024

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• Weekly Laser Treatments for Port-Wine Birthmarks in Infants Shirin Bajaj, MD; et al. Original Investigation online first Shirin Bajaj, MD; et al.
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Research in Dermatology

Stanford eb research.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic skin disorder that causes extreme skin fragility, leading to recurrent blister formation with even minor trauma. There are three major forms of EB: EB simplex (EBS), Junctional EB (JEB), and Dystrophic EB (DEB). Each type of EB differs in severity and clinical presentation. Caring for all patients with EB requires a multidisciplinary approach.

Clinical Trials

Stanford Dermatology Department's clinical trials unit is home to 12-15 ongoing clinical studies, investigating the safety and efficacy of new and currently available drugs and over-the-counter medications.  The  unit works with Stanford's own panel on medical research, leading pharmaceutical companies,and the Food and Drug Administration to safely and ethically expand the medical field's knowledge of dermatologic treatments.  New studies begin regularly, and the unit continues to recruit patients with skin aging, sun damage, skin cancer (including basal cell carcinomas), psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, rosacea, and other dermatologic diseases for ongoing studies.

Faculty Labs

• Paul Khavari Lab  - Genome Regulation in Homeostasis and Cancer
• Anthony Oro Lab  - Regulation of Epithelial and Hair Growth and Development
• M. Peter Marinkovich Lab  - Basement Membrane Zone Biology
• Howard Y. Chang Lab
• Anne Chang Reseach Goup  - Human Aging and the Skin including non-melanoma skin cancer
• Jean Tang Lab  - Finding New Ways to Treat and Prevent Skin Cancer
• Kevin Wang Lab  - Studying fundamental mechanisms controlling gene expression in mammalian cells
• Carolyn Lee Lab  - Discovering new oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in skin cancer

Research in the Department of Dermatology span a wide range of efforts, ranging from clinical trials to molecular translational medicine to fundamental studies in epithelial biology, as embodied in the Stanford Program in Epithelial Biology.

Research links

• Stanford EB Research Update
• Clinical Trials Unit
• Faculty Research Labs
• Multidisciplinary Cutaneous Lymphoma Research Program

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Driving Innovation in Dermatology

Our faculty and investigators conduct cutting-edge basic research and clinical trials and publish in the world’s leading dermatologic journals on skin, hair and nail disorders and diseases.

DRIVING INNOVATION IN DERMATOLOGY

UW Dermatology is one of the top funded research departments in the nation in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. Our faculty and investigators conduct cutting-edge basic research and clinical trials and publish in the world’s leading dermatologic journals on skin, hair and nail disorders and diseases.

Faculty Research Interests

Faculty investigators have broad research interests, from basic science research related to dermatology and skin diseases, as well as translational research and clinical trials.

Research Laboratories

The Department of Dermatology is home to several labs and centers that provide national stewardship on novel skin conditions, including cancer, and innovative tracking and treatment modalities. 

Featured Publication

How do we teach and talk about sun safety for children of all skin tones? Resident Dr. Anna Tappel and team have analyzed this question in a recent Pediatric Dermatology article: "Fair‐y Tales: An analysis of children’s books about sun safety". The authors found 17 children's books mentioning at least one sun safety practice. Most books featured several, but few featured all, of the AAD's sun protection guidelines, and there is much room for improvement in representing darker skin tones.

Keep Reading

Research By the Numbers

$18.5 m — current grant funding, 46,000+ — total citations, 7 — 2020 publications, uw derm publications 2015-2020.

The UW Derm team has been actively expanding our research productivity. Over the last 5 years, dermatology faculty, trainees and lab members have doubled their number of scholarly publications from 34 in 2015 to 72 in 2020.

Publications accounted for have at least one UW Derm affiliated author at the time of publication. Many publications have multiple UW Derm co-authors as well as co-author collaborators from within the UW Medicine system, the dermatology community in Seattle and across the nation. Of the articles published between 2015-2020, almost 40% were published in “high-impact” journals in dermatology, journals that are highly cited by fellow researchers in the field.

Individual articles are also widely accepted and referenced by fellow researchers, with all articles published from the Department having been cited by over 46,000 other articles.  

Active Research Projects

The Department of Dermatology currently has 16 active industry, NIH and foundation funded research projects and clinical trials, and faculty and trainees are currently pursuing independent research and scholarly work on over 100 projects and topics. Projects focus in a number of  areas related to dermatology , with some specifically including:

• Quality improvement projects including education and process improvements in dermatology (including teledermatology, interpreter services, volunteerism, mentorship and professional stewardship);
• Gender-equity among academic dermatologists and trainees;
• Dermatology needs for skin of color and LGBTQ community members
• New therapeutic and diagnosis strategies for skin conditions including hidradenitis suppurative, Liveoid vasculopathy, t-cell lymphoma, melanoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma.

Merkel cell carcinoma

The Nghiem laboratory is simultaneously pursuing over 40 research questions related to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Merkel cell carcinoma. Some of their recent developments include changing the practice standards related to the surgical treatment of MCC and recent updates to the suggested approach to imaging for management of MCC in newly diagnosed patients. The team is also working to develop a therapeutic vaccine to prevent recurrence of MCC in patients for which initial surgery and/or radiation removes all evident cancer.

RESIDENT RESEARCH ELECTIVE

Archives of Dermatological Research

Founded in 1869 as Archiv für Dermatologie und Syphilis

• Provides coverage on biochemistry, morphology, and immunology of the skin.
• Presents original papers, short communications, and letters to the editor.
• Interested in research related to clinical trials, procedural dermatology, patient-centered care, inflammatory disorders, and immunodermatology.
• Oldest journal in the field of cutaneous biology and skin research, first published in 1869.
• All artwork and colour pictures are published without additional fees.

Latest articles

Use of complementary and alternative medicine in vitiligo: a cross-sectional survey.

• Sneha Poondru
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Understanding patient perspectives on vaccine decision making in adults with autoimmune bullous diseases: a qualitative study

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The potential role of tumor necrosis factor-α in thrombosis in livedoid vasculopathy

• HongZhong Jin

The role of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in cutaneous disorders

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Efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin in treating scleroderma-associated raynaud’s phenomenon: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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• Alaa Ramadan

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Recent and Current Projects

With the exciting advances that are continuously being made in dermatology, there is increasing need to understand the multiple components of dermatologic disease to maximize benefit to patients.  The Vashi Lab’s continued mission is to apply the highest standards of care and rigorous evaluation to questions in dermatology.  We combine clinical expertise with analytical approaches to understand the skin and dermatologic disease in order to improve patient outcomes while advancing healthcare delivery.

Dr. Vashi’s research interests include a wide variety of topics related to both medical and cosmetic dermatology.  A few of her recent projects are described below.

Societal obsession with beauty is deeply engrained in our past, with the appreciation of human aesthetics dating back to early Greek civilization.  Both personal preferences and cultural standards influence our ideas on beauty, and there is substantial agreement as to what constitutes human beauty within a society at any given point in time. In the study below, Dr. Vashi examined how our societal perceptions of beauty have changed over the past 27 years using People Magazine’s World’s Most Beautiful lists from 1990 and 2017.

Maymone MBC, Neamah HH, Secemsky EA, Kundu RV, Saade D, Vashi NA. The Most Beautiful People: Evolving Standards of Beauty. JAMA Dermatol. Published online October 11, 2017. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.3693

Dr. Vashi had over 100 media exposures including but not limited to NBC News, NewsWeek, MSN News, USNews, Yahoo News, GoodHousekeeping, ABC News, Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and Chicago Tribune in reference to this study.  With an international presence, it had translation and media exposures in over 20 different countries and languages.  In addition, it was rated the #2 “Most Talked About Article of 2017” by JAMA Dermatology .

See  NBC News’ discussion of the findings of Dr. Vashi’s study in the article “ What Makes Someone ‘Most Beautiful’ Is Changing, Study Says .”

Sun Protection

Hyperpigmentation, a common issue seen by dermatologists, can worsen when exposed to the sun. The study below explores the different ways that patients with hyperpigmentation protect themselves from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Maymone M, Neamah HH, Wirya SA, Patzelt NM, Zancanaro PQ, Vashi NA. Sun protective behaviors in patients with cutaneous hyperpigmentation: A cross-sectional study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017;76(5):841–846.e2.

In April 2017, Yahoo! News published the article “ How Hyperpigmentation Patients Shield Themselves from the Sun ” describing Dr. Neelam Vashi’s findings.

Melasma is a common disorder of hyperpigmentation that can worsen when exposed to the sun and is often difficult to treat. Thus, it is important to know the extent of disease to provide proper patient counseling and treatment guidance. Dr. Neelam Vashi researched different techniques as aids for diagnosing disease extent.

Wirya SA, Maymone MBC, Widjajahakim R, Vashi NA. Subclinical melasma: Determining disease extent. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017;77(2):e41-e42.

Dr. Neelam Vashi was interviewed on this subject by WCVB-TV, Channel 5.

Aging of the skin is clinically described by wrinkles, sunspots, uneven skin color, and sagging skin; however, these signs vary across ethnicity. This article looks at how variations in cutaneous aging are related to differences in skin structure and function.

Vashi NA, Maymone M, Kundu RV. Aging differences in ethnic skin. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2016;9(1):31-38.

Dr. Neelam Vashi appeared in the article “ Outsmart Aging. Your ethnicity plays a major role in how your skin matures. Face down our challenge with a personalized plan. ” featured in Dr. Oz’s The Good Life magazine.

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Most Common Dermatologic Topics Published in Five High-Impact General Medical Journals, 1970–2012: Melanoma, Psoriasis, Herpes Simplex, Herpes Zoster, and Acne

Internists frequently diagnose herpes simplex, herpes zoster, and acne, which are also common dermatologic topics published. The authors conducted an independent search of the Thomson Reuters’ Science Citation Index for common dermatologic topics, limited to the period 1970 to 2012. The five most common dermatologic topics published in five high-impact general medical journals were melanoma, psoriasis, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, and acne.

General practitioners frequently encounter skin diseases and are accustomed to diagnosing the most common dermatologic conditions.

We sought to determine the most common dermatologic topics published in five high-impact general medical journals ( New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, the Journal of the American Medical Association, British Medical Journal (now The BMJ ), and Annals of Internal Medicine ).

We conducted an independent search of the Thomson Reuters’ Science Citation Index for common dermatologic topics, limited to the period 1970 to 2012.

Main Outcome Measure:

Total number of publications dealing with each dermatologic topic considered.

The five most common dermatologic topics published were melanoma, psoriasis, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, and acne. Melanoma and psoriasis were the top two dermatologic topics published in each journal except for Annals of Internal Medicine .

Conclusions:

Internists frequently diagnose herpes simplex, herpes zoster, and acne, which are also common dermatologic topics published. Although internists infrequently diagnose melanoma and psoriasis, they are major topics for general medical journals because of their increased community awareness, major advancements in therapeutic research, and their nondermatologic manifestations.

Introduction

Skin diseases are commonly encountered by general practitioners, and in today’s health care system, most patients are evaluated first by their primary care physician before seeing a dermatologist. It is estimated that 6% of primary care outpatient visits are skin-related, and 60% of cutaneous diagnoses are made by nondermatologists. 1 As the role of the general practitioner continues to grow, it remains imperative that these physicians are equipped to manage general dermatologic conditions.

To determine which skin diseases internists most commonly encounter, Feldman et al 2 analyzed the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data from 1990 to 1994. The top five dermatologic diagnoses made by internists during this period were dermatitis, bacterial skin infections, tinea, acne vulgaris, and herpes zoster. By highlighting these common diagnoses, it was anticipated that skin disease educational programs for internists would be tailored to these diseases. Moreover, this study demonstrated that diagnoses such as psoriasis, actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, skin cancer, and benign tumors were commonly made by dermatologists but not by internists. These findings elucidated the overlapping yet differing role of the dermatologist and the internist, espousing the need for further communication and alliance in diagnosing a wide range of skin diseases.

The purpose of our study was to determine the most common dermatologic topics published from 1970 to 2012 in five high-impact general medical journals. We sought to analyze whether these journals, having the largest readership in medicine, targeted the common dermatologic diagnoses made by internists or focused on skin diseases more commonly diagnosed by dermatologists.

We analyzed data from the Thomson Reuters Science Citation Index. The five high-impact general medical journals we considered, based on the highest impact factors, were the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), The Lancet, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), British Medical Journal (now The BMJ ), and Annals of Internal Medicine. For each of these journals, we conducted an independent search for each of the dermatologic topics included in the study, limited to the years 1970 to 2012. The topics chosen were a modified list from the top dermatologic diagnoses made by internists and dermatologists 2 ( Table 1 ).

Total umber of articles for each dermatologic topic

Two independent reviewers analyzed search results to determine whether an article met the dermatologic topic under consideration. A consensus was achieved for all articles included. All types of publications (original research, case reports, review articles, meta-analyses, editorials, etc) were eligible for the study. If an article dealt with more than one possible topic, the topic that best fit the primary objective of the article was chosen. Topics without 20 or more papers in any of the 5 general medical journals were not mentioned.

A total of 2627 articles dealing with at least 1 of the 24 dermatologic topics mentioned in Table 1 were included in the study. From our combined data, the top 5 dermatologic topics published in the 5 high-impact general medical journals were melanoma (708 articles), psoriasis (455), herpes simplex (366), herpes zoster (253), and acne (165), as shown in Table 1 . The Lancet had the highest total number of dermatologic publications (744), followed by British Medical Journal (661), NEJM (630), JAMA (419), and Annals of Internal Medicine (173).

Melanoma was overwhelmingly the most common dermatologic topic in each of the journals except for Annals of Internal Medicine ( Figure 1 ). In NEJM, the second most common topic was psoriasis (100 articles), followed by herpes simplex (97) and herpes zoster (71). The other dermatologic topics were relatively uncommon in that journal. In The Lancet, the second most common topic was also psoriasis (144), followed by herpes simplex (102) and acne (49). There were also notable contributions to the dermatologic literature about herpes zoster (40), atopic dermatitis/eczema (40), urticaria (32), and abscess (28).

Frequency of common dermatologic topics mentioned in five high-impact general medical journals.

JAMA = Journal of the American Medical Association; NEJM = New England Journal of Medicine.

In JAMA, herpes simplex (with 68 articles) was the second most common dermatologic topic, followed by psoriasis (48) and herpes zoster (46). Acne (36), urticaria (30), and squamous cell carcinoma (22) followed in number of contributions. Melanoma (158) and psoriasis (134) were 2 greatly favored topics in the British Medical Journal. Herpes zoster (63), acne (60), and herpes simplex (56) made up the next highest proportion of topics, followed by abscess (35), urticaria (27), atopic dermatitis/eczema (26), and squamous cell carcinoma (22).

Annals of Internal Medicine was the only journal wherein melanoma (22) was not the most common dermatologic topic. In fact, melanoma was the fourth most prevalent. Preceding melanoma in prevalent articles was herpes simplex (43), herpes zoster (33), and psoriasis (29); see Figure 1 .

It has become customary for general practitioners to diagnose common skin conditions. For these physicians, primary sources for up-to-date information are general medical journals, namely the five high-impact journals ( NEJM, The Lancet, JAMA, British Medical Journal, and Annals of Internal Medicine ). By studying the prevalence of common dermatologic topics published in these journals, we attempted to provide insight into their emphasis on certain skin conditions.

Of the five high-impact general medical journals, we found that The Lancet and British Medical Journal, which have their foundation in the United Kingdom, published more articles on common dermatologic topics. In the United Kingdom, physicians must complete two years of foundation training and two years of core medical training before entering dermatology as a specialty. 3 This is in contrast to the US, where medical school graduates are required to complete only one year of internal medicine, general surgery, or pediatrics internship before entering dermatology residency. Perhaps in the United Kingdom, dermatology is integrated more with internal medicine, leading to a greater number of dermatologic publications in their general medical journals.

In our analysis, we found that herpes simplex, herpes zoster, and acne were three of the top five dermatologic topics published. This coincides with the fact that these topics were also among the top ten dermatologic diagnoses made by internists. 2 Melanoma and psoriasis, on the other hand, were the top two dermatologic topics published but are diagnoses rarely made by internists. 2

As mentioned by Feldman et al, 2 melanoma, despite being rarely diagnosed by internists, is important to internal medicine because of its serious nature. Some consider the early detection of melanoma, which has a 5-year survival rate of 98% if detected early and 15% with distant metastasis, 4 to be the responsibility of primary care physicians. 5 Furthermore, a “new era” of targeted and immune-based therapies for melanoma has been ushered in by recent advancements in melanoma research. 6 Many of these findings have gained publication in prestigious general medical journals. 7 – 9 It is not surprising, therefore, that melanoma was the most common dermatologic topic published in 4 of the 5 high-impact general medical journals we studied.

Psoriasis, like melanoma, is another diagnosis infrequently made by internists but was found in our study to be the second most common dermatologic topic published. With a prevalence of 1% to 3%, psoriasis is likely to be encountered by general practitioners. 10 Moreover, as a systemic inflammatory disease, psoriasis is compounded by psoriatic arthritis in 10% to 30% of cases. 10 Psoriasis has also been associated with a significantly increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease, possibly because of accelerated atherosclerosis in the setting of an inflammatory state. 11 These systemic manifestations, as well as the increasing prevalence of this dermatologic condition, make psoriasis a very relevant disease to internal medicine and the general medical journals. We acknowledge limitations in our study. Access to journal articles may have been limited by our university’s subscriptions, but all resources available were used to obtain articles. Certain articles that addressed multiple topics were categorized under one topic, considered the best fit by the reviewer. We referenced a study by Feldman et al, 2 who analyzed the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data from 1990 to 1994. Likely, diagnosing patterns of skin disease by internists may have changed since then, but to our knowledge, no similar analysis has yet been performed.

We believe our study achieved its primary purpose, to analyze the prevalence of common dermatologic topics published in high-impact general medical journals. We have demonstrated that certain dermatologic topics with increased relevance to internal medicine have greater numbers of publications. These findings are a testament to the value of these medical journals in providing relevant yet comprehensive information to general physicians, thus deserving the title of high-impact.

Acknowledgments

Kathleen Louden, ELS, of Louden Health Communications provided editorial assistance.

Disclosure Statement

Dr Wu received research funding from AbbVie, North Chicago, IL; Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA; Coherus Biosciences, Redwood City, CA; Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, IN; Merck, Whitehouse Station, NJ; and Pfizer, New York, NY, which were not directly related to this study. He is a consultant for AbbVie, North Chicago, IL; DUSA Pharmaceuticals Inc, Wilmington, MA; Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, IN; and Pfizer, New York, NY. Mr Choi and Mr Namavar have no conflicts of interest to disclose. No funding was received for this study.

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Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance

Almost 1 in 4 children is affected by skin disease.

For many of them—and their families—the burden is extreme, treatment options are limited, and the pace of research is too slow.

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Through these efforts, our goal is to improve the lives of children with skin disease and their families.

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Hours of research-focused education, peer-reviewed publications, nea and pedra made eczema counts count.

March 5, 2024 – Wednesday, January 31, 2024 marked the final day of the Eczema Counts project. This innovative project was run as a 50/50 partnership between the National Eczema Association (NEA) and PeDRA to educate…

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Three Investigators Awarded Funding Through 2023 Consensus Grant Program and 2023 HS Pilot Grant

February 27, 2024 – PeDRA is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2023 Consensus Grant Program and 2023 Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) Pilot Grant. PeDRA’s Grants and Fellowships Program is driven by PeDRA’s mission to create, inspire,…

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PeDRA Publishes Abstracts from the 2023 PeDRA Annual Conference

February 9, 2024 – Abstracts from the 11th PeDRA Annual Conference, which took place November 9-11, 2023, in Atlanta, GA, are now available online through the journal Pediatric Dermatology. The publication features 112 of 132 accepted abstracts,…

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61 Best Dermatology Research Topics

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Best Dermatology Research Topics

Finding the best dermatology research topics can be a hassle. But HelpForHomework is here to provide you with excellent suggestions.

• What are the risks of COVID-19 in patients with autoimmune
• Recent advances in acne vulgaris
• Problems of premature cessation of the anagen phase of the HF is going to re-enter the anagen phase again
• Advances in pattern baldness treatment
• Advances of systemic antifungal agents
• Herbal medicine in eczema treatment
• Importance of parental education in the treatment of childhood eczema
• Diagnosis prevention and treatment of hand eczema
• Acne vulgaris: History, current status, and future
• Skin disease and depression: a retrospective examination
• A review of your county’s dermatological association guidelines
• A review of skin problems and skincare for young children
• Advancement of nanocosmetics and nanomedicines
• Skincare management and educational aspects
• Role of vitamins in skincare

Excellent Dermatology Research Topics

Are you looking for excellent dermatology research topics? We have some recommendations for you.

• Advancement of cosmetic formulation of skincare products
• Analyzing skin problems for people with stomas
• Best skincare routine for old people
• Clinical benefits of advanced skincare routine in comparison to the traditional routine
• Current innovations of natural skincare ingredients
• Effects of skin-to-skin care during breastfeeding
• How does quality life affect routine skincare?
• Importance of skincare management in nursing homes
• Importance of skincare and assessment
• Management of atopic dermatitis
• The scientific basis of neonatal skincare
• Skincare for newborn
• Skincare of the diaper area skin: Children’s skin sensitivity
• The application of skincare products in acne treatment
• Use of bee products in dermatology and skincare

Interesting Dermatology Research Topics

If you have been searching for “interesting dermatology research topics,” your search ends here. Check the list below.

• A review on irritant contact dermatitis
• A review on photoallergic contact dermatitis
• A review on physical irritants dermatitis
• Advancement of virtual clinical trials in dermatology
• Allergic contact dermatitis to diapers
• Childhood atopic dermatitis prevention and treatment
• Current status of cosmetic dermatology
• Current use and potential of nanotechnology cosmetic dermatology
• Effects of shower therapy on patients with atopic dermatitis
•  Impacts of COVID-19 on dermatology clinical trials
• Implications of contact dermatitis to quality of life
• A systematic review of the current dermatology clinical trials
• Systemic contact dermatitis: Kids and ketchup
• The impacts of using dimethylaminoethanol in cosmetic dermatology
• Use of aloe vera in skincare

Expert Dermatology Research Topics

Finally, we have some expert dermatology research topics. Check them out and tell us what you think.

• Complication management in cosmetic dermatology
• Cosmetic dermatology of the aging skin
• The current state of imaging in dermatology
• Ethics in cosmetic dermatology
• Impacts of COVID-19 on cosmetic dermatology
• Legal issues in your country relating to cosmetic dermatology
• Outcomes of resident cosmetic dermatology training
• Phototherapy in cosmetic dermatology
• Safe cosmetic dermatology practices: Following cosmetic laws
• Social media role in cosmetic dermatology
• The standard genetics tests for skin conditions
• The use of artificial intelligence in cosmetic dermatology: Current and future trends
• The use of cosmetic products in treating atopic dermatitis
• Trends in aesthetic and cosmetic dermatology
•  Use of radiofrequency in cosmetic dermatology
• What’s new in cosmetic dermatology

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