The Top Dermatology Journal Entries in the Past 2 Years

At the 2025 New Wave Dermatology meeting in Aventura, Florida, Matthew Zirwas, MD, a dermatologist at Bexley Dermatology, presented on the most useful dermatology journal entries in the past year.

The studies spanned across dermatologic diseases—hidradenitis suppurativa, burning mouth syndrome, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, hair loss, vitiligo, and melasma. In an on-site interview with HCPLive, Zirwas shared the top 5 most useful dermatology journal entries published in the past 2 years. He highlighted a 2025 retrospective study that explained why 2 out of 3 people with atopic dermatitis are misdiagnosed.1

The study showed the difference between pediatric and adult atopic dermatitis, which explains the ineffectiveness of Hanafin and Rajka criteria for diagnosing adult atopic dermatitis. Genetics causes atopic dermatitis in children, but skin damage causes atopic dermatitis in adults.

However, during his presentation, Zirwas described many other useful journal entries:

Efficacy of Strontium Cream in Alleviating Pruritus in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

This recent open-label study demonstrated Dermeleve’s effectiveness in 75% of people. Although many burned with the application, 85% of participants said they would recommend it to others.

Topical Gabapentin Solution for the Management of Burning Mouth Syndrome: a Retrospective Study

This study explored gabapentin syrup, with patients instructed to swish and spit 3 times a day.

Impact of Dupilumab on Patch-Test Results and Allergic Contact Dermatitis: a Prospective Multicenter Study

A new study this year found dupilumab does not affect patch test reactions to any allergens, with zero reports of dupilumab actually working in contact dermatitis. However, dupilumab works great for patients with atopic dermatitis.

Other contact dermatitis studies:

Discrepancies in Patch Testing Timing and Outcomes: A Retrospective Analysis of the Pediatric Allergic Contact Dermatitis Registry

Persulphates Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Spa: A New Aetiology of Nummular Contact Dermatitis

North American Contact Dermatitis Group Patch Test Results 2019 - 2020

Real-Life Management of Atopic Dermatitis Patients With an Inadequate Response to On-label Use of Dupilumab

This study showed an inadequate response to atopic dermatitis biologics like dupilumab. Zirwas said he still applies topical steroids 5 – 20% of the time. The study suggests adding a biologic or JAK inhibitor long-term is not a real option.

Dermatologists should consider short-term cyclosporine or JAK to calm atopic dermatitis and hope dupilumab will maintain improvement. They could also add an oral roflumilast 500 μg per day or methotrexate 5-10 mg per week. If dupilumab still doesn’t work, switching drugs may be necessary.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Patch Testing Based on Clinical Response to Contact Allergen Restrictions in Allergic Contact Dermatitis

In 2024, a study found that among 265 patients with a positive patch test for contact dermatitis, 41% had gotten at least 50% better. Only 10.5% improved by at least 90%.

These findings suggest dermatologists should not treat patch tests as diagnostic tools but rather like ANA testing, since it is good for ruling out contact dermatitis when negative.

Efficacy and Safety of Topical Corticosteroid Treatment Under Occlusion for Severe Alopecia Areata in Children: a Single-centre Retrospective Analysis

Oral JAK inhibitors work for about 1 in 5 patients with alopecia universalis or totalis. Dermatologists could consider adding prednisone to JAK: 20 mg/day x 30 days, 10 mg/day x 30 days, 5 mg/day x 30 days. There’s a risk of immunosuppression in the first month, so Zirwas recommends JAK for 6 months and adding prednisone if that regimen doesn’t work.

You can also try clobetasol ointment QHS under a swim cap; after good regrowth, return to a JAK inhibitor. If it still doesn’t work, stop after 6 months.

Other Hair Loss Studies:

Low-Dose oral minoxidil initiation for patients with hair loss: an international modified Delphi consensus statement

Efficacy of topical finasteride 0.25% with minoxidil 5% vs topical minoxidil 5% alone in treatment of male pattern androgenic alopecia

Major improvement of very severe alopecia areata in patients treated with the combination of baricitinib and low doses of corticosteroids: an eight-case series

Low-Dose Metformin and Profibrotic Signature in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

Effects of Oral Minoxidil on Nails: a Cross-sectional Analysis

Treatments for patients with brittle, slow-growing nails include biotin 1 mg + pyridoxine 100 mg, minoxidil orally (1.25 mg per day) or topically (5% to cuticles nightly), and cynatine HNS oral daily (available on Amazon), which improves hardness, thickness, and appearance.

Research on Vitiligo

Before applying ruxolitinib, consider genetic bimatoprost drops and add NBUVB if possible. Hydroxychloroquine 200 mg once daily was seen to be better than NBUVB in a trial.

See:

The efficacy of bimatoprost ophthalmic solution combined with NB-UVB phototherapy in non-segmental and segmental vitiligo: a single-blind randomized controlled study

Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Safety of Topical Clobetasol with Oral Hydroxychloroquine versus Topical Clobetasol of NBUVB Phototherapy in Unstable Vitiligo: Investigator Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy should be used for 20 minutes once a week for androgenic alopecia, 12 minutes twice a day for skin aging. The wavelength should be in the 630 nm range.

See:

Reverse Skin Aging Signs by Red Light Photobiomodulation

Red and Green LED Light Therapy: A Comparative Study in Androgenetic Alopecia

Metformin Use

Studies have shown metformin helps acne, hidradenitis, CCCA, and reduces the risk of skin cancer. It is extremely safe and cheap, with no hypoglycemia risk.

See:

Metformin Use and Risk of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: A Propensity-Matched Case-Control Study

Efficacy of metformin vs. doxycycline in treating acne vulgaris: An assessor-blinded, add-on, randomized, controlled clinical trial

Other Studies Mentioned During the Session:

Sun Exposure

Sunlight: Time for a Rethink?

Psoriasis:

Comparative analysis of switching strategies for IL-23 and IL-17A inhibitors for the treatment of psoriasis: Interclass switching outperforms intraclass switching

Final Clinical Diagnosis in Cases of Histopathologic Psoriasiform Dermatitis: Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Southeastern United States population, 2004 - 2017

Research on Melasma

Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tranexamic Acid 250 mg Once a Day Versus 500 mg Twice a Day: A Comparative Study

References

1. Munayco Maldonado G, Foy V, Tai H, Chiesa Fuxench ZC. Variation in clinical presentation of pediatric-onset and adult-onset atopic dermatitis: a retrospective, single-center, chart review of adults with atopic dermatitis from the United States. Arch Dermatol Res. 2024;316(7):409. Published 2024 Jun 15. doi:10.1007/s00403-024-03008-x