They are hot.
From the Editor
Dr. Schwarzenberger is the former physician editor of DermWorld.
By Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD, FAAD, November 1, 2025
It is hard to think of another class of drugs that has generated such excitement from the general public as the GLP-1 agonists. While originally designed (and still used) to manage diabetes, their success in promoting weight loss has made them an immensely popular and sought-after group of meds. This class of medications has benefitted many of us and our patients but, unfortunately (as we have also experienced with biologics), there may be downsides to the upside, some of which may manifest as skin issues. To help you be prepared should you see patients with these issues, or just to be able to answer questions when your patients ask about them, we review our present understanding of the skin on GLP-1 agonists. We may recognize more complications as their use grows, but for now the good seem to outweigh the bad, so I suspect we will continue to see their use grow.
Judging from the number of nail pictures I see posted on dermatologists’ social media pages, I suspect I am not the only one who gets nervous when a patient presents with melanonychia. Do I biopsy or not? Sometimes the decision is easy, but other times not. However, the consequences of missing a melanoma are significant. Several of our colleagues with nail expertise generously share their tips on managing melanonychia this month. It may not make performing nail biopsies more comfortable, but hopefully their advice will make the decision to do the procedure (or not) more straightforward!
Many of you have never heard of a Rolodex, but it really does not seem that long ago that we all relied on them to store and retrieve important phone numbers with just a turn of the wheel. Of course, that was back in the dark ages when phones were wired to the walls with a cord connecting the headpiece to the main unit. It is amusing to note that over the years, the ways we connect with our professional colleagues may have changed, but the importance of doing so has not. Connecting with our colleagues is one of the ways we build and establish our professional referral base. While this may be particularly important for those of us in private practice, even dermatologists in group practices may benefit from building a strong referral base, especially if we have a specialized practice. How to connect in 2025? Read our feature and see if you are taking advantage of all the opportunities available today.
November is the traditional month for giving thanks. Over the years, I have been blessed with such good fortune that it is hard to know where to start naming the things for which I am thankful. One thing I am eternally grateful for is my colleagues who inspired me to consider dermatology as a career. This career has allowed me to work with many amazing and inspirational individuals over the years, many of whom I am happy to call my friend. Sadly, we lost some over the past year, including my dear friend Rob Sidbury, whose sharp wit and kindness will be missed by all of us lucky to have known him. But I remain so eternally grateful for having known him and my other colleagues, past and present. Happy Thanksgiving, all. Hug those close to you.
