This month’s news from across the specialty
What’s hot
November 1, 2025
In this monthly column, members of the DermWorld Editorial Advisory Workgroup identify exciting news from across the specialty.
I don’t see an important word — ‘teledermatology’ — in the title of a recent publication about 3D total-body photography (TBP). In a well-executed randomized clinical trial to test the costs and benefits of 3D-TBP in patients at high risk for melanoma in Australia (JAMA Dermatol. 2025;161(5):472-81), the authors conclude 3D-TBP did not change the average number of melanomas detected. The reporting emphasizes the failings of technology and spends less prose on the potential failings of the model of delegated subspecialization.
“Junior clinicians” selected specific lesions to further image with a digital dermatoscope. These targeted lesions, anatomically linked with the 3D-TBP files, were remotely reviewed by an “accredited dermatologist.” Does this trial test the technology, the training model in Australia, the impact of teledermatology? So many fun questions, but not enough data to make cost comparison claims of the technology in the companion report by the same authors (JAMA Dermatol. 2025;161(5):482-489).
This work should direct future research design and not clinical practice. It reinforces that diagnosing melanoma is challenging. Creating a perfect clinical trial is impossible. Models of delegated subspecialization can be expensive.
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Histopathologic evaluation of cutaneous melanoma is essential for diagnosis. An important function of the melanoma pathology reports (beyond establishing the diagnosis) is to provide histopathologic parameters which yield prognostic information and guide management. The American Society of Dermatopathology (ASDP) Melanoma Reporting Task Force recently published a consensus paper on minimal reporting guidelines for quality primary cutaneous melanoma pathology reports (J Cut Path. 2025. 52(10):655-60). An accompanying editorial is published in same issue of the journal (J Cut Path. 2025. 52(10):595-96). These data elements are considered to be essential for clinicians to provide appropriate care of a patient with a newly diagnosed melanoma.
For invasive melanomas, the required data elements are the diagnosis (melanoma), tumor thickness/Breslow depth, ulceration (presence or absence), mitotic rate (# mitoses/mm2), margin status (involved or uninvolved), neurotropism (presence or absence), lymphovascular invasion (presence or absence), satellitosis (presence or absence), and AJCC tumor stage. Some of these data elements, including tumor thickness, ulceration status, and presence of microscopic satellites, are required for AJCC staging. While mitotic rate is not part of AJCC 8th edition staging, reporting of this is recommended because of its prognostic value. Similarly, notation of lymphovascular invasion and neurotropism is required. For partial biopsies, it should be reported whether the tumor is transected at the base of the biopsy specimen. In excision specimens, presence of tumor or not at margins is required. The ASDP task force notes that additional helpful melanoma-specific information beyond the recommended minimum elements are welcome and not discouraged.
We all recognize that chronic hand eczema can have an enormous detrimental impact on patients’ quality of life and that it can be very challenging to treat. Fortunately, the therapeutic landscape has taken a major step forward with the July 2025 FDA approval of delgocitinib 2% cream, the first topical Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor specifically indicated for moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema in adult patients who have failed or cannot receive topical corticosteroids.
Delgocitinib is a pan-JAK inhibitor formulated for topical use and was approved based on the findings from the 16-week DELTA 1 and DELTA 2 phase III trials published in the Lancet in 2024. Recently, results of a phase 3 open-label extension trial (DELTA 3) involving 801 patients were published in JAAD and confirmed stable efficacy of delgocitinib cream for up to 52 weeks when used on an as-needed basis without any concerning safety data signals (2025. 93(1):95-103). Of note, delgocitinib cream was approved by the FDA without a boxed warning (unlike other JAK inhibitors used in dermatology, including topical ruxolitinib). I certainly look forward to adding this option to my therapeutic armamentarium!
Men are increasingly using personal care products. A recent publication estimated that the global market for men’s skin care is $11.6 billion and is expected to increase by 6% each year for the next decade (Dermatitis. 2025. 36(4):323-32). This paper focused on allergic contact dermatitis associated with men’s personal care products with a close look at the most common products that caused allergic contact dermatitis as well as the most common allergens. The most common products that caused allergic contact dermatitis in men, as identified by the authors, were hair products including hair dyes, hair loss preparations, hair gels, and shampoos. Deodorants, aftershaves, moisturizers, and lip balm were also identified as products associated with allergic contact dermatitis. The most common allergens reported by these authors to cause allergic contact dermatitis in the men they studied were paraphenylenediamine, minoxidil, musk ambrette, methylisothiazolinone, and cocamidopropyl betaine. Although females have historically used more personal care products, men are increasingly using these products. Clinicians should be aware of this trend and be sure to consider the possibility of allergic contact dermatitis and perform patch testing in their male patients.
More What’s Hot!
Check out more What’s Hot columns from the DermWorld Editorial Advisory Workgroup.
