February 18, 2026
IN THIS ISSUE / Feb. 18, 2026
DermWorld What’s Hot: Distinguishing persistent nevi from melanoma on histopathology
Derm Coding Consult: Coding for surface radiation therapy in dermatology — Practical guide
Cardiovascular, thromboembolic risks of JAK inhibitors in atopic dermatitis
Oral finasteride and sexual adverse events
A study published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment explored whether oral finasteride for patients with androgenetic alopecia is causally linked to sexual adverse events (AEs) or whether it’s correlational. The study examined the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System from 2006 to 2024 to determine whether signals could be detected with finasteride 1 mg and dutasteride 0.5 mg for eight AEs.
[Topical finasteride with minoxidil vs. topical minoxidil alone for male-pattern androgenic alopecia. Read more.]
There were many more reports of sexual AEs with finasteride than with dutasteride. For both medications, reporting of sexual AEs increased in 2012, particularly with finasteride. The authors suggested that this rising number of cases may reflect increased awareness of post finasteride syndrome (PFS). The decline in reporting observed a few years after may be suggestive of the PFS hype attenuating with time, the authors wrote.
The much higher reporting that was identified for finasteride strongly supports a “nocebo” effect because despite dutasteride being a more potent 5-ARI, there were more AE reports with finasteride, the study authors noted.
View the Academy’s Hair Loss Resource Center.
Does finasteride lead to depression, suicide? – DermWorld Weekly (January 2025)
Shedding light on treatments for female pattern hair loss – DermWorld (April 2025)
DermWorld What’s Hot: Distinguishing persistent nevi from melanoma on
Dermatopathologists are well aware that distinguishing persistent and/or recurrent nevi from melanoma on histopathology may be very challenging, particularly in situations when a scar from a prior procedure or trauma is not well visualized, and/or supportive clinical history is not available. As such, the term “pseudomelanoma” has previously been used to refer to persistent/recurrent nevi. Read more from Emily Chu, MD, PhD, FAAD.
Surface radiation therapy (SRT), previously referred to as superficial radiation therapy, has become an increasingly employed modality for treating cutaneous tumors such as nonmelanoma skin cancers and select benign lesions in dermatology. With the 2026 CPT® changes, the SRT code set has been modified and streamlined, and is now directly clinically relevant for dermatology practices. Learn more.
New study outlines safe preparation of buffered lidocaine
The AADA has tirelessly advocated for access to compounded medications and in-office preparations to support dermatologists and their patients. As a result of years of work by the AADA Compounding Workgroup and other societies, a landmark independent study was conducted for safe in-office preparation of buffered lidocaine with epinephrine. The data support assigning a beyond-use date of seven days under refrigeration and 24 hours at room temperature. Read more.
Cardiovascular, thromboembolic risks of JAK inhibitors in atopic dermatitis
Authors of a study published in JEADV evaluated the real-world risk of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, pulmonary embolism (PE), and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) treated with JAK inhibitors. The authors compared AD patients initiating JAK inhibitors with those receiving dupilumab, methotrexate, or cyclosporine over three years.
[JAK inhibitors battle in the heavyweight class. Read more.]
The risk of PE and DVT was significantly higher among patients treated with JAK inhibitors relative to dupilumab, with a risk difference of eight and nine additional cases of PE and DVT per 1000 patients starting JAK inhibitors, respectively. Relative to methotrexate, JAK inhibitors were associated with an increased risk of DVT, with a risk difference of seven additional cases per 1000 patients starting JAK inhibitors. The risk of MI and stroke was not statistically elevated under JAK inhibitors in comparison to any of the comparators. These findings underscore the need for careful patient selection and thrombotic risk assessment when prescribing JAK inhibitors, the authors concluded.
Safety of treatment with IL-4/IL-13 inhibitors vs. JAK inhibitors in patients with AD. Read more.
