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and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in February 2023. She attended Kent State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism with minors in public relations and creative writing. She enjoys making and listening to music, reading, and spending time with her cats, Astrid and Marceline.

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This review of the latest dermatologic studies includes insights into atopic dermatitis, including results from a novel topical CBD application, skin mycobiome comparison, and more.


Journal Digest: March 26

Catch up on dermatology news, highlights, and insights from the past 24 hours.

Daily Derm Times: March 25, 2025

Maddi Hebebrand is an associate editor of 

and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in May 2024. She attended Baldwin Wallace University, studying Media Production and Film, and is now finishing her Masters in Digital Media through Ohio University. When she's not writing, Maddi loves to read, attend concerts and spend time with her family.

An expert panel of clinicians provided insights on first-line treatments, maintenance strategies, and flare management for AD.

Expert Recommendations for Personalized AD Treatment 

Marie Bosslett is the assistant editor of 

 and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in October 2024. She attended Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with minors in marketing and writing. When she’s not writing, Marie enjoys going to concerts, reading on the beach, and spending time with friends and family.

The novel treatments will be for patients with orphan conditions like Netherton Syndrome, Peeling Skin Syndrome, SAM Syndrome, and palmoplantar keratoderma. 

Quoin Files US Patent Applications for Rare Disease Treatments

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A study found that 65.8% of US adults distrust their health care system’s use of AI, highlighting a need for better communication on AI tools.

Study Reveals Majority of US Adults Distrust Health Care System’s Use of AI

Final Thoughts: The Importance of Comparative Studies in AD

Panelists offer concluding insights and emphasize the critical role of comparative studies in advancing atopic dermatitis treatment strategies.

clinical

Video Series

The Prevalence and Characteristics of GPP

Panelists discuss how generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP), while rare, presents with distinctive widespread sterile pustules on erythematous skin, requires prompt medical intervention, and differs significantly from more common plaque psoriasis in its clinical presentation, triggers, and treatment approaches.

Clinical Experience and Diagnosis of GPP

Panelists discuss how clinical experience in diagnosing generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) requires recognizing its hallmark features of widespread sterile pustules on inflamed skin, distinguishing it from other pustular conditions, and understanding the genetic mutations and triggers that can precipitate this rare but potentially life-threatening form of psoriasis.

Ruth is a 45-year-old woman presenting with severe pruritus, erythematous rash, and lichenification across her legs, arms, and abdomen. She has a history of allergic rhinitis and asthma since childhood but no prior history of atopic dermatitis (AD). Ruth recently experienced work-related stress due to a promotion.

Upon further questioning, you learn that Ruth has disturbed sleep due to intense pruritis, hindering ability to be fully present in daily activities. Additionally, she mentions that she has noticed the symptoms and rash are worse when highly stressed, which is common with increased work demands. Ruth has tried multiple over the counter emollients and moderate-potency corticosteroids. Although she was diligent in their application, the rash persisted and she experienced rebound flares when tapering their use. She also mentioned that she was on a topical calcineurin inhibitor for a few months and noticed some improvement.

Ask follow up questions to determine whether stress is short-term, long-term, and/or spurred by a traumatic event

Try a different treatment option, such as dupilumab or tralokinumab

How do you approach a case that may be exacerbated by stress? We would love to hear from you. Email 

Ruth, a 45-year-old woman, presents with severe pruritus, erythematous rash, and lichenification, with a history of allergic rhinitis and asthma but no prior atopic dermatitis. Her symptoms, exacerbated by stress, have led to disturbed sleep and impaired daily functioning. Despite using over-the-counter emollients, corticosteroids, and a topical calcineurin inhibitor, her condition persists with rebound flares. The case highlights the potential impact of stress on dermatological conditions and the challenges in managing stress-related exacerbations in patients with similar profiles.

The case of a 45-year-old woman with AD challenges clinicians on how to consider stress as an exacerbating factor in a treatment-resistant case.

DermIQ 

Evaluating Stress Levels in AD Treatment Plans

"The patient experience and the eczema journey is so important," said Wendy Smith Begolka, MBS, the Chief Strategy Officer at the 

Wendy Smith Begolka, MBS, and Renata Block, MMS, PA-C discuss the NEA's expanded eczema visual guide and upcoming Chicago event to support diverse patient communities.

National Eczema Association Expands Visual Guide to Address Skin Tone Disparities

Renata Block, MMS, PA-C, a board-certified physician assistant in Chicago, Illinois, and a 

Editorial Advisory Board member, and Begolka discussed efforts to address disparities in eczema diagnosis and treatment, particularly among diverse patient groups. 

, Begolka and Block discussed the evolving understanding of eczema flares, including the disconnect between clinical definitions and patient experiences.

The NEA is actively addressing disparities in eczema diagnosis and treatment among by expanding its Eczema Visual Guide, a resource designed to document eczema's presentation across different skin tones.

"One of the ways that we have begun to address this is by creating but now also expanding what is called our eczema visual guide," Begolka said, highlighting the existing dsparities. "We definitely have heard from our community as well as health care providers that there is really a paucity of images out there that really just document what eczema, of various types of eczema, look like across the skin tone sort of range that you might encounter in real life individuals."

The guide initially launched with 100 images of eczema in different skin tones. Over the past year, the NEA has worked with patients and providers to expand this collection, aiming to enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient education.

"We launched our visual guide a little over a year and a half ago with around 100 images," Begolka explained. "In this last year, we've had a patient-facing effort to really increase the number of images so that we can provide a much more visual representation of that heterogeneity across skin tones."

The updated guide, expected to launch in 2025, will serve as a reference for health care providers and patients, though it is not a diagnostic tool.

"Even though it's not a diagnostic tool for health care providers, [they can] say this is what I think; this is a good example of what your eczema looks like," said Begolka. "Or this is what it might look like when it would be getting better, or this is what hyperpigmentation might look like, or hypopigmentation might look like."

Beyond the visual guide, the NEA is expanding its reach into local communities. Through its Ambassadors Program, NEA is empowering individuals to educate their local networks.

"We still need to be able to penetrate and have our resources reach the community sort of where they live," Begolka emphasized. "So we're taking other steps through our ambassadors to disseminate more locally."

Additionally, the NEA is organizing local educational meetings, including an upcoming event in Chicago on March 22.

"The event is going to be taking place on March 22nd in Chicago at the Gleacher Center, and it's called 'Living Well with Eczema,'" Begolka shared. "It’s a community event designed to give an understanding, a foundation, sort of like an Eczema 101, but also a sense of the community that the National Eczema Association can provide and the resources that are available to help you not only best manage your eczema but really live your best life with eczema."

Begolka urged health care professionals to connect patients with NEA's resources.

"One of the things that we hear very, very often from our community is, 'I wish we found you sooner,'" she said. "It’s really unfortunate when we hear that from someone who has clearly been struggling with the effects of and the burdens of their disease for quite some time."

She encouraged dermatology clinicians to recommend NEA to their patients as a source of support beyond the clinic.

"It really is an opportunity to give that surround sound for everything that you're going to be telling them in the clinic setting," she said.

Additionally, she highlighted the importance of patient-reported outcomes in eczema management.

"The patient experience and the eczema journey is so important… If you're not collecting at least some form of a patient-reported outcome, I encourage you, you don't have to do everything, just start small," she advised.

For clinicians interested in contributing eczema images to the NEA Visual Guide, Begolka welcomed submissions via the 

"We have essentially an open call for anyone who would like to submit images," she said. "We’re hoping to have really the biggest library of eczema images available for utilization in a wide variety of purposes."

Do you have a unique experience to share? Email 

"The impact on mental health is a major aspect that patients noted, which often goes unnoticed in clinical definitions," said Wendy Smith Begolka, MBS, the Chief Strategy Officer at the 

Wendy Smith Begolka, MBS, and Renata Block, MMS, PA-C, discuss redefining eczema flares to align clinical and patient perspectives.

Bridging the Gap Between Patient Experience and Clinical Definitions in Eczema

Editorial Advisory Board member, and Begolka shed light on the evolving understanding of eczema flares, emphasizing the disconnect between clinical definitions and patient experiences. 

, Begolka and Block discussed the NEA's mission, initiatives, and commitment to enhancing the lives of those affected by eczema.

Flares are often ambiguously defined, with clinicians relying on physical symptoms and changes in treatment. However, Begolka highlighted that patient perspectives encompass a broader range of experiences, including unseen early warning signs and mental health impacts.

"We actually just completed a consensus process with members of our community, a Delphi process, to really understand what they thought was most important to include in a definition of flare," she explained. "The vast majority of patients felt that some of the definitions in clinical trials were not inaccurate, but they were incomplete."

Current definitions often focus on physical symptoms or the need for therapy adjustments, but patients report sensing changes before visible manifestations occur. 

"A lot of the definition or consideration of the flare is about what is unseen. It’s about what we call the ‘spidey sense’—things that are changing but not necessarily visible yet on the skin," Begolka said.

She also noted the ongoing inflammatory activity in eczema, even when symptoms are not outwardly visible. 

"Even though they're not phenotypically flaring, the inflammatory response within the body is constantly happening," she noted.

Given these insights, Begolka emphasized the importance of patient-clinician communication. 

"It is something that is very individualized, and so that’s why it is so important to have that conversation with your patient: How do you think about your flares, and how do you quantify that?" she posed.

As research continues, efforts like NEA’s consensus process aim to refine flare definitions, ensuring they reflect the full spectrum of patient experiences and needs.

Austin Littrell

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