The 2025 Elevate-Derm Fall Conference recently concluded in Tampa, Florida. Dermatology Times was live on site to interview presenters about their latest clinical updates and attend sessions to report what’s on the horizon in dermatology.
Some of the common themes from this year’s meeting included topical corticosteroid stewardship, updates in treatments for type 2 inflammatory conditions, collaboration among clinicians and specialties, and more. Keep reading for an in-depth review of key themes and topics presented at Elevate-Derm Fall.
Inflammatory Conditions
Lisa Weiss, MMSc, PA-C, reviewed the diagnostic complexity of chronic hand eczema (CHE), noting that management depends on reconstructing exposures, morphology, and chronicity rather than relying solely on the patient’s initial story. She highlighted delgocitinib as a practical, cosmetically elegant non-steroidal option that aligns with the multifactorial biology of CHE, offering a pan-JAK mechanism and improved adherence compared with traditional high-potency topical steroids.
A poster at Elevate-Derm detailed phase 3 LIBERTY AD PEDS data, showing that dupilumab improved growth trajectories in children with severe atopic dermatitis, with a substantially higher proportion achieving ≥5-percentile height gains compared with placebo. Dupilumab also reduced topical steroid burden, reflected in lower cumulative TCS use and nearly double the number of TCS-free days, supporting its role in minimizing corticosteroid exposure while enhancing overall disease control.
Peter Lio, MD, emphasized thoughtful corticosteroid stewardship, especially with atopic dermatitis, highlighting the need for intermittent use, close monitoring, and proactive management of steroid-related anxiety and withdrawal. He also underscored the expanding role of nonsteroidal topicals such as tapinarof, ruxolitinib, and roflumilast in young children, reflecting a rapidly widening therapeutic landscape in pediatric dermatology.
Acne and Rosacea
Hilary Baldwin, MD, discussed a notably active pipeline for acne and rosacea, emphasizing that rosacea development is currently outpacing acne. She reviewed several innovative acne candidates, including the multifunctional Spongilla-derived agent, the sebum-targeting ASC40, and early vaccine and microbiome-based strategies. For rosacea, she pointed to narrow-spectrum options such as sarecycline and emerging mast-cell–directed therapies. Baldwin underscored that these diverse mechanisms signal meaningful therapeutic expansion across both conditions.
Vitiligo
Diego Ruiz Dasilva, MD, emphasized that vitiligo remains slow to respond and highly variable, making expectation-setting and combination therapy essential. He highlighted oral JAK inhibitors, particularly upadacitinib and ritlecitinib, as the most imminent systemic advances, alongside ruxolitinib cream and additional late-stage agents. He encouraged pairing light therapy, topical JAK inhibition, systemic immunomodulation, and procedural options for optimal repigmentation, and reminded clinicians to biopsy atypical cases to avoid mimics.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Buchi Neita, PA-C, emphasized early intervention in hidradenitis suppurativa, noting that delayed diagnosis drives progression to sinus tracts and scarring. During a live recording of the Skin Sync podcast, Buchi and her co-host, Shanna Miranti, PA-C, reviewed changing treatment trends with Robert Micheletti, MD. Neita highlighted the expanding therapeutic armamentarium, including IL-17 inhibitors, emerging oral JAK inhibitors, and deroofing for acute lesions, and stressed compassionate, coordinated care to address hidradenitis suppurativa's psychosocial and systemic burden.
Peer Collaboration
Lisa Weiss, MMSc, PA-C, and Justin Love, PA-C, emphasized the value of broad, continuously evolving differentials and encouraged revisiting assumptions when clinical and pathologic findings diverge. They highlighted repeat biopsies, richer clinical context for dermatopathologists, and peer collaboration as essential tools for resolving complex cases. Both stressed that strong professional networks meaningfully expand diagnostic insight and improve patient care.
Diego Ruiz Dasilva, MD, discussed the need for cohesive collaboration among physicians, NPs, and PAs to meet rising dermatologic demand, advocating for skills-based, not credential-based, workflow. He also urged clinicians to reassess hesitancy around JAK inhibitors, noting strong safety data, meaningful patient responses, and broader international adoption, and encouraged more individualized, evidence-driven integration of these agents.
Shanna Miranti, MPAS, PA-C, and Larissa Schmidt, DPM, underscored the frequent overlap between dermatology and podiatry, emphasizing that shared management of nail and skin pathology benefits from routine cross-specialty consultation. They highlighted how biomechanics often drive nail and plantar disease, the need to strengthen nail-focused skills in dermatology, and the value of cultivating local podiatry partnerships to streamline care and improve outcomes.
James Canner, PA-C, emphasized that peer-to-peer dialogue at Elevate-Derm, especially informal conversations about off-label strategies, real-world sequencing, and communication approaches, was as valuable as the formal sessions. He highlighted how collaborative exchanges among MDs, PAs, and NPs shape practical decision-making and strengthen interdisciplinary understanding across acne care, rheumatologic overlap, and alopecia management.
Ken Korber, PA-C, noted that effective dermatologic care depends on clear, literacy-appropriate communication and stronger team-based collaboration. He highlighted the need to address children directly in pediatric visits, avoid jargon, and guide families toward credible educational resources. Korber also underscored how interprofessional dialogue among PAs, NPs, and physicians helps close communication gaps and supports more consistent, patient-centered outcomes.
Patricia Delgado, DNP, AGPCNP, DCNP, PMHNP, emphasized that psychodermatology is a core clinical approach rather than a niche specialty, emphasizing practical communication strategies that strengthen rapport and improve adherence. She highlighted how validating language, brief psychosocial check-ins, and intentional clinician–patient engagement can meaningfully influence outcomes. Delgado also praised the interdisciplinary collaboration at Elevate-Derm, noting that shared learning among PAs and NPs is essential for advancing psychodermatology in everyday practice.
Hair Disorders
Victoria Garcia-Albea, NP, emphasized the growing clinical priority of hair and scalp disorders, noting that the inaugural Hair Health Summit helped standardize best practices and elevate collaboration in alopecia care. She highlighted accelerating educational momentum, driven by clearer recognition of hair loss as a medical condition with psychosocial impact. Garcia-Albea also encouraged early-career clinicians to pursue case-based scholarly work as an accessible pathway into academic and professional advancement.
Additional Topics
Ted Rosen, MD, stressed that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) extends far beyond bacteria, with fungi, viruses, and ectoparasites showing increasingly consequential resistance patterns. He emphasized the need for clinicians to stay attuned to regional variability, incorporate culture-based decision-making when therapies fail, and utilize alternative agents as resistance evolves. Rosen also highlighted the value of collaborative, team-based judgment in navigating rising AMR across diverse pathogens.
Julio Gonzalez Paoli, MD, noted that dermatology clinicians are often the first to detect connective tissue disease, underscoring the need to recognize systemic red flags in cutaneous lupus. He outlined distinguishing features across acute, subacute, and chronic subtypes, highlighted the prevalence of drug-induced presentations, and stressed thoughtful ANA counseling. Gonzalez Paoli urged close dermatology–rheumatology collaboration as advances in immunology and emerging interferon- and TYK2-targeted therapies reshape management.
Peter Lio, MD, highlighted the rapidly expanding 2026 dermatology pipeline, emphasizing standout investigational agents such as an oral STAT6 degrader that may redefine atopic dermatitis management. He noted promising advances in hidradenitis suppurativa and emerging immune-modulating strategies, including IL-2 agonists. Lio stressed that this evolving landscape will demand flexible, dynamic decision-making as clinicians match novel mechanisms to complex, shifting disease trajectories.
Douglas DiRuggiero, PA-C, DMSc, received the Stead Silver Ford Honorary Award at Elevate-Derm in recognition of his decades-long commitment to dermatology education, collaboration, and patient-centered care. The award highlights his leadership in advancing NP and PA training, extensive scholarly contributions, and a longstanding emphasis on team-based practice. Colleagues praised his influence on the field and the legacy he continues to build through mentorship and advocacy.
Matthew Brunner, MHS, PA-C, highlighted Elevate-Derm as a meeting built by practicing dermatology clinicians to deliver practical, evidence-based updates for APPs. He emphasized the agenda’s focus on emerging therapies, timely clinical data, and hands-on learning, while underscoring the conference’s broader mission: fostering mentorship, community, and leadership development through initiatives such as the Ascending Leaders Academy.
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