Dermatology Times February 2026 Print Recap

The February issue of Dermatology Times includes a collection of thought-provoking articles and topics as we explore gene expression profile testing for atopic dermatitis, address UV safety in winter Olympic athletes, and celebrate this month's Rare Disease Day.

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Precision Medicine Arrives in Atopic Dermatitis: Guiding Systemic Treatment Decisions Through Gene Expression Profiling

We all have had a patient with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD)—the one who has tried everything. They have rotated through topical therapies, phototherapy, and perhaps 1 or 2 systemic agents. The patient improved temporarily on a biologic, only to flare again months later. Or maybe they never reached satisfactory control at all. As dermatologists, we know this pattern all too well: Choose a therapy, hope it works, and wait to see how the patient responds.

For years, systemic treatment decisions in AD have relied on clinical assessment and experience. Yet the disease is heterogeneous and biologically complex, driven by multiple immune pathways that vary from patient to patient. Until now, we haven’t had an objective way to identify which pathways are most active or which therapy class may be most effective.

Read more from Aaron S. Farberg, MD

Rare Disease Day Spotlight: Pipeline Updates in Epidermolysis Bullosa

Rare Disease Day is recognized on February 28 this year as an opportunity to raise awareness about the impact and burden rare diseases place on patients and their caregivers. With more than 300 million people globally who have a rare disease, advocacy is needed for equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, care, and social opportunities. This year’s key message from the Rare Disease Day organization is: “More Than You Can Imagine.”

In dermatology, an estimated 800 rare skin diseases affect approximately 6.8 million patients worldwide. Some of the more recognized rare diseases include epidermolysis bullosa (EB), generalized pustular psoriasis, ichthyosis, and erythropoietic protoporphyria, among others. Recently, EB has experienced pipeline advances in therapeutics to address recessive dystrophic EB (RDEB) and DEB. With more than 25,000 people with EB in the US alone, targeted therapeutics are a welcome option to both patients and clinicians.

Read more

Melanoma on the Mountain: Addressing the UV Crisis in Snow Sport Communities

For elite skiers, snowboarders, and other winter athletes, risk is often framed in terms of speed, terrain, and weather. Few consider UV radiation to be among the most dangerous hazards on the mountain. Yet for Travis Ganong—US Olympian, World Cup downhill racer, and lifelong skier—sun exposure ultimately proved to be consequential. His melanoma diagnosis at age 36 exposed gaps in prevention, screening, and education in winter sports communities, highlighting opportunities for clinicians to intervene during National Cancer Prevention Month.

Read more from Whitney Hovenic, MD

Inventing Modern Microneedling and Defining the Future of Skin Regeneration

Nearly 3 decades ago, Des Fernandes, MBBCh, FRCS (Edin), a plastic surgeon, researcher, and founder of Environ Skin Care, transformed a niche concept into one of today’s most widely adopted modalities for scar revision, photoaging, and skin regeneration. His pioneering work helped codify microneedling as a predictable, minimally invasive, collagen-inducing therapy long before the aesthetic market recognized its potential. In an exclusive, in-depth conversation with Dermatology Times, Fernandes reflects on how the technique evolved, the essential role of topical vitamins, and the next era of regeneration-focused aesthetic dermatology.

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Click here to view all articles in the February issue.