Top 5 Articles of the Month: August 2025

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1. Acne Burden is Growing in Young Women Across the World, New Study Finds

A new global analysis highlights a significant rise in acne burden among women of reproductive age over the past 3 decades, with projections showing continued growth through 2040. Using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data from 1990 to 2021, researchers found that acne incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) all increased by more than 30%, with the steepest rises seen in low-sociodemographic regions. While adolescents remain most affected, older age groups are experiencing faster growth in cases, reflecting shifting lifestyle, environmental, and healthcare factors worldwide. With absolute burden expected to rise substantially due to population growth and aging, investigators stress the urgent need for improved access to affordable dermatological care, tailored prevention strategies, and mental health support to address the stigma and quality-of-life impact of acne globally.

2. Septerna Begins First-in-Human Trial of SEP-631 for CSU

This month, Septerna, Inc. launched a phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate SEP-631, an oral small molecule targeting MRGPRX2, a receptor central to mast cell activation in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and other mast cell-driven diseases. The placebo-controlled study will assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics in up to 150 healthy adults. Unlike standard antihistamines, SEP-631 is designed to inhibit mast cell degranulation through selective negative allosteric modulation of MRGPRX2, a pathway implicated in CSU, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and other inflammatory conditions. Preclinical data suggest strong inhibitory potential, and as Septerna’s first clinical candidate from its Native Complex Platform, SEP-631 represents both a therapeutic opportunity for patients with limited treatment options and a step forward in precision GPCR drug discovery.

3. AI Trends in Dermatology: Talking With David Cotter, MD, PhD at DERM 2025

AI is reshaping dermatology by easing administrative burdens but also raising new challenges. According to Cotter of Las Vegas Dermatology, tools like AI scribes and prior authorization support are reducing time spent on notes and helping patients access needed treatments. Yet insurers are leveraging AI in the opposite direction, using it to deny claims at unprecedented rates—a practice that has already spurred class action lawsuits. Clinically, AI shows promise in areas like skin cancer detection but remains best used as an adjunct rather than a replacement for physician expertise. Cotter urges dermatologists to lean into AI’s potential, emphasizing that clinicians must guide its integration to ensure patients benefit rather than face harm.

4. How GEP Testing is Personalizing Skin Cancer Care Beyond Staging

At a recent Dermatology Times Case-Based Roundtable, Gaurav Singh, MD, MPH, FAAD, FACMS, led an in-depth discussion on how gene expression profile (GEP) testing is transforming risk stratification and treatment decisions in melanoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Singh highlighted that despite current staging methods, 25% of melanoma deaths occur in stage I disease, underscoring the need for more precise tools. Through case examples, he demonstrated how 31-GEP testing can guide clinicians in confidently avoiding overtreatment in low-risk melanoma patients, such as forgoing sentinel lymph node biopsy, while 40-GEP provides critical clarity in high-risk SCC, supporting the use of adjuvant radiation. Attendees noted that GEP testing has directly influenced clinical decisions by helping dermatologists move beyond population-based staging toward personalized, biologically informed care. Singh emphasized that integrating tools like DecisionDx-Melanoma and DecisionDx-SCC represents a shift toward precision medicine in dermatologic oncology, ultimately improving outcomes and quality of life for patients.

5. Eichenfield Urges Lifelong Learning Amid Evolving Treatment Landscape

At the 2025 Society for Pediatric Dermatology Annual Meeting, Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, described pediatric dermatology as entering a transformative era defined by rapid therapeutic innovation. He traced the field’s evolution from chance discoveries, such as propranolol for infantile hemangiomas, to a new wave of targeted systemic therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases, including atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Breakthroughs with dupilumab, oral JAK inhibitors, and other advanced treatments are reshaping care and dramatically improving patient outcomes, with children now included earlier in clinical trials. Eichenfield emphasized the need for humility, lifelong learning, and collaboration as therapies shift quickly, noting that the most exciting frontiers ahead include genetically targeted therapies for rare diseases and long-term data supporting early intervention. With more than 150 posters presented and vibrant in-person exchange, the SPD meeting underscored both the rapid scientific progress and the essential role of professional connection in advancing pediatric dermatology.