2025 in Review

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By Cather McKay MD, FAAD, WDS News You Can Use Committee

The field of dermatology seems to advance faster each year, with 2025 being no exception! Here are some of the year’s exciting updates.

 

ATOPIC DERMATITIS AND URTICARIA

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) issued an update to the guidelines for treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults this year, to add strong recommendations for tapinarof cream, roflumilast cream, lebrikizumab, and nemolizumab.1

Pan-JAK inhibitor delgocitinib cream (Anzupgo) was approved for chronic hand eczema in adults in July. Indications for roflumilast 0.05% cream (Zoryve) for children aged 2-5 years, and ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) down to the age of 2 years, were also expanded.

Trials continue for novel treatments including OX40 receptor inhibitor rocatinlimab, OX40 ligand inhibitor amlitelimab, and IL-2 receptor agonist rezpegaldesleukin.2-3

Dupilumab (Dupixent) was approved for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in April for patients aged 12 years and up who have failed antihistamines, and approval for bullous pemphigoid quickly followed in June. Remibrutinib (Rhapsido), a Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, became the first oral treatment for adults with CSU in September.4

 

PSORIASIS

The indication for guselkumab (Tremfya) for moderate to severe psoriasis was expanded to children aged 6 years and up, and roflumilast (Zoryve) 0.3% foam to patients aged 12 years and up. Deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) is in trials for psoriatic arthritis.

Icotrokinra, a once daily oral IL-23 receptor inhibitor, continues to succeed in trials with approval likely on the horizon.5 Additional oral TYK2 inhibitors zasocitinib and envudeucitinib, and IL-23p19 subunit inhibitor picankibart, are also still under investigation.6-8

 

HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA

A meta-analysis of 25 hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) trials showed the best response rates for the following: sonelokimab (120 mg every 4 weeks), adalimumab (40 mg once a week), sonelokimab (240 mg every 4 weeks), lutikizumab (300 mg every 2 weeks), followed by bimekizumab (320 mg every 2 weeks).9 Sonelokimab is a nanobody that blocks IL-17A and F, and Lutikizumab is an IL-1 alpha and beta inhibitor, which are not yet approved in the US.

JAK inhibitors inch closer to approval for HS with trials for upadacitinib and povoricitinib ongoing.10  A novel treatment targeting the CXCR1/2 ligands reported positive phase 2 results.11 IL-36 inhibitor spesolimab and BTK inhibitor remibrutinib are also being studied.

Data to support GLP-1s in HS grows, with improved disease severity and quality of life reported in those with concomitant obesity or diabetes, and a reduction in surgical abscess repairs and hospitalization regardless of type 2 diabetes status.12,13

 

ACNE/ROSEACEA

The AAD released a statement in March regarding benzene in benzoyl peroxide products after FDA testing led to a voluntary recall of six acne products. To minimize the risk of benzene formation, the statement recommends products be stored at room temperature or cooler, replaced every 10-12 weeks, and discarded if exposed to high temperatures.

Once daily oral denifanstat, a fatty acid synthase inhibitor, performed well in a phase 3 trial for moderate to severe acne.14

 

HAIR LOSS

A retrospective review of patients with lymphocytic scarring alopecias showed that low dose doxycycline (50mg or less daily) was as effective and had fewer adverse events than high dose (100mg or more daily).15

Future approval of upadacitinib (Rinvoq) for alopecia areata (AA) is likely given positive phase 3 results announced this year. Baricitinib (Olumiant), currently approved for adults with AA, may gain an indication for adolescents as well given successful phase 3 trials.

JAK1 inhibitor ivarmacitinib, IL-7 receptor alpha inhibitor bemipkibart, and IL-2 receptor agonist rezpegaldesleukin, are also being evaluated for AA.

 

VITILIGO

Positive phase 2 results for oral JAK1 inhibitor povorcitinib for the treatment of extensive nonsegmental vitiligo were published this year.16 Addition of nbUVB light therapy to oral baricitinib (Olumiant) and ritlecitinib (Litfulo) appears beneficial.17,18

 

CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE

Serum interferon (IFN)-alpha shows promise as a potential biomarker for cutaneous lupus flares.19 Type I IFN receptor inhibitor anifrolumab (Saphnelo), currently approved for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is in phase 3 trials for chronic and subacute cutaneous lupus (CLE/SCLE) and has shown efficacy in refractory cases of dermatomyositis (DM) as well. IFN-beta inhibitor dazukibart is in phase 3 trials for DM.20

JAK inhibitor brepocitinib is under investigation for DM, after failing to meet its trial endpoint for SLE in 2023. TYK2 inhibitor deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) continues in trials for SLE and CLE,21 and has published cases of its efficacy in DM.

The BDCA2 inhibitor litifilmab and the TRL7/8 inhibitor enpatoran, are both in trials for CLE.22 CAR T-cell therapy has been reported for refractory SLE as well as systemic sclerosis.23,24

 

MELANOMA

A “liquid biopsy” for melanoma surveillance appears promising with the validation of circulating tumor DNA detection via PCR assay in stage III melanoma.25

A large cohort study confirmed the significance of a Breslow depth of 0.8 mm in guiding management of early melanoma, showing a crude incidence rate of melanoma-related death 20 years after diagnosis of 6% for those with tumors thinner than 0.8 mm, vs. 12% among those with tumors 0.8 mm to 1 mm in thickness.26

Two immune-mobilizing T-cell receptor against cancer (ImmTAC) therapies (brenetafusp and tebentafusp), which are fusion proteins that bind a patient’s T-cells and melanoma cells to trigger an immune attack, are in phase 3 trials in combination with nivolumab and pembrolizumab, respectively.27

 

NON-MELANOMA SKIN CANCER

Exposure to metformin lowered the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer across skin types except for SCC in black patients.28 A retrospective study reiterated the benefit of nicotinamide 500mg BID for chemoprevention.29

The histologic clearance rate for superficial basal cell carcinoma treated with 2-4 treatments of red-light photodynamic therapy and 10% aminolevulinic acid (Ameluz) was reported to be 75.9% in a randomized clinical trial.30

In October, cemiplimab (Libtayo) was approved as adjuvant treatment for patients with SCC at high risk of recurrence after surgery and radiation.31

 

On behalf of the WDS News You Can Use Committee, 

we hope you’ve enjoyed our editorials this year, and we wish you a joyful holiday season!

 

 References

  1. Davis, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025;doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2025.05.1386.
  2. Guttman-Yassky, et al. Immunotherapy. 2025;doi: 10.1080/1750743X.2025.2464528.
  3. Blauvelt A, et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2025;doi: 10.1111/jdv.20877.
  4. Metz M, et al. N Engl J Med 2025;doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2408792.
  5. Bissonnette R, et al. N Engl J Med 2025;doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa250418.
  6. Armstrong AW, et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2024;doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.2701.
  7. Blauvelt A, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025;doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2025.07.013.
  8. Shi Y, et al. British J Dermatol. 2024;doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljae360.092
  9. Garg A, et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2025;doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2025.1976.
  10. Ackerman LS, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025;doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2024.12.046.
  11. Forman S, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025;doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2025.10.015.
  12. Sánchez-Feliciano A, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025;doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2025.06.077.
  13. Gupta N, et al. J Drugs Dermatol. 2025;doi:10.36849/JDD.8926.
  14. Xiang, et al. Abstract #LBA-213. Presented at: EADV Congress; Sept. 17-20, 2025; Paris.
  15. Needle C, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025;doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2025.02.028.
  16. Pandya AG, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025;doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2025.06.027.
  17. Seneschal J, et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2025;doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.5737.
  18. Yamaguchi Y, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025;doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2024.11.064.
  19. Murat de Montai Q, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025;doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2024.12.041.
  20. Fiorentino D, et al. Lancet. 2025;doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02071-3.
  21. Werth V, et al. Efficacy and safety of oral deucravacitinib in patients with cutaneous manifestations of lupus erythematosus: Results from PAISLEY CLE, a global, phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Presented at: AAD Annual Meeting; March 7-11, 2024; Orlando.
  22. Morand E, et al. Abstract 0802. Presented at: ACR Convergence 2025; Oct 24-29, 2025; Chicago.
  23. Wang Q, et al. N Engl J Med. 2025;doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2509522.
  24. Khanna D. Abstract 0843. Presented at: ACR Convergence 2025; Oct. 24-29, 2024; Chicago.
  25. Syeda MM, et al. Lancet Oncol. 2025;doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00139-1.
  26. Lo SN, et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2024;doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.4900.
  27. Lopatnikova JA, et al. Front Immunol. 2025;doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1679092.
  28. Haq Z, et al. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;doi:10.36849/JDD.8249.
  29. Breglio KF, et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2025;doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2025.3238.
  30. Schlesinger T, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025;doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2025.08.031.
  31. Rishcin D, et al. N Engl J Med. 2025; doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2502449.


Comments

  1. Premier Pain CentersJanuary 9, 2026 at 4:21 PM

    What a great recap of the year! It’s inspiring to see all the helpful skincare tips and wellness insights you’ve shared. Something many of us juggle along with skin care routines is Back Pain From Long Sitting, especially if we spend lots of time at a desk or working on our screens. Thanks for the thoughtful content — it’s a nice reminder to take care of our whole body, not just our skin!

    ReplyDelete

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