Does Dupixent raise the risk of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in atopic dermatitis patients? It’s the burning question gripping dermatology—and we’ve got answers.

Join the Derms on Drugs team as we unpack the latest with Dr. Shamir Geller, who runs a CTCL clinic at Memorial Sloan Kettering and published the first data that truly helps us understand if there is a Dupixent - CTCL link.

Plus, we dive into CTCL survival stats and must-know updates for practicing dermatologists. Essential listening for anyone who is taking care of dermatology patients.

Derms on Drugs is brought to you by Scholars in Medicine.

Guest: Shamir Geller, MD 

Associate Attending Physician Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 

Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 

I’m a dermatologist interested mainly in cutaneous lymphoma. During my cutaneous oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) between the years 2016-2019, I became a cutaneous lymphoma enthusiast, working at MSK multi-disciplinary cutaneous lymphoma clinic. Under the mentorship of expert faculty in dermatology, oncology, and pathology, I was able to master the art of integrating clinical findings, histopathologic features, clinical laboratory data, and molecular characteristics to reach to the diagnosis and most suitable treatment. After my fellowship I was appointed as an attending physician in the cutaneous lymphoma clinic at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel and provided care for patients with cutaneous lymphomas while continuing to pursue research in the field. 

In early 2023 I returned to New York to the cutaneous lymphoma clinic at MSKCC as an associate attending. Other than clinical work and research, I dedicate a large portion of my time and effort to teaching and mentoring students, residents, fellows and visiting physicians. My research projects have been published in the leading dermatology, hematology and oncology journals and I’ve been invited and chosen to present my works in numerous regional, national and international conferences (ASH, USCLC, WCCL, EORTC, SID, AAD, EADV and others). I’m frequently asked to peer-review manuscripts on lymphomas of the skin and I also assist the cutaneous lymphoma foundation (CLF) with the preparation of patients’ education materials and lectures. 

Resource links for this episode available at ⁠Scholars in Medicine⁠.

1. Integrative epidemiology and immunotranscriptomics uncover a risk and potential mechanism for cutaneous lymphoma unmasking or progression with dupilumab therapy
2. Overall and Cause-Specific Mortality Among Patients With Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma in the United States
3. Diagnosis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma following exposure to biologic agents for atopic dermatitis: A retrospective cohort study from a single tertiary cancer center
   

Late-breaking abstracts from the AAD Meeting offer a sneak peek into dermatology’s future—and we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Derms on Drugs uncovers the hottest data that will dominate the top journals and meetings in 2025: the cutting-edge for psoriasis, new Tyk2 inhibitors, new treatment for cutaneous lupus, dupilumab’s possible role in bullous pemphigoid, patient-led patch testing innovations, plus fresh approaches to skin cancer and alopecia areata. Tune in to stay ahead of the curve!

This podcast is brought to you by Scholars in Medicine.

New Articles on causes and treatments for AKs, Melasma, Atopic Derm, Acne, Grover's and Contact Derm.  But you can't always believe what you read in a journal, and even when you can it doesn't mean it's going to help your patients.  So, sit back, relax and join the Derms on Drugs to separate fact from fiction.

• A systemic option for patients with tons of actinic keratoses all over their body?  If it sounds too good to be true it probably is, right?
• Botox for melasma.  Can you see the difference?  Can the Derms on Drugs?
• New "Real World" data says Dupixent doesn't help 85% of patients.  Are the authors living in the "Real World"?
• Hormonal IUDs cause acne - Fact, fiction or the jury is still out?
• Grover's Disease (aka transient acantholytic dermatosis) isn't always so transient.  Do we finally have a breakthrough?
• Positive Patch Tests in Kids - do they actually get better or is it just sending us down a rabbit hole?

Derms on Drugs is brought to you by Scholars in Medicine.

Resource links for this episode available at Scholars in Medicine.

1. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Field Cancerization and Keratinocyte Cancer Prevention
2. Intradermal Botulinum Toxin A for Melasma: A Randomized Split-Face Study Trial and In Vitro Study of Its Antimelanogenic Effect⁠
3. Unmet Needs of Effective Advanced Systemic Therapies in Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis Patients in the TARGET-DERM AD Registry
4. Frequency of androgenic cutaneous adverse events associated with levonorgestrel intrauterine devices: An analysis of the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database
5. Efficacy of Dupilumab for Treatment-Resistant Grover's Disease: A Retrospective Study⁠
6. Association of Somatic ATP2A2 Damaging Variants With Grover Disease ⁠
7. Discrepancies in patch testing timing and outcomes: A retrospective analysis of the Pediatric Allergic Contact Dermatitis Registry

The Derms on Drugs enlist the Sultan of Scratching, Dan Kaplan from the University of Pittsburgh, to answer the age- old question - should you scratch an itch or not? 

Believe it or not, some of the most cutting-edge science on the planet is focusing on this question (you think they'd have better stuff to work on, but who are we to judge). The answer(s) are going to surprise you - turns out scratching does a lot more than just get bugs off our skin (although that part is important too).

Derms on Drugs is brought to you by Scholars in Medicine.

Guest: Daniel H. Kaplan, MD, PhD

Daniel H. Kaplan, MD, PhD is a Professor within the Department of Dermatology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh. His research is dedicated to understanding the mechanisms that underlie skin immunity and the interplay of different immune cells types that reside in the skin.  As a graduate student at Washington University, St Louis he participated in the re-invigoration of the concept of tumor immunosurveillance by observing an increased frequency of skin tumors in immunodeficient mice. During his post-doc at Yale University, he developed a number of mouse lines with a selective deficiency of Langerhans cells (LC) and showed that these cells have the unexpected capacity to suppress tissue immune. As an Assistant and later Associate professor at the University of Minnesota, he found that LC and dermal dendritic cells have unique functions in the development of anti-pathogen responses. In 2015 he moved to the University of Pittsburgh. His laboratory is currently focused on understanding how intracellular communication mechanisms between immune cells and non-hematopoietic cells in the skin with a particular emphasis on sensory afferents modulate cutaneous immunity and skin disease. 

Resource links for this episode are available at ⁠Scholars in Medicine⁠.

1. Brain's reward circuits mediate itch relief. a functional MRI study of active scratching
2. Epidermal Mechanical Scratching-Induced ROS Exacerbates the Itch-Scratch Cycle via TRPA1 Activation on Mast Cells in Atopic Dermatitis
3. Scratching promotes allergic inflammation and host defense via neurogenic mast cell activation
4. Activation of Mast-Cell-Expressed Mas-Related G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Drives Non-histaminergic Itch
5. Mast-Cell-Derived TNF Amplifies CD8(+) Dendritic Cell Functionality and CD8(+) T Cell Priming
6. Mast Cells Initiate Type 2 Inflammation through Tryptase Released by MRGPRX2/MRGPRB2 Activation in Atopic Dermatitis

The Captain of Compliance, The Admiral of Adherence... Whatever you want to call him, you're going to love this week's episode as the Derms on Drugs dig deep with Dr. Steve Feldman on how to help our patients actually follow through with our recommendations. Trust us, even if you've heard Dr. Feldman talk about this before, you're still not going to want to miss this.

As part of our dive into the nitty gritty of adherence we'll also talk about:
-The first "Oral Biologic" on the way from Janssen - is this oral peptide that inhibits IL-23 a real game changer?
-How a drug like VTAMA is a game changer for pediatric atopic dermatitis, both because of how well it works and because it's so easy for patients to use
-If Cabtreo, the new triple combo cream for acne, works so fast that it actually helps patients stick with using it 

Derms on Drugs is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠Scholars in Medicine.⁠⁠

Guest: 

Dr. Steven R. Feldman, MD, PhD is a Professor of Dermatology, Pathology, and Social Sciences & Health Policy at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. His chief clinical interest is psoriasis.  Feldman has done groundbreaking research on addiction to tanning beds, patients’ adherence to their medication treatment regimens, and patients’ satisfaction with their medical care.  Feldman’s experiences in medicine have led him to try to see how others perceive things, leading to his book Compartments and his recent novella Bent Toward Justice.  His research has been published in over 1,000 peer reviewed, Medline-referenced articles.  Expertscape.com ranks Feldman among the top experts in the world on psoriasis, acne, dermatology, and treatment adherence. Feldman also serves as the editor of the Journal of Dermatological Treatment and the Journal of Dermatology and Dermatological Surgery and as chief medical editor of The Dermatologist.  

Resource links for this episode available at Scholars in Medicine:

1.  FRONTIER-2: A phase 2b, long-term extension, dose-ranging study of oral JNJ-77242113 for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
2. Tapinarof cream 1% once daily: Significant efficacy in the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adults and children down to 2 years of age in the pivotal phase 3 ADORING trials
3.  Efficacy and Safety of a Fixed-Dose Clindamycin Phosphate 1.2%, Benzoyl Peroxide 3.1%, and Adapalene 0.15% Gel for Moderate-to-Severe Acne: A Randomized Phase II Study of the First Triple-Combination Drug
4.  An exploratory study of adherence to topical benzoyl peroxide in patients with acne vulgaris
5.  Effects of ruxolitinib cream on pruritus and quality of life in atopic dermatitis: Results from a phase 2, randomized, dose-ranging, vehicle- and active-controlled study
6.  Long-term adherence to topical psoriasis treatment can be abysmal: a 1-year randomized intervention study using objective electronic adherence monitoring

-Big BCCs – Debulk First or Chemo First?; 

-Do Covid or the Covid Vaccine Affect the Risk of Getting a Bullous Disease?

-Does Drinking Drive Melasma?

But of course that’s not all: Should we be treating Strep to help our psoriasis patients get better faster? What Biologics are new on the horizon for treating linear morphea? And just how well does oral roflumilast work for psoriasis?

Join us this week for more dermatology takes that you won’t get anywhere else!

Derms on Drugs is brought to you by ⁠Scholars in Medicine.

Resource links for this episode are available at Scholars in Medicine.

1. Surgical Debulking Modifies Notch Signaling and May Improve Vismodegib Effectiveness for Locally Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma
2. COVID-19 infection is associated with an elevated risk for autoimmune blistering diseases while COVID-19 vaccination decreases the risk: A large-scale population-based cohort study of 112 million individuals
3. Diet and Living Environment as Novel Etiological Factors for Melasma: The Results Form a Retrospective Case-Control Study of 150 Chinese Patients
4. The impact of antibiotic therapy in psoriasis patients with active streptococcal infection: A prospective study
5. Use of biologic drug in the treatment of localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis in children: A scoping review
6. Oral roflumilast for psoriasis: a real-world 24-week prospective cohort study
7. A randomized, controlled pilot study of oral roflumilast compared with intramuscular methotrexate for plaque and scalp psoriasis
8. Roflumilast and cognition enhancement: A translational perspective
9. Acute treatment with the PDE4 inhibitor roflumilast improves verbal word memory in healthy old individuals: a double-blind placebo-controlled study
10. Acute administration of roflumilast enhances immediate recall of verbal word memory in healthy young adults

Psoriasiform Dermatitis - the Derms on Drugs take on your worst nightmare when it comes to path reports.  Dermatitis?  Psoriasis?  Both?  Neither?  We'll get into the weeds with Amber Atwater, who looked at what the final diagnoses ended up being in hundreds of patients with psoriasiform dermatitis that gives us some clues on how to approach these patients. We also review the latest work on idiopathic erythroderma - not so idiopathic anymore, thanks to the hard work and genius of Shawn Kwatra at the University of Maryland. And, stick around to the end for some hard hitting trivia on the American Contact Dermatitis Society's last 25 years of Allergens of the Year.

Join us for another episode of Derms on Drugs, brought to you by Scholars in Medicine.

1.  Targeted dual biologic therapy for erythroderma of unknown etiology guided by high-parameter peripheral blood immunophenotyping
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39809837/

2.  Molecular Structure and Function of Janus Kinases: Implications for the Development of Inhibitors
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32083640/

3.  Final clinical diagnosis in cases of histopathologic psoriasiform dermatitis: retrospective cross-sectional analysis of a Southeastern United States population, 2004-2017
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39792248/

4.  Epidermal spongiotic Langerhans cell collections, but not eosinophils, are a clue to the diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis: A series of 170 clinically- and patch test-confirmed cases
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39709083/

5.  The 2023 Annual Report of DataDerm: The database of the American Academy of Dermatology
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38936667/

6.  Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 1. Diagnosis and assessment of atopic dermatitis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24290431/

7.  The atopic dermatitis spectrum disorder. Recognizing the clinical heterogeneity in patients with atopic related skin conditions in order to improve therapeutic decision-making and outcomes: an expert panel consensus statement
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34365875/

8.  Toluene-2,5-Diamine Sulfate: Allergen of the Year 2025
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39862176/

We all kind of freaked out when the news broke that benzene had been detected in benzoyl peroxide. I mean, makes sense, right -benzene even sounds like benzoyl - how did nobody think of this before! And the lab that detected it got Zantac pulled from the market and it was even discussed at Fall Clinical..."There is no safe amount of exposure to benzene..." The final straw was when an article dropped in JID -JID for goodness sake - about the problem.

Not so fast. Our trio did a deep dive and there is WAY more to this story than meets the eye. Join us as we get into the nitty grittywith John Barbieri (from Harvard!) about his published research on the topic along with the well­ known Australian cosmetic chemist, Michelle Wong, PhD (aka "Lab Muffin").

Derms on Drugs is produced by Scholars in Medicine.

John Barieri 

John Barbieri, MD, MBA is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and the Director of the Advanced Acne Therapeutics Clinic at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is an associate editor at JAMA Dermatology and is also the co-chair of the American Academy of Dermatology Acne Guidelines Work Group. His research is focused on conducting innovative clinical trials, health economic, and epidemiology studies to identify the best approaches to care for patients with acne. He also focuses on exploring the role of patient-reported outcomes to ensure we are capturing the patient’s voice and perspective on their care. 

Dr. Barbieri has received consulting fees from Honeydew Care.

Michelle Wong

Michelle Wong is a science educator and chemistry PhD. In 2011 she started the website Lab Muffin Beauty Science, where she explains the science behind beauty products for a general audience. She has since expanded to YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, and is known for her work debunking myths. Her book The Science of Beauty was released in June 2024, and she is the cofounder of BeautySciComm. Through her science communication work, Michelle has worked with many brands on campaigns, and delivered invited talks at international conferences. Her work has been featured in Wired, The New York Times, ABC News, and Chemistry & Engineering News.

Social media handles:

YouTube, IG, Threads, TikTok: @labmuffinbeautyscience

Bluesky: labmuffin.com

Website: labmuffin.com

Substack: labmuffin.substack.com

Resources:

1.   Evaluation of Benzene Presence and Formation in Benzoyl Peroxide Drug Products

 PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39384016/

Full Text Link: www.jidonline.org/action/showPdf?

2.   No evidence for an association between benzoyl peroxide use and increased blood benzene levels in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38950699/

Full Text: https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(24)00980-0/fulltext

3.   Benzoyl peroxide for acne treatment is not associated with an increased risk of malignancy: A retrospective cohort study

PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39002561/

Full Text: https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(24)01051-X/fulltext

4: Benzene in your products, Part 2: The story of Valisure. Lab Muffin Beauty Science.

 https://labmuffin.com/benzene-in-your-products-part-2-the-story-of-valisure/

5: Shelf-stable formulations of benzoyl peroxide and methods of producing same https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2023177625A1/en

6. A Legal Shakedown Exposed: How Valisure tried to cash in on its dubious claims about cancer. https://www.wsj.com/articles/valisure-cancer-claims-zantac-dry-shampoo-david-Iight-11675806424

• Litfulo for when all hope for hair seems lost...when Olumiant strikes out, can Litfulo pinch hit and save the day?
• Hand eczema: Did we really need a 60,000-patient study to find out who's most likely to have horrible hands?
• The Hand Eczema Whisperer: Jacob Thyssen joins us all the way from the University of Copenhagen for some hand-to-hand combat: What causes it, what can you do about it right now, and what's on the horizon for hand eczema.
• But that's not all — the Derms on Drugs always bring the best stuff from the literature.

Derms on Drugs is produced by Scholars in Medicine.

Jacob P. Thyssen, MD, PhD, DmSci 

Dr. Thyssen has spent nearly 20 years as a clinical dermatologist at university hospitals in Copenhagen, where he currently serves as a professor emeritus. His research in inflammatory skin diseases and allergy has earned him numerous awards. Dr. Thyssen has co-authored more than 700 peer-reviewed articles, with his work appearing in prestigious journals such as The Lancet and NEJM. He holds PhD and medical doctor degrees and has been a research fellow at Harvard Medical School, Boston, UCSF in San Francisco, and a visiting professor at UZH in Zürich. 

Resources:

1.  Efficacy and tolerability of neoadjuvant therapy with Talimogene laherparepvec in cutaneous basal cell carcinoma: a phase II trial (NeoBCC trial)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39820126/
2.  Efficacy and Safety of Switching from Baricitinib to Ritlecitinib in Severe Alopecia Areata
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39707907/
3.  Major improvement of very severe alopecia areata in patients treated with the combination of baricitinib and low doses of corticosteroids: an eight-case series
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37467740/
4.  Prevalence of Chronic Hand Eczema in adults: A cross-sectional survey of over 60,000 respondents in the general population in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39797908/
5.  The Prevalence and Determinants of Hand and Face Dermatitis during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Population-Based Survey
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33376481/
6.  Guidelines for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of hand eczema
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34971008/
7.  Short-term glucocorticoid treatment compromises both permeability barrier homeostasis and stratum corneum integrity: inhibition of epidermal lipid synthesis accounts for functional abnormalities
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12603860/
8.  Association Between Topical Corticosteroid Use and Type 2 Diabetes in Two European Population-Based Adult Cohorts
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30936111/
9.  The Low Nickel Diet
https://www.thelownickeldiet.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-5a9BhCBARIsACwMkJ7Ah9ysdVxzpqlxk2KRJoUlUouvxmfcL6UzkNvmG7o8CIXjfNXlZnkaAlhYEALw_wcB
10.  Imiquimod Cream Preceded by Superficial Curettage vs Surgical Excision for Nodular Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39878970/
11.  Off-label use of tralokinumab in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid- a case series
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39878153/
12.  Association between use of antihypertensives and treatment of actinic keratoses: A TriNetX population- based study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39894367/
13.  Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence-Generated Responses to Patient Messages
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39412810/
14.  Sofdra prescribing information
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2024/217347s000lbl.pdf
15.  A Pivotal Study on the Safety and Effectiveness of a Targeted Alkali Thermolysis Patch for Treatment of Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis or Excessive Axillary Sweating
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39480962/
16.  Impact of Needle Design and Suture Gauge on Tissue Tearing During Skin Suturing: A Comparative Analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39325023/

Is your Litfulo not pulling its weight? New research gives you the inside scoop on when to throw in the towel

We’re buzzing about oral JAK inhibitors for vitiligo, but do they really outshine NBUVB alone? We’ve got the answer 

And guess what? While basking in the sun might up your skin cancer risk, it turns out those rays also help you dodge death from heart disease, cancer and other nasty surprises— at least if you happen to be living in England

Join Richard Weller, the genius behind these sacrilege statements, as he helps us rethink how we guide our patients on sun exposure—taking into account their skin type and the sunny vibes of their locale.

We’ll also dive into Dupixent’s surprising benefits for cancer immunotherapy, its heart-friendly profile, and how it shields kids from ADD, depression, and anxiety.  Ever wonder if switching up your psoriasis biologic is worth it? We’ll tackle that enigma. And don’t miss our head-to-head trial of Pregabalin vs. Gabapentin for the intensely itchy, plus a look at the long-term risk of psoriasis after a first bout of guttate psoriasis.  Oh, and do we really need sterile gloves in derm surgery? Tune in for all this and more—with the trusty team at Derms on Drugs! Join Drs. Ferris, Zirwas and Patton for a new episode every Friday

Derms on Drugs is produced by ⁠Scholars in Medicine.⁠ 

Guest: Richard Weller, Professor

I graduated in medicine at St Thomas’ Hospital, University of London (now part of King’s College, London) and undertook my general/internal medicine training in the north of England and in Australia.Having gained my MRCP I trained in dermatology at the Institute of Dermatology (St John’s) in London, and in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. I spent some time out of my clinical training to complete a research MD degree.  Having completed my dermatology training, I gained a scholarship from the University of Edinburgh, and spent three years in post-doctoral research training in the laboratories of Prof Victoria Kolb-Bachofen, Heinrich-Heine Universität, Dusseldorf, and of Dr Tim Billiar, University of Pittsburgh, USA.I was recruited from America to the post of Senior Lecturer, and latterly Reader in Dermatology and Associate Principal Investigator at the Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh.My time is divided between clinical duties, where I am an honorary NHS Consultant Dermatologist with a particular interest in medical dermatology and eczema, and the University where I have an active research group, and also a significant teaching commitment as Programme Director of the M.Med.Sci degree.