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and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in February 2023. She attended Kent State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism with minors in public relations and creative writing. She enjoys making and listening to music, reading, and spending time with her cats, Astrid and Marceline.

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This review of the latest dermatologic studies includes insights into pruritus as an indicator for QoL in CTCL, the research landscape of acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation, and more.

Journal Digest: July 23, 2025

Catch up on dermatology news, highlights, and insights from the past 24 hours.

Daily Derm Times: July 22, 2025

Marie Bosslett is the assistant editor of 

 and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in October 2024. She attended Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with minors in marketing and writing. When she’s not writing, Marie enjoys going to concerts, reading on the beach, and spending time with friends and family.

Updated research finds that chronic stress disrupts healing processes and scar treatments, limiting the effectiveness of wound care in some patients.

Psychological Stress Impairs Wound Healing and Collagen Production, New Review Confirms

Lars French, MD, explains how the new WHA resolution on skin health could drive training, access, and global policy change.

Lars French, MD: Turning Global Skin Health Policy into Action for Patients

Dermatology Times connects dermatology professionals with key skin disorder coverage, therapeutic strategies, clinical trial updates, and expert insights.

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A new WHA resolution spotlights skin health, pushing member states to close care gaps and integrate dermatology into public health.

Claire Fuller, MA, FRCP: WHA Resolution on Skin Diseases Marks a Skin Diseases Marks a Global Turning Point for Dermatologic Health

Final Thoughts: The Importance of Comparative Studies in AD

Panelists offer concluding insights and emphasize the critical role of comparative studies in advancing atopic dermatitis treatment strategies.

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, like many in the community, is shocked and saddened to hear about the sudden passing of Robert Sidbury, MD, MPH, last Friday, July 11, at the age of 61. Sidbury was the chief of dermatology at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and a professor in the University of Washington's department of pediatrics. He was a proud member of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD), the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA), as well as a leader to many in the field.

“Dr. Sidbury was a visionary leader in pediatric dermatology whose career was defined by clinical excellence, groundbreaking research, and tireless advocacy,” said a joint release from SPD and PeDRA earlier this week. “He played a transformative role in shaping the field, particularly through his leadership in developing national treatment guidelines for atopic dermatitis. A prolific scholar, Dr. Sidbury authored numerous peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from atopic dermatitis to pediatric skin infections and care of immunocompromised patients. His thoughtful approach to medicine, along with his generosity of spirit, made him a treasured mentor to many.”

In honor of Sidbury’s life, SPD will hold a special tribute at their upcoming meeting on Friday, July 25, titled “The Society for Pediatric Dermatology at 50: A View of our Specialty Through the Life and Work of Dr. Robert Sidbury.”

memorial posted to the UW Department of Dermatology website

, Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD, chair of the UW department of dermatology said this about Sidbury: “Rob had a rare ability to blend humor, clarity, and warmth in a way that captivated audiences and inspired trust. He was a gifted speaker—engaging, insightful, and able to zero in on what truly mattered. It’s no surprise he was a sought-after advisor and voice in pediatric dermatology worldwide. More importantly, Rob cared deeply about every member of his team—students, residents, faculty—and worked tirelessly to ensure they had what they needed to succeed. His vision and leadership built a world-class pediatric dermatology program in Seattle—one that will continue to thrive, even as it grieves this loss.”

Sidbury connected with many within the broader field of dermatology, some of whom have chosen to share a few words on his impact, mentorship, and friendship. If you would like to share your thoughts, please email us at 

“Robert Sidbury and I were fellow fellows at Children’s Memorial Hospital of Northwestern University (now Lurie Children’s). He was always a true gentleman physician, very kind, polite, inclusive of many opinions, and generous with his time with friends, patients, and in public service. He was brilliant and humble, his conceptual work in the guidelines for atopic dermatitis created the scaffold for the adoption of new, cutting-edge therapeutics and improved the lives of countless children with atopic dermatitis. I am saddened by his loss. He will be deeply missed within our society and by his colleagues and friends. He is irreplaceable.”

“I had the privilege of first meeting Robert when I was a dermatology resident. I was lucky to work with him as my assigned faculty mentor as a part of the DermMentors Resident of Distinction award program, which was taking place in Seattle that year. I won the top prize that year with him on my side, and that little bit of serendipity connecting us blossomed into a long-term relationship. Robert was such a kind, caring, and accomplished individual, and I was blessed to call him a colleague and a friend. He will be missed by all of us in dermatology.”

“I feel like I did not know Dr. Sidbury very well, but I do remember first meeting him when I was at the Residents of Distinction event in Seattle. Although he was not my assigned “mentor” for the event, he was so kind and welcoming, and the experience left such a memorable impression that it helped confirm my decision to become a pediatric dermatologist.

"Rob Sidbury trained in pediatric dermatology fellowship with us at the Children's Hospital in Chicago after completing his residency at Oregon Health Sciences University. Twenty-five years ago he moved from Chicago to Seattle to begin his career as a faculty member and has been a great contributor to our field ever since. He was a pleasure to be with -- funny, a great listener, and with great common sense. He was always curious and had a great love of learning, taking a few years to earn a Master's degree in Public Health and investigating the relationship between vitamin D levels and atopic dermatitis. He became a champion in teaching about the management and triggers of atopic dermatitis, co-Chairing the American Academy of Dermatology's Guidelines committee twice - in 2014 and currently. Above all he was incredibly giving - to his trainees, his colleagues, and his patients. We are all shocked and saddened by this sudden loss of our dear friend and colleague - and offer our heartfelt sympathy to his wife, daughter, and all who knew and loved him."

"Rob and I got to be part of a group of dermatologists last summer who were able to bring patients with severe, refractory atopic dermatitis to a magical hydrotherapy center in the south of France. While it was a business trip and we were working to learn about the treatments while trying to help and support our patients, Rob's warmth, inquisitiveness, and incredibly sharp sense of humor made it so much more than that. We had such a wonderful experience getting to know our patients better, getting to know the other dermatologists in the group, and truly enjoying the journey. Rob Sidbury was the kind of person who could make a gray Monday morning in an office feel like hanging out on a weekend. His kindness, compassion, and genuine love and interest in the world at large made everything a little bit brighter, more interesting, and more fun. He was someone with tremendous charisma and his light will be greatly missed."

The sudden passing of Dr. Robert Sidbury, a prominent figure in pediatric dermatology, has deeply affected the dermatology community. As chief of dermatology at Seattle Children’s Hospital and a professor at the University of Washington, Sidbury was renowned for his clinical excellence, research, and advocacy, particularly in atopic dermatitis. His leadership and mentorship were highly valued, and he played a pivotal role in shaping national treatment guidelines. Tributes highlight his warmth, humor, and dedication to his team and the field, leaving a lasting impact on colleagues and mentees.

The dermatology community mourns the loss of Dr. Robert Sidbury, a visionary leader in pediatric dermatology, whose impact and mentorship resonate deeply.

Robert Sidbury, MD, MPH, Leaves a Lasting Legacy in Pediatric Care

 approximately 2% of people worldwide will experience hair loss due to alopecia areata in their lifetime. 

When taking this statistic into account, approximately 160 million people globally have had, currently have, or will have alopecia areata, including approximately 6.7 million in the US. 

At this moment in time, it can be approximated that 700,000 people in the US, both children and adults, currently have some form of alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata - National Alopecia Areata Foundation. NAAF. June 23, 2023. Accessed August 11, 2023. 

Alopecia areata affects approximately 2% of the global population, translating to around 160 million individuals worldwide. In the United States, about 6.7 million people have experienced or will experience this condition, with an estimated 700,000 currently affected. This autoimmune disorder impacts both children and adults, leading to varying degrees of hair loss. The data underscores the prevalence of alopecia areata and highlights the need for continued research and awareness to better understand and manage this condition.

This Hair Loss Awareness Month, test your knowledge of hair loss conditions. Click here to answer this week's poll.

POLL: What Percentage of People Worldwide Will Experience Alopecia in Their Lifetime?

A new study presented at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Innovation Academy in Chicago, Illinois, explored trends in alopecia and hair loss epidemiology as the largest consumer-sourced hair loss data set to date.

 Cofounder Yoram Harth, MD, FAAD, analyzed data from more than 1 million users on MDhair, a hair health app powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Patterns, risk factors, and severity of hair loss across age, gender, hormonal status, and medical conditions were assessed. In the US, androgenetic alopecia is the most prevalent form of hair loss, impacting 50 million men and 30 million women.

The cross-sectional analysis included 1,009,998 anonymized, self-reported entries collected between 2020 and 2024. The data set was primarily female (75.6%), with 24.4% male users. Overall, 86.4% reported visible hair loss (43.7% mild, 31.6% moderate, and 11.2% severe). An additional 13.6% reported excessive shedding with a full head of hair. Notably, moderate to severe hair loss increased with age: 25% in the group with those aged 18 to 29 years, 41% in those aged 30 to 44 years, 54% in those aged 45 to 64 years, and 67% in participants aged 65 years and older.

Several gender-specific patterns were observed in the analysis. Women reported more mild hair thinning (46.8%) than men (34.1%), but men had a higher prevalence of severe hair loss (12.5% vs 10.7%). Men also exhibited higher absolute rates of genetic predisposition (68%-74% vs 33%-48% in women), although the relative risk was higher in women (1.49 vs 1.21). These findings suggest that although genetic influence is stronger in men regarding absolute prevalence, female pattern hair loss may be more multifactorial, involving hormonal, medical, and stress-related triggers.

“Women seeking hair loss treatment on the MDhair platform showed higher rates of mild thinning [46.8% vs 34.1% in men], suggesting women begin addressing hair concerns earlier than men,” Harth told 

. “Gradual hair loss affected 84.86% of males and 67.82% of females, while sudden loss occurred in 32.18% of females and 15.14% of males.”

Hormonal status also played a critical role, as postmenopausal women had significantly higher odds of moderate to severe hair loss compared with premenopausal women (OR 1.6), with 13.7% reporting severe thinning vs 9.8% in younger women. Similarly, postpartum women experienced sudden shedding more often than their nonpostpartum counterparts (30% vs 18%; 

 < .001), supporting the role of hormonal fluctuations in telogen effluvium. Other key predictors included polycystic ovary syndrome in women (OR ~1.4), thyroid dysfunction (OR ~1.3), and high stress, particularly for sudden shedding (OR ~1.5). Notably, COVID-19 history was significantly associated with sudden hair loss (33.4% vs 24.1%; OR 1.57), especially in severe cases (up to 40%), suggesting a strong postviral telogen effluvium component.

Dietary patterns showed no statistically significant correlation with hair loss severity. Among 721,759 participants, a correlation coefficient near zero (

 = –0.0072) was found between weekly vegetable consumption and hair loss, challenging the assumption that moderate dietary variations substantially affect hair density on a population level. In 9% of users with chronic scalp conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, there was a modest association with hair loss (OR 1.16), indicating that although relevant, these conditions play a smaller role than age, genetics, or hormones.

Lifestyle behaviors like shampoo frequency varied by gender and age but were not directly correlated with hair loss. Women shampooed more frequently in middle age (30-44 years), whereas older men maintained higher washing rates (4.65 vs 3.56 weekly washes), possibly reflecting differing grooming habits, sebum production, or hair texture. Additionally, “high stress levels increased odds of severe sudden hair thinning by 1.41 times in females and 1.26 times in males,” according to Harth.

There were some limitations, including the self-reported nature of the data and selection bias, as well as the cross-sectional design, which also limits causal inference. Nonetheless, this work validates known genetic, hormonal, and medical associations while identifying new links, particularly between stress, COVID-19, and sudden hair loss. These automated assessments and findings can help refine clinical screening, identify at-risk individuals, and support more tailored approaches to hair loss management in practice. Future directions include longitudinal monitoring and image-based diagnostics to validate and expand upon these insights.

“The combination of AI-based diagnostics and massive consumer participation provides an unprecedented opportunity to uncover real-world patterns in hair loss and treatment response—at a scale never before possible,” Harth said.

1. Harth Y, Harth O. Epidemiology of hair loss in over one million individuals: insights from an AI-based direct-to-consumer platform. Presented at: 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Innovation Academy; July 10-13, 2025;  Chicago, IL.

2. Blume-Peytavi U, Hillmann K, Guarrera M, et al. Androgenetic alopecia in men and women. 

. 2011;29(2):148-156. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2010.11.005

A recent study analyzed data from over 1 million users of the MDhair app, revealing trends in alopecia and hair loss. The study found that androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss in the US, affecting 50 million men and 30 million women. Gender-specific patterns showed women experience more mild thinning, while men have higher severe hair loss rates. Hormonal factors, stress, and COVID-19 history were significant predictors of hair loss. The study highlights the potential of AI-based diagnostics in understanding hair loss patterns and improving management strategies.

A first-of-its-kind study reveals artificial intelligence (AI)-driven insights on hair loss trends, highlighting the impact of genetics, hormones, and COVID-19 on alopecia.

AI-Powered Insights From 1 Million Users Reveal New Trends in Hair Loss

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in 

 by Konstantinou et al investigates the role of genetic and epigenetic factors in the development and progression of acute and chronic urticaria (CU). By comprehensively analyzing 61 studies spanning a variety of genetic markers, the research offers valuable insights into potential hereditary susceptibilities and pharmacogenetic predictors in urticaria, a condition known for its variable response to treatment and significant impact on quality of life.

“This systematic review and meta-analysis emphasize the significant role of genetic factors in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of CU,” researchers behind the review said. “Key findings include the identification of significant associations between genetic polymorphisms—such as those in HLA-B44 and VDR genes—and disease susceptibility, highlighting the potential for genetic biomarkers to improve diagnostic precision and guide personalized therapeutic strategies.”

Urticaria is categorized into acute (< 6 weeks) and chronic (≥ 6 weeks) forms. Chronic urticaria, which includes chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic inducible urticaria, affects approximately 1% of the population.

 Despite its prevalence, the pathophysiology of CU remains complex and incompletely understood. Mast cell degranulation via autoimmune and autoallergic mechanisms underpins the clinical manifestations, but many patients remain refractory to treatment, suggesting underlying molecular contributors.

Following PRISMA guidelines, the authors searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to July 31, 2024, including original human studies evaluating genetic or epigenetic associations with any urticaria subtype. Eligible studies ranged from genome-wide association studies to case-control and cross-sectional designs. A meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models where 3 or more comparable data sets were available. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was employed to assess the risk of bias in observational studies.

The review highlights several genetic markers significantly associated with CU:

HLA-B44 emerged as a strong risk allele, conferring an 8-fold increase in susceptibility (OR 8.15; 95% CI 1.61-41.29), albeit with high heterogeneity (I² = 86%).

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms—notably FokI, TaqI, and BsmI—were linked to a 1.5- to 2.1-fold increased risk of CU.

FcεRIα and CRTH2 gene variants were associated with altered response to antihistamines, pointing to potential pharmacogenetic relevance.

Overexpression of immune-related genes, including FCER1G, IL-6, PTGS2, CCL2, and TNF-pathway genes, in lesional skin supported an autoimmune etiology.

In addition to identifying susceptibility loci, the review underscored that patients with CSU often harbor comorbid autoimmune conditions, especially autoimmune thyroiditis, further reinforcing the autoimmune-genetic overlap.

Despite robust findings for CSU, evidence for genetic associations in non-CSU subtypes and acute urticaria was limited. Moreover, researchers noted that the literature on epigenetic regulation and gene-environment interactions in urticaria remains sparse. The heterogeneity in study designs, population ethnicity, and outcome definitions also complicates meta-analytic synthesis for many candidate genes.

This review supports the concept that CU, particularly CSU, is genetically and immunologically distinct, sharing features with systemic autoimmune diseases. HLA-B44 and VDR polymorphisms may serve as risk markers, whereas gene variants influencing drug response open the door for personalized therapy. These findings justify the inclusion of genetic screening in future CU management algorithms, especially in refractory cases.

Konstantinou et al provide compelling evidence that genetic factors contribute meaningfully to the susceptibility and clinical heterogeneity of CU. However, the translation of these insights into precision medicine requires further longitudinal studies incorporating environmental exposures and functional genomics. Continued efforts in this direction could ultimately enhance diagnostic accuracy and enable tailored therapeutic interventions for patients with urticaria.

Konstantinou GN, Podder I, Dhabal A. Is there a role of genetics in acute and chronic urticaria-A systematic review and meta-analysis. 

2025;15(7):e70072. doi:10.1002/clt2.70072

Kolkhir P, Giménez-Arnau AM, Kulthanan K, Peter J, Metz M, Maurer M. Urticaria. 

. 2022;8(1):61. doi:10.1038/s41572-022-00389-z

Gonçalo M, Gimenéz-Arnau A, Al-Ahmad M, et al. The global burden of chronic urticaria for the patient and society. 

. 2021;184(2):226-236. doi:10.1111/bjd.19561

Genetic and epigenetic factors significantly influence the development and progression of acute and chronic urticaria (CU), with genetic polymorphisms such as HLA-B44 and VDR genes linked to disease susceptibility. The study highlights the potential of genetic biomarkers to enhance diagnostic precision and guide personalized treatment strategies. Despite robust findings for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), evidence for non-CSU subtypes and acute urticaria remains limited. The review underscores the need for further research into gene-environment interactions and epigenetic regulation to advance precision medicine in urticaria management.

Explore how genetic factors influence acute and chronic urticaria, revealing potential for personalized treatment strategies.

Genetic Links Strengthen CSU Understanding

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Claire Fuller, MA, FRCP

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