Top 5 Articles of the Week: December 14-19

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1. Clascoterone 5% Delivers Strong Phase 3 Hair-Growth Results

Cosmo Pharmaceuticals reported promising topline results from 2 large phase 3 trials evaluating clascoterone 5% topical solution for male androgenetic alopecia (AGA), potentially representing the first new treatment mechanism for the condition in over 30 years. The trials, SCALP 1 and SCALP 2, enrolled 1,465 men and assessed Target Area Hair Count and patient-reported outcomes, showing statistically significant hair growth improvements versus vehicle, with alignment between objective measures and patient perception. Clascoterone works via local androgen receptor inhibition at the follicle, minimizing systemic exposure and avoiding the hormonal side effects of oral treatments. Safety was favorable, with treatment-emergent adverse events similar to vehicle. If approved, the therapy could expand options for men seeking a mechanistically distinct, topical solution for AGA, with regulatory submissions planned following completion of 12-month safety follow-up in Spring 2026.

2. Patients with DIMIDs and Pandemic Risks

Research from the T2B! substudy evaluated how COVID-19 and vaccination affected patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (DIMIDs), including atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis, and vitiligo. Patients with vitiligo had the highest reported COVID-19 incidence (51.1%), though severe outcomes were rare. Vaccination resulted in high seroconversion rates across all groups, reaching 100% in vitiligo patients after the second dose. Immunosuppressant therapy did not increase infection risk. While most patients tolerated infection and vaccination well, a minority—particularly those with progressive disease at baseline—reported increased DIMID activity afterward. The study underscores the importance of continued monitoring of DIMID progression following COVID-19 and vaccination.

3. Laser and Bimatoprost Combination Therapy Improve Facial Vitiligo

A recent clinical trial found that combining 308-nm excimer laser (EL) therapy with topical bimatoprost 0.03% significantly improves outcomes in patients with facial vitiligo compared to EL alone. Conducted in Tehran, the study showed that patients receiving the combination treatment had greater repigmentation, higher satisfaction (VASS), and improved physician-assessed improvement (SAI) scores. Benefits were noticeable after just 10 sessions, with no major safety concerns reported—only mild side effects like hypertrichosis and erythema. The findings support the use of bimatoprost as a valuable adjunct in vitiligo treatment, especially for those not responding to laser therapy alone.

4. New Perspectives in Chronic Hand Eczema Care

At the Dermatology Times Horizons in Advanced Practice meeting in Tampa, Lakshi Aldredge, MSN, ANP-BC, DCNP, joined fellow chairs Omar Noor, MD, and Douglas DiRuggiero, DMSc, PA-C, in leading case-based breakout sessions for dermatology nurse practitioners and physician assistants, with Aldredge focusing on chronic hand eczema (CHE). She highlighted the significant quality-of-life burden of CHE, reviewed the role of the JAK-STAT pathway, and discussed data from the DELTA trials supporting delgocitinib cream (Anzupgo; LEO Pharma), the first and only FDA-approved therapy for CHE, emphasizing its rapid improvements in itch and pain and favorable safety profile compared with corticosteroids or systemic options. Attendees were particularly engaged around access and practical use of the new topical, with Aldredge stressing its potential to change clinical practice.

5. Reviewing Type 2 Inflammation Through a Different Lens

At the Dermatology Times Horizons in Advanced Practice meeting in Tampa, Omar Noor, MD, joined co-chairs Lakshi Aldredge, MSN, ANP-BC, DCNP, FAANP, and Douglas DiRuggiero, DMSc, PA-C, in leading case-based breakout sessions for dermatology nurse practitioners and physician assistants, with Noor presenting “Case-Based Conversations on Type 2 Inflammation in Dermatology.” Using cases of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, prurigo nodularis, and chronic spontaneous urticaria, Noor emphasized looking beyond visible skin findings to underlying type 2 inflammation driven by IL-4 and IL-13, encouraging clinicians to assess comorbid conditions such as asthma and allergic rhinitis and to frame treatment discussions around systemic inflammation rather than isolated rashes. Attendees highlighted the importance of integrating broader medical histories into dermatologic visits, while Noor underscored Horizons’ value as a collaborative forum for shared learning, reflection, and advancing patient-centered care across complex inflammatory skin diseases.