We are delighted to welcome Dr Benjamin Kaffenberger, Associate Professor of Dermatology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, to the touchDERMATOLOGY Expert Faculty. A leading expert in complex skin conditions such as pyoderma gangrenosum, DRESS syndrome, and SJS/TEN, Kaffenberger brings extensive clinical and research experience in drug reactions, wound care, and hospital dermatology.

Vilobelimab, a monoclonal anti-C5a antibody, is emerging as a promising treatment for pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), a rare and chronic autoimmune skin disorder characterized by painful ulcerations. With no approved therapies in the USA or Europe, there remains a significant unmet need for effective treatment.

With a career that spans continents, Prof. Dedee Murrell stands out as a global leader in dermatology and a passionate advocate for women in medicine. In this episode, we sit down together to explore her inspiring journey—from her early years in the UK and medical training in the USA to pioneering therapies for some of dermatology’s rarest and underserved conditions in Australia. We also reflect on her recent MDS Lifetime Achievement Award and discuss the value of mentorship, strategies for advancing a career in dermatology and academic medicine, and how to stay at the cutting edge of medical innovation.

We are delighted to announce that Professor Luis FC Ensina has joined the Expert Faculty of touchDERMATOLOGY. A distinguished allergologist, Professor Ensina is renowned for his expertise in urticaria, drug allergies and angioedema. His extensive contributions to clinical care, research ...

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting approximately 10–30% of children worldwide. Early-onset AD, which often emerges by age two, is associated with a higher risk of developing other allergic diseases such as asthma and food allergies. Beyond its physical burden, AD significantly impacts patients and their families, contributing to sleep disturbances, emotional distress, financial burdens, and social challenges.

Briquilimab, an anti-c-Kit monoclonal antibody, is being investigated for its ability to selectively deplete mast cells and alleviate the symptoms of CSU. At this year’s American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)/World Allergy Organization (WAO) Joint Congress (San Diego, CA, USA; 28 February–3 March 2025), the initial results from BEACON (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06162728), a phase Ib/IIa dose-escalation study of briquilimab in adults with CSU, were presented.3,4

At this year’s American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI)/ World Allergy Organization (WAO) Joint Congress, findings from the pooled analysis of two phase III trials (LIBERTY-CSU CUPID Study A and Study C; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04180488) investigating dupilumab in omalizumab-naïve patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) were presented.

Current treatment options for flares of symptomatic oral lichen planus primarily include topical corticosteroids as the first-line therapy. Second- and third-line treatments range from topical calcineurin inhibitors to systemic corticosteroids, systemic retinoids and topical or systemic immunomodulators.5

Join experts Lisa Weibel, Amy Paller, and Eulàlia Baselga as they investigate the inflammatory processes driven by type 2 cytokines that lead to the local and systemic clinical effects of AD.