Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases
An Introduction to Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmunity and deregulation of the immune system contribute to many skin diseases, including systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis, psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia areata and lichen sclerosus; inflammatory diseases such as hidradenitis suppurativa, allergic contact dermatitis and atopic eczema; and autoimmune blistering diseases, including pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita and dermatitis herpetiformis. Established treatments for autoimmune diseases include systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapies, while new therapies in development include biologic therapies targeting cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukins (ILs) IL-23 and IL-17; enzymes such as Janus kinase-1 (JAK-1); and the regulatory protein-retinoic acid receptor-related-orphan-receptor-gamma t (RORγt).
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Dr Martina Porter joins the touchREVIEWS in Dermatology Editorial Board and reflects on the remarkable expansion of treatment options for hidradenitis suppurativa, from a once-overlooked disease area to one of rapid therapeutic development. She also shares her hopes for a future in which clinical features, patient history and biomarkers can help guide more personalized first-line treatment decisions.
Prof. Raj Chovatiya shares his highlights from the Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) 2026 meeting, reflecting on the key developments and discussions shaping the evolving management of atopic dermatitis.
Ruxolitinib cream has demonstrated efficacy and safety in adults with moderate atopic dermatitis. Dr Elaine Agius discusses a new TRuE AD4 analysis evaluating whether responses were consistent across different body sites, including sensitive areas such as the face and neck.
Research presented at the BAD 2026 Annual Meeting suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists may improve inflammatory skin conditions, particularly psoriasis, through both weight-dependent and potentially direct anti-inflammatory effects. However, suspected adverse reactions, including alopecia, rash, pruritus and rare immune-mediated reactions, highlight the need for greater clinical awareness and further research.
New data from A-STAR offer real-world insights into systemic treatment use in atopic eczema, including drug survival and treatment patterns in older adults. Prof. Carsten Flohr also discusses how the register could evolve to support research, clinical decision-making, and greater patient involvement.
To officially welcome Prof. Valenzuela to the Editorial Board and get to know him a little better, we invited him to reflect on what drew him to dermatology, the career experiences he has valued most, the advances that have transformed patient care and the innovations he hopes to see in the future. He also shares what he is most looking forward to in his new role with touchREVIEWS in Dermatology and the small things that brighten a busy working day.
At the BAD 2026 meeting, new analyses from BADBIR highlighted the value of real-world evidence in answering clinically important questions in psoriasis care. The data explored serious infection risk across systemic treatments, the potential benefits of using biologics earlier in the treatment pathway, and risk factors for incident and recurrent erythrodermic psoriasis. Together, these findings demonstrate how registry data can complement clinical trial evidence by providing insights from routine clinical practice and helping to inform more personalized treatment decisions.
The treatment landscape for vitiligo is evolving, with recent therapeutic advances, potential oral treatments, combination strategies and new consensus efforts helping to shape future care. In this expert interview, Prof. Viktoria Eleftheriadou discusses key takeaways from her BAD Annual Meeting session, including emerging systemic therapies, approaches to improving repigmentation outcomes and the importance of defining vitiligo severity beyond body surface area alone.
More than 35% of patients receiving zasocitinib achieved complete skin clearance, more than 2.5 times the response rate observed with deucravacitinib. [touchplayvideo video_id="mh592ao0iz"] In this video, we speak with Dr Linda Stein Gold (Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, ...
Targeting IL-36 signaling, imsidolimab significantly improved clear or almost clear skin responses at Week 4 compared with placebo in patients experiencing a generalized pustular psoriasis flare, with monthly maintenance treatment supporting sustained responses through 24 weeks.
Your clinical career is shaped not only by what you know, but by who helps you navigate what comes next. Join us for the final episode in our LEADderm mini-series exploring non-clinical skills that can help you thrive in your ...
Zumilokibart met its primary and key secondary endpoints in the phase 2 APEX trial, with 65.9% of patients receiving the mid-dose regimen achieving EASI-75 at Week 16 compared with 23.4% receiving placebo. The results support advancement into phase 3 development in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, with studies planned for the second half of 2026.
Join us as leading experts discuss key data and perspectives from the late-breaking sessions at this year’s AAD meeting This March, experts from around the world gathered in Denver, Colorado, for the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting. ...
Povorcitinib, an oral, small-molecule selective JAK1 inhibitor, is currently being evaluated in phase 3 clinical trials for adults with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa. At the 2026 AAD Annual Meeting, a late-breaking presentation reported 54-week efficacy and safety results from the programme. To explore the significance of these findings and their potential implications for clinical practice, we spoke with Dr Martina Porter.
Phase 2Â findings support weight-based dosing and sustained efficacy through 52 weeks, with no unexpected adverse events in children aged 2-11 with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. [touchplayvideo video_id="516mi7fd42"] TouchDERMATOLOGY coverage from AAD 2026: With four presentations exploring the use of nemolizumab ...
Prof. Thierry Passeron discusses key data from the upadacitinib Viti-Up studies, which provide the first strong Phase 3 evidence supporting a systemic treatment for non-segmental vitiligo. Results from the two parallel placebo-controlled studies showed that, by week 48, approximately 20% of patients treated with upadacitinib achieved T-VASI 50, compared with fewer than 6% in the placebo group, while around 25% achieved F-VASI 75 versus 6–7% with placebo. Prof. Passeron highlighted these findings as particularly important given the lack of approved systemic options for patients with extensive or active disease. He also noted that the studies demonstrated a favourable safety profile, with no new safety signals identified over 48 weeks, supporting upadacitinib’s potential role in the evolving treatment landscape for non-segmental vitiligo.
There was no shortage of activity in the inflammatory and autoimmune dermatology space at AAD 2026. To capture some of the most important advances, we spoke with Dr Raj Chovatiya, who highlights the key themes, data readouts and emerging therapies that stood out across several major disease areas.
Litifilimab has the potential to represent a major advance in the treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus, Prof. Victoria Werth tells TouchDERMATOLOGY, as new 24-week Phase 2 AMETHYST data presented at AAD 2026 highlight promising efficacy and tolerability.
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