Featured Articles | Summaries

1. International Modified Delphi Consensus Statement on Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil for Hair Loss Patients

This article presents an updated international consensus, developed using a modified Delphi method, regarding the clinical use of low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) for treating hair loss. Key findings include:

• Indications: LDOM is suitable for adult and adolescent patients (≥12 years) with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), age-related hair loss, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium. It is especially recommended when topical minoxidil is ineffective, inconvenient, or causes scalp irritation.

• Contraindications: LDOM should not be used in patients with pericardial effusion, heart failure, pregnancy, or during lactation.

• Recommended Dosage:

• Adults: 1.25 mg/day for women, 2.5 mg/day for men.

• Adolescents: Lower doses, adjusted based on individual risk.

• Monitoring: Baseline monitoring (e.g., ECG) is advised only if contraindications are present; routine monitoring is generally unnecessary.

• Pediatric Use: No consensus was reached regarding use or dose adjustment in children under 12 years.

2. Risk of Psoriasis with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

This nationwide cohort study evaluated the risk of psoriasis in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs):

• Incidence: The incidence of psoriasis was 5.76 cases per 1,000 person-years among ICI users, compared to 1.44 in non-ICI users.

• Risk: After adjusting for demographics and comorbidities, ICI users had twice the risk of developing psoriasis compared to non-users.

• Time Course: The risk was highest within 180 days after initiating ICI therapy.

• Subgroup Analysis: The risk was notably increased in patients aged 66 and above, and in males.

• Clinical Implication: Clinicians should closely monitor for psoriasis in cancer patients receiving ICIs to optimize treatment outcomes.

3. Cutaneous and Systemic Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease in Psoriasis

This study explored whether the severity of cutaneous lesions in psoriasis is linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) through systemic inflammation:

• Biomarkers: Severity was assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and GlycA (a marker of systemic inflammation).

• Findings:

• PASI scores correlated significantly with GlycA levels.

• GlycA was associated with non-calcified coronary burden (NCB) and cardiovascular events.

• In mediation analysis, systemic inflammation (GlycA) accounted for 16.6% of the effect of PASI on NCB and 37.4% of the effect on cardiovascular events.

• Conclusion: Severity of skin lesions in psoriasis is strongly associated with systemic inflammation, which partially mediates the link between psoriasis and CVD.

4. Ultra-Processed Food Intake and Psoriasis

This article investigated the relationship between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and psoriasis activity:

• Results: High UPF intake was significantly associated with active psoriasis (adjusted OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.14–1.63), independent of high BMI.

• Limitations: The study population may not fully represent the general French population, and psoriasis diagnosis was self-reported, which may introduce misclassification.

• Conclusion: UPF consumption may be linked to increased psoriasis activity, suggesting a potential pro-inflammatory role. Larger studies are needed to further validate this association.

References

1. International Modified Delphi Consensus Statement on Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil for Hair Loss Patients. JAMA Dermatology. 2025; DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.4593

2. Risk of Psoriasis with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. JAMA Dermatology. 2025; DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.4129

3. Cutaneous and Systemic Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease in Psoriasis. JAMA Dermatology. 2025; DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.4433

4. Ultra-Processed Food Intake and Psoriasis. JAMA Dermatology. 2025; DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.4832