Spilling the Tea with Dr D: Your Dermatology Questions Answered

In this episode of Tea with Dr. D, host James Q. Del Rosso, DO, tackles questions submitted by dermatology clinicians across the country, offering evidence-based insights across several challenging clinical topics. Dr Del Rosso begins with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), highlighting the importance of recognizing comorbidities and lifestyle factors that contribute to disease onset and progression, including smoking and elevated body mass index. He advises a phased management approach: prioritizing symptom control and patient comfort before introducing discussions about weight loss or smoking cessation. Depression, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease are also important comorbidities to address over time. On initiating biologic therapy for HS, he explains the 3 pathologic phases, inflammatory, destructive, and burnout, and emphasizes that biologics such as adalimumab, secukinumab, or bimekizumab should be started early, in the inflammatory phase, to prevent irreversible scarring and sinus tract formation. He also shares procedural pearls, including the use of high-dose intralesional triamcinolone, incision and drainage, and deroofing for focal or persistent lesions. The discussion then shifts to photodynamic therapy (PDT) for nonmelanoma skin cancers. Referencing a study by Schlesinger et al, Dr Del Rosso reviews the efficacy of red-light PDT with 10% aminolevulinic acid gel for superficial BCC, highlighting improved clearance rates and favorable cosmetic outcomes over vehicle. Finally, Dr Del Rosso reviews new insights into topical nonsteroidal options for lichen planus, including off-label use of roflumilast and ruxolitinib creams. Both agents, with mechanisms targeting PDE4 and JAK pathways, respectively, have demonstrated reductions in inflammation and pruritus in some reports. Tune in for a concise, high-yield discussion featuring Dr Del Rosso’s practical guidance and clinical pearls for today’s dermatology practice.