At the 2025 Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) Fall Conference in San Antonio, Dr. Gabriela Maloney of Forefront Dermatology presented insights on the use of off-label Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in dermatological treatments. Her discussion emphasized the comparative safety and efficacy of these medications relative to traditional therapies such as systemic steroids and methotrexate.
Dr. Maloney highlighted that JAK inhibitors generally exhibit a lower incidence of severe side effects. She stated, “When you compare it to side effects of chronic systemic steroid use, Cushing’s syndrome, hyperglycemia, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, osteonecrosis, you name it, those side effects pale in comparison.” She contrasted this with methotrexate, a chemotherapy agent that can lead to pulmonary, renal, and bone marrow toxicity.
While there is currently a lack of direct comparative studies evaluating the safety of JAK inhibitors against systemic steroids and methotrexate, Dr. Maloney argues that the potential side effects warrant careful consideration by healthcare providers.
Emerging Treatments in Dermatology
During her interview with HCPLive, Dr. Maloney also discussed promising new drugs in the dermatology pipeline. She cited abrocitinib, known commercially as Cibinqo, as an effective treatment for conditions like vitiligo and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). This drug has shown minimal impact on lipid levels and weight gain, which are common concerns with other treatments.
“I think one that’s really a hot topic right now is upadacitinib, or Rinvoq,” Dr. Maloney explained. “There’s a lot of trials going on for this, for vitiligo and HS as well. So hopefully we’ll have more availability pretty soon.” The potential of these medications could expand treatment options for patients facing chronic skin conditions.
As the field of dermatology evolves, the insights shared by Dr. Maloney at the SDPA conference underscore the importance of assessing both the benefits and risks of emerging therapies. For more information on the latest advancements discussed during the conference, visit our site’s coverage.
The quotes included in this summary have been edited for clarity.
