Faculty Bibliography

Onychomatricoma (OM) is a rare benign fibroepithelial nail unit tumor that remains frequently underrecognized, with evolving histopathologic criteria. Existing descriptions have largely focused on well-developed lesions, leaving the histopathologic features of smaller, localized lesions poorly characterized. We report an attenuated OM in a 45-year-old woman highlighting subtle but characteristic histopathologic features of OM, including a focal CD34-positive spindle cell population in the superficial submatrical dermis, matrical epithelial papillation, and focal serum-filled cavity formation within the nail plate. Compared with classic OM, these findings were more localized and less architecturally developed, while still retaining key diagnostic features. Improved recognition of these subtle features in attenuated lesions will facilitate earlier diagnosis, reduce misclassification, and refine clinicopathologic criteria for this important nail unit tumor.

Contact dermatitis (CD) is the 5th most common skin disease1 and affects 15-20% of the general population over their lifetimes.2 Currently, the T.R.U.E. TEST® is the only FDA-approved diagnostic product to aid in the diagnosis of Allergic Contact Dermatitis. To address that diagnostic gap, the US Food and Drug Administration held a public workshop in October 2025. These proceedings summarize the workshop presentations and discussions.

Program signaling and the financial demands of dermatology residency applications make transparency increasingly consequential. Applicants need clear guidance before committing resources, while programs need discretion to assess varied strengths and fulfill their educational missions. We propose decision-relevant transparency as an ethical standard for reconciling these interests. Information warrants disclosure when it could reasonably change whether or where an applicant applies, signals, rotates, interviews, or ranks. Programs should distinguish eligibility rules from established preferences and explain expectations concerning applicant backgrounds, research years, visiting rotations, and signaling. These expectations should be public, understandable, and current before applicants act on them. The obligation is strongest when a policy would exclude an applicant from consideration and should extend to commitments that involve substantial applicant time or money. Programs need not disclose confidential deliberations, rank lists, or exact scoring weights, nor provide individualized feedback to every unsuccessful applicant. Responsibility for implementation rests with programs that control selection information, national organizations that can coordinate reporting, mentors who help students interpret disclosures, and applicants who use them. Structured advising is particularly important for students without a home dermatology program. This approach seeks to reduce reliance on private access to information while preserving holistic review, applicant privacy, and a reasonable workload for selection committees.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:Diffuse unpatterned alopecia (DUPA) is an uncommon and incompletely characterized variant of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) marked by diffuse follicular miniaturization across the entire scalp, including the occipital region, which distinguishes it from classic patterned AGA and often precludes hair transplantation. SUMMARY/UNASSIGNED:In this review of the available literature on DUPA, we discuss its clinical presentation, diagnostic features, competing pathophysiologic hypotheses, and management considerations. Current evidence suggests DUPA typically presents with diffuse thinning across all scalp regions, with trichoscopy demonstrating widespread follicular miniaturization without features of scarring alopecia. Diagnosis remains clinical because histopathologic criteria and standardized trichometric thresholds have not been established. Important mimickers include telogen effluvium and diffuse alopecia areata, requiring careful history, examination, trichoscopy, and occasional scalp biopsy. Management is primarily medical, emphasizing stabilization rather than regrowth, and includes topical or oral minoxidil with consideration of adjunctive therapies in selected patients. KEY MESSAGES/UNASSIGNED:DUPA is a diffuse, non-patterned hair loss condition affecting the entire scalp, including the occipital region, for which medical management remains the cornerstone of treatment. DUPA remains poorly defined and further clinicopathologic, trichometric, and longitudinal studies are needed to clarify major knowledge gaps, including epidemiology, pathology, diagnostic criteria, and treatment-specific outcomes.

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to personal care products (PCPs) represents a significant and growing clinical challenge, with increasing use of diverse PCPs and their expanding range of ingredients. Common allergenic components include fragrances, botanicals, preservatives, surfactants, emollients, emulsifiers, vitamins, and ultraviolet (UV) filters. Patch testing remains the gold standard for diagnosing ACD and identifying causative allergens, but traditional panels often fail to capture emerging PCP-related allergens. This review highlights key established and emerging PCP allergens, such as limonene and linalool hydroperoxides, sodium benzoate, octocrylene, and benzophenone-4. Strategies are discussed to optimize diagnostic accuracy through targeted series and repeated open application tests. Patient education about PCP labeling is paramount when assisting patients with allergen avoidance. Clinicians must balance precise allergen identification with practical management knowledge to improve outcomes in PCP-related ACD.