In this final episode of our AAD 2026 atopic dermatitis post-game poster series, we’re joined by dermatologist Dr. Julien Ringuet from Quebec City for a practical, no-fluff breakdown of the JADE REAL analysis — and what flexible abrocitinib dosing may actually mean when Monday morning clinic rolls around.

Because in real life, patients do not always follow a tidy trial algorithm. Symptoms flare, itch keeps people up, adherence shifts, priorities change, and sometimes the “right” dose is less of a fixed destination and more of a GPS recalculating in real time. 🧭

Dr. Ringuet walks us through the clinical “so what” behind dose escalation and de-escalation, explaining why moving from 100 mg to 200 mg — or stepping down from 200 mg to 100 mg — should not automatically be seen as failure, overtreatment, or backpedalling.

Instead, flexible dosing may be part of a thoughtful, shared decision-making strategy that better reflects the messy, dynamic reality of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis care.

We cover how early reassessment, patient-reported outcomes, itch, sleep, EASI trends, payer flexibility, and treat-to-target thinking all fit into the bigger picture. And yes, we also discuss the real-world art of knowing when to push, when to pause, and when to test the waters with a lower dose. 🌊

✨ Learning Objectives

By the end of this episode, listeners should be able to:

1. Describe how the JADE REAL study design reflects real-world clinical decision-making in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
2. Explain why dose escalation and de-escalation with abrocitinib may represent intentional treatment optimization rather than treatment failure.
3. Identify practical clinical scenarios where starting at 100 mg versus 200 mg may be appropriate.
4. Discuss how early follow-up, patient-reported outcomes, itch, sleep, and quality-of-life measures can help guide dose adjustment decisions.
5. Recognize key limitations of open-label, real-world evidence when translating study findings into clinical practice.
6. Apply a treat-and-adjust approach to atopic dermatitis management using shared decision-making and individualized treatment goals.

💡 Key Takeaway

Flexible dosing is not a loophole — it is real-world dermatology. The win is not finding one perfect pathway for every patient; it is learning how to reassess early, individualize thoughtfully, and adjust with purpose. 🩺

🎧 Tune in for practical pearls, real-world nuance, and Dr. Ringuet’s post-game analysis on what these data may mean for dermatologists managing AD in everyday practice.

#SkinAndJointsPodcast #AAD2026 #AtopicDermatitis #EczemaCare #Dermatology #PatientReportedOutcomes #JAKInhibitors #abrocitinib #DermatologyEducation #MedicalEducation #HCPeducation #TreatToTarget #InflammatorySkinDisease #ClinicalData #DermTwitter #MedEd #Vodcast #PodcastEpisode #AADDenver #JAK #JAKinhibitor

ABOUT Dr. Julien Ringuet

Dermatologist, Quebec City, QC

Dr Ringuet is a board certified dermatologist who practices in Quebec City as the principal investigator at the Centre de Recherche Dermatologique de Québec (CRDQ).

He completed his medical training (MD) and his post graduate studies in dermatology form Laval University as well as a master in experimental medicine (MSc.) in the field of skin bioengineering at the Laboratoire d’Organogénèse Expérimentale de l’Université Laval (LOEX/CMDGT).

Dr Ringuet and his team of the CRDQ are allowing patient access to quality and innovative clinical research focused on alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and its variants and vitiligo.

Supported by an IME Grant from PFIZER.

📻www.skinandjoints.ca

✉️info@skinandjoints.ca

Are We Treating Eczema… or Just Admiring Better Scores? Minimal Disease Activity in Atopic Dermatitis

In this rapid-fire AAD poster recap, dermatologist Dr. Julien Ringuet joins the Skin and Joints podcast to unpack a big idea with a small acronym: MDA — Minimal Disease Activity.

Borrowed from the rheumatology playbook and now making its way into dermatology, MDA asks a deceptively simple question in atopic dermatitis care: Is the patient actually doing well, or do they just look better on paper?

Together, we dive into new treat-to-target data from the AHEAD analysis, comparing abrocitinib and dupilumab through a more holistic lens — one that includes not only skin clearance, but also itch, sleep, quality of life, and the patient’s lived experience. Spoiler: an EASI score may be impressive, but it does not tuck your patient into bed at night.

Dr. Ringuet breaks down how MDA could help clinicians raise the bar in atopic dermatitis management, why early symptom relief matters, where oral JAK inhibitors may fit for selected patients, and why safety, comorbidities, route of administration, patient preference, and long-term strategy still deserve front-row seats in every treatment decision.

This episode is not just about picking a winner between therapies. It is about redefining what “success” should mean in chronic inflammatory skin disease — and avoiding the trap of accepting “better” when patients are still itchy, sleepless, and sidelined from daily life.

By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to:

1. Define Minimal Disease Activity in atopic dermatitis using the AHEAD treat-to-target framework, including both clinician-reported and patient-reported outcomes.
2. Explain why MDA may offer a more patient-centred endpoint than traditional skin-only measures such as EASI 75 or EASI 90.
3. Interpret key findings from the abrocitinib versus dupilumab analysis, including the relevance of early response, week-two separation, and multidimensional disease control.
4. Identify patient profiles where rapid and comprehensive symptom control may influence treatment selection, while balancing safety, comorbidities, monitoring needs, access, and patient preferences.
5. Describe practical ways to integrate a treat-to-target MDA approach into dermatology clinics, using manageable tools such as IGA/BSA or EASI, itch NRS, sleep NRS, and DLQI.
6. Recognize the importance of avoiding therapeutic inertia when patients remain itchy, sleep-deprived, or functionally impaired despite partial improvement.

Minimal Disease Activity may be the dermatology upgrade we did not know we needed: less “your skin looks better” and more “are you sleeping, functioning, and living better?”

#SkinAndJointsPodcast #AAD2026 #AtopicDermatitis #EczemaCare #Dermatology #PatientReportedOutcomes #JAKInhibitors #abrocitinib #DermatologyEducation #MedicalEducation #HCPeducation #TreatToTarget #InflammatorySkinDisease #ClinicalData #DermTwitter #MedEd #Vodcast #PodcastEpisode #AADDenver #JAK #JAKinhibitor

ABOUT Dr. Julien Ringuet

Dermatologist, Quebec City, QC

Dr Ringuet is a board certified dermatologist who practices in Quebec City as the principal investigator at the Centre de Recherche Dermatologique de Québec (CRDQ).
He completed his medical training (MD) and his post graduate studies in dermatology form Laval University as well as a master in experimental medicine (MSc.) in the field of skin bioengineering at the Laboratoire d’Organogénèse Expérimentale de l’Université Laval (LOEX/CMDGT).
Dr Ringuet and his team of the CRDQ are allowing patient access to quality and innovative clinical research focused on alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and its variants and vitiligo.

Supported by an IME Grant from PFIZER.

📻www.skinandjoints.ca

✉️info@skinandjoints.ca

JAKs, Flares & Rescue Plans: The Art of the Atopic Dermatitis Dose-Down 🎙️

In this rapid-fire post-AAD recap, dermatologist Faculty Dr. Julien Ringuet joins the Skin and Joints Podcast to tackle a question that comes up all the time in real-world atopic dermatitis care: once a patient is doing well, can we safely step down therapy without sending their skin into rebellion?

Using newly presented data on abrocitinib dose down-titration from the JADE program, Dr. Ringuet walks through what happens when patients who respond to 200 mg transition to 100 mg for long-term maintenance—and what clinicians should do if disease control starts to slip. Spoiler: stepping down is not a cliff dive.

Along the way, we cover the “so what?” behind the numbers: who may be a good candidate for dose reduction, how to define loss of control beyond just visible skin lesions, why itch and sleep still deserve centre stage, and how shared decision-making can turn a dosing conversation into a true treatment partnership.

This episode is for clinicians who want to move beyond poster reading and into practical, exam-room-ready conversations about JAK inhibitors, maintenance dosing, treat-to-target thinking, flare management, and individualized care in atopic dermatitis.

Learning Objectives 📚

After listening to this episode, listeners should be able to:

1. Describe the clinical rationale for considering abrocitinib dose down-titration in selected patients with atopic dermatitis.
2. Interpret key long-term efficacy and flare data from the JADE Regimen/JADE Extend analyses in the context of real-world maintenance therapy.
3. Identify patient factors that may support or discourage dose reduction, including depth of response, flare history, adherence, follow-up reliability, quality-of-life burden, and patient preferences.
4. Explain how to counsel patients that step-down therapy is an option—not a guarantee—and that itch, sleep disruption, visible flare, and increased topical use can all signal loss of control.
5. Apply a treat-to-target mindset using both clinician-reported outcomes, such as EASI, IGA, and BSA, and patient-reported outcomes, including itch, sleep, satisfaction, and quality of life.
6. Recognize key caveats when applying clinical trial data to real-world practice, including responder-enriched populations, rescue therapy design, and as-observed analyses.

#SkinAndJointsPodcast #AAD2026 #AtopicDermatitis #EczemaCare #Dermatology #PatientReportedOutcomes #JAKInhibitors #abrocitinib #DermatologyEducation #MedicalEducation #HCPeducation #TreatToTarget #InflammatorySkinDisease #ClinicalData #DermTwitter #MedEd #Vodcast #PodcastEpisode #AADDenver #JAK #JAKinhibitor

ABOUT Dr. Julien Ringuet

Dermatologist, Quebec City, QC

Dr Ringuet is a board certified dermatologist who practices in Quebec City as the principal investigator at the Centre de Recherche Dermatologique de Québec (CRDQ).
He completed his medical training (MD) and his post graduate studies in dermatology form Laval University as well as a master in experimental medicine (MSc.) in the field of skin bioengineering at the Laboratoire d’Organogénèse Expérimentale de l’Université Laval (LOEX/CMDGT).
Dr Ringuet and his team of the CRDQ are allowing patient access to quality and innovative clinical research focused on alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and its variants and vitiligo.

Supported by an IME Grant from PFIZER.

📻www.skinandjoints.ca

✉️info@skinandjoints.ca

🎙️✨ Melinda Knows Best at AAD Denver: Hands Down, Chronic Hand Eczema Is Getting a New Playbook 🖐️

Live from AAD 2026 in Denver 🏔️, a podcast favorite, Melinda Knows Best returns with Dr. Melinda Gooderham for a true post-game analysis🏀 of new chronic hand eczema data — and yes, this one is all about helping hands get back to doing what hands do best: opening jars 🥜, buttoning shirts 👔, holding coffee cups ☕, and generally not letting everyday life feel just like a clinical endpoint.

In this episode, we break down new pooled post-hoc data evaluating delgocitinib cream versus vehicle in adults with moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema, with a practical twist: does prior systemic therapy exposure matter for patient success, especially when it comes to pain and itch? 🤔

We dive into:

• Does this data push delgocitinib earlier in the treatment algorithm for Melinda?
• What are the biggest critiques or caveats a dermatologist should keep in mind when looking at this data?
• Who is the real-world patient you would think about tomorrow after seeing this poster

Well the chronic hand eczema treatment ladder may not be a one-way escalator anymore. 🪜🔄

Dr. Gooderham brings the real-world lens 👩‍⚕️: patients do not just want almost clear skin on a study scale — they want to work, cook, dress, sleep, and live without painful, itchy, fissured hands getting in the way.

Because when it comes to chronic hand eczema, sometimes the most meaningful outcome is being able to open the peanut butter jar without negotiating with your skin first. 🥜😅

Learning objectives 📚
By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to:

1. Summarize new AAD 2026 data evaluating delgocitinib cream in moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema based on prior systemic therapy exposure.
2. Compare response patterns in systemic-naïve versus systemic-experienced patients.
3. Discuss the real-world clinical relevance of early itch and pain improvement in chronic hand eczema.
4. Identify key caveats of the analysis, including its post-hoc design, subgroup size, and 16-week timeframe.
5. Consider how delgocitinib may fit into evolving treatment algorithms for chronic hand eczema.

#SkinAndJointsPodcast #MelindaKnowsBest #AAD2026 #ChronicHandEczema #HandEczema #EczemaCare #Dermatology #DermatologyPodcast #Delgocitinib #MedicalEducation #HCPeducation #DermTwitter #AADDenver #SkinScience #TopicalTherapy #RealWorldDermatology #IGA #HESD #itch #pain

Episode supported by and IME Grant from LEO Pharma

ABOUT Dr.Melinda Gooderham, MD, FRCPC ( Dermatology)

Toronto, ON

Melinda Gooderham MD MSc FRCPC Dr. Gooderham is a Dermatologist and Medical Director at the SKiN Centre for Dermatology and an Investigator with Probity Medical Research. She is an Assistant Professor at Queens University and a Consultant Physician at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. She is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Dr. Gooderham has been the principal investigator for over 200 clinical trials and she practices with a focus on inflammatory diseases of the skin. She also contributes to several peer-reviewed dermatology publications as an associate editor, reviewer, and has been an author of 205 articles. She enjoys lecturing to global audiences on new therapies for skin diseases.

📻www.skinandjoints.ca

✉️info@skinandjoints.ca

📻www.skinandjoints.ca

✉️info@skinandjoints.ca

🎙️✨ Isotretinoin + Clascoterone: Acne’s New Power Couple?

When acne gets severe, isotretinoin usually enters the chat as the big gun.💥
But what happens when you pair it with topical clascoterone — the anti-androgen sidekick targeting the sebaceous gland from another angle?

In this episode, we break down new real-world data from a multi-centre retrospective study comparing oral isotretinoin monotherapy versus combination isotretinoin + topical clascoterone for severe acne vulgaris and what the implications are for clinic.

And yes — the combo arm brought some serious main-character energy.

Our expert guests unpack what this could mean in clinic:
✨ faster clearance
✨ improved tolerability
✨ hormonal acne considerations
✨ patient adherence realities
✨ the ever-important goal of preventing scars before they happen

Because in acne care, almost clear is nice… but clear-clear is the assignment. ✅

This conversation dives into the practical side: When should clascoterone be added? Which patients may benefit most? How do we keep regimens simple for younger patients already juggling isotretinoin, labs, moisturizers, sunscreen, and TikTok skincare detox?

Learning objectives:
✅ Review emerging data comparing isotretinoin monotherapy with isotretinoin plus topical clascoterone in severe acne vulgaris
✅ Discuss the potential clinical relevance of combination therapy for clearance, tolerability, and patient experience
✅ Explore practical approaches to integrating clascoterone into isotretinoin treatment plans
✅ Consider real-world limitations of retrospective data, including confounders, dosing variation, skincare use, and patient selection
✅ Reframe acne treatment goals beyond lesion counts to include scarring prevention, satisfaction, and long-term disease control

🎧 AAD 2026 coverage from the Mile High City. Special thanks Dr. Mohannad Abu-Hilal.

#SkinAndJointsPodcast #AAD2026 #Dermatology #Acne #AcneVulgaris #Isotretinoin #Clascoterone #Winlevi #DermTwitter #MedEd #DermatologyEducation #SevereAcne #AcneScarring #SkinHealth #ClinicalDermatology #Vodcast #Podcast #HealthcareEducation

ABOUT Dr. Renée A. Beach MD FRCPC DABD Dermatologist | Toronto, ON

Dr. Renée A. Beach is a dermatologist practicing in Toronto for more than 10 years. She earned her medical doctor (MD) degree from McMaster University, followed by Dermatology residency at the University of Ottawa (FRCPC).

As an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Toronto, she teaches trainees in the Undergraduate MD program as well as postgraduate dermatology residents and has collaborated with them on various peer-reviewed publications. She is a trusted, regularly sought-after authority across media outlets and is the on-air dermatologist for CTVs The Social and Your Morning. On social media, she is active on Instagram (@dermabeach).

At her private office, DermAtelier on Avenue, she sees patients for medical and cosmetic treatments with the goal of delivering dermatologic excellence to patients of all skin tones and types

About Dr. Irina Oroz, MD FRCPC DABD Dermatologist | Saskatoon, SK

Dr. Irina Oroz is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Dermatology, a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Saskatchewan.

Currently she practices medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology at Oroz Dermatology in Saskatoon. Her areas of interest lie in skin cancer, acne and psoriasis.

Dr. Oroz completed her medical degree at the University of Saskatchewan, prior to undertaking a five-year dermatology residency program at the University of Saskatchewan and University of Alberta. Her interest in the diagnosis and management of skin disease has been enhanced with elective training in USA, Australia and across Canada, with specialized training in Skin Cancer at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane Australia, as well as medical education research in Edmonton.

Active in the medical community, Dr. Oroz is one of the founding members, as well as the current treasurer of the Saskatchewan Dermatology Association.

Supported by an IME Grant from SUN Pharma.

📻www.skinandjoints.ca

✉️info@skinandjoints.ca

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

🎙️✨ New Acne Data Just Dropped — and We’re Bringing the Post-Game Analysis from AAD 2026! 🏀

Live from Denver — the Mile High City — the Skin and Joints Podcast is breaking down new 52-week real-world acne data exploring the impact of clascoterone 1% on sebum reduction, acne improvement, tolerability, and what it actually means in day-to-day dermatology practice.

Because let’s be honest: in acne care, it’s not just about lesion counts. Patients care about oiliness, shine, pores, irritation, post-inflammatory marks, and whether their treatment routine feels like a science experiment before bed.

In this episode, Dr. Renée A. Beach and Dr. Irina Oroz (and a mystery guest co-host ;)) join the conversation to unpack the clinical relevance of the data — and why “treat-to-happy” might just be the endpoint patients really care about.

We also get into the practical side:
✅How do you layer clascoterone with retinoids?
✅What does sebum reduction actually mean in clinic?
✅Is “zero irritation” too good to be true — or reflective of real-world experience?
✅And most importantly… is it pronounced sebometer or sebumeter?

From male acne patients who now have a topical anti-androgen option, to patients who have tried everything, to those who need a tolerable long-term acne strategy — this episode explores where the data meets the real world.

Learning Objectives:
✅ Review new 52-week data on clascoterone 1% and sebum reduction in acne
✅ Discuss the clinical relevance of sebum, shine, oiliness, and patient-reported treatment success
✅ Evaluate long-term acne outcomes including IGA success, inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesion reduction, and tolerability
✅ Explore practical strategies for layering clascoterone with retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, and combo topical therapies
✅ Identify patient profiles who may benefit from topical anti-androgen therapy in real-world practice

ABOUT Dr. Renée A. Beach MD FRCPC DABD Dermatologist | Toronto, ON

Dr. Renée A. Beach is a dermatologist practicing in Toronto for more than 10 years. She earned her medical doctor (MD) degree from McMaster University, followed by Dermatology residency at the University of Ottawa (FRCPC).

As an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Toronto, she teaches trainees in the Undergraduate MD program as well as postgraduate dermatology residents and has collaborated with them on various peer-reviewed publications. She is a trusted, regularly sought-after authority across media outlets and is the on-air dermatologist for CTVs The Social and Your Morning. On social media, she is active on Instagram (@dermabeach).

At her private office, DermAtelier on Avenue, she sees patients for medical and cosmetic treatments with the goal of delivering dermatologic excellence to patients of all skin tones and types

About Dr. Irina Oroz, MD FRCPC DABD Dermatologist | Saskatoon, SK

Dr. Irina Oroz is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Dermatology, a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Saskatchewan.

Currently she practices medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology at Oroz Dermatology in Saskatoon. Her areas of interest lie in skin cancer, acne and psoriasis.

Dr. Oroz completed her medical degree at the University of Saskatchewan, prior to undertaking a five-year dermatology residency program at the University of Saskatchewan and University of Alberta. Her interest in the diagnosis and management of skin disease has been enhanced with elective training in USA, Australia and across Canada, with specialized training in Skin Cancer at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane Australia, as well as medical education research in Edmonton.

Active in the medical community, Dr. Oroz is one of the founding members, as well as the current treasurer of the Saskatchewan Dermatology Association.

Supported by an IME Grant from SUN Pharma.

📻www.skinandjoints.ca

✉️info@skinandjoints.ca

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.