Arash Mostaghimi, MD, MPH

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting

 titled ‘Great Care for Common Conditions: Combining Evidence and Cost Effectiveness,’ Arash Mostaghimi, MD, spoke as 1 of several panelists on therapies and evidence-based care for 

Mostaghimi, known for his work as the vice chair of Clinical Trials and Innovation at the Brigham & Women's Hospital Department of Dermatology, spoke with the 

 editorial team about the takeaways from his AAD presentation.

Evidence-Based Care and Therapies for Alopecia Areata, with Arash Mostaghimi, MD, MPH

Recent Changes to Evidence-Based Care for Alopecia Areata, with Arash Mostaghimi, MD, MPH

“The thing that's really different about alopecia areata now, relative to where we were several years ago, is that we're making a transition from theory and potential to evidence and real data,” Mostaghimi said. “So when you see a patient, you meet with them, we can now tell them…across the population, what they can expect at 6 months, 9 months, even out to 2 years or 3 years, etc. We need to know the appropriate time to start medications.”

Mostaghimi added that there is currently a significant amount of evidence around which patients are early responders, late responders, and how clinicians can predict some patients’ trajectories they're along their course. He also pointed to less discussed means of helping patients manage their alopecia.

“While these new therapies have replaced a lot of the older, more toxic, and less effective therapies, I think we still have to remember that we are doctors and the primary impact of alopecia ariata is psychosocial,” Mostaghimi explained. “So connecting with your patients on an individual level, providing them with emotional health support throughout their journey, and then connecting them with mental health resources, online support groups, patient advocacy groups such as NAF, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, are critical things that we need to keep on doing, even as we're using new and different medications.”

Mostaghimi also highlighted recent changes in the dermatology space with regard to data on therapies available for alopecia.

“For all these medications, let's imagine cyclosporine, methotrexate, contact therapy, you may have a group of people, 5%, 10%, 15% who may respond to these medications,” Mostaghimis said. “But that was a guess. You didn't know who was going to respond, how they were going to tolerate medicine, and how it was going to work. Now that we have better data, we're not quite at yet the point where we can do a test on you and say ‘this is the perfect medication for you,’ but we have a lot more evidence for what works, how it works, and what to look out for with regard to risk to minimize the downsides of side effects.”

For any additional information from Mostaghimi’s talk on alopecia areata, view the full video interview posted above. To learn more about data presented at AAD, view our 

The quotes contained in this interview summary were edited for clarity. Mostaghimi’s disclosures are as follows: Consultant (Fees): AbbVie, ACOM, Boehringer Ingelheim, Digital Diagnostics, Equillium, Pfizer; Advisory Board (Fees): Eli Lilly, Olaplex, Pelage Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries; Advisory Board (Stock): Figure 1 Beauty, hims; Investigator (Grants/Research Funding): Eli Lilly, Incyte; Speaker (Fees): Boehringer Ingelheim.

Videos

Mostaghimi highlights the major takeaways from his talk on alopecia areata therapies, the contents of which were presented at AAD 2025.

What to Look Forward to at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting 2025

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 2025 Annual Meeting

 editorial team interviewed 4 leading experts in the field of dermatology to describe the elements of AAD to which they are most looking forward.

The meeting is slated for March 7 - 11 in Orlando, Florida, and will feature a variety of sessions on different topics and covering various disease states such as 

, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and alopecia areata, as well as cosmetic and aesthetic dermatology discussions. It will also highlight late-breaking data and provide clinicians and health care professionals with the opportunity to network and meet others in the field.

The team spoke with Linda Stein Gold, MD, vice president of the American Academy of Dermatology and the head of the division of dermatology for the Henry Ford Health System, about her views on AAD 2025. We also interviewed Arash Mostaghimi, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of dermatology, the director of the inpatient dermatology consult service, and the co-director of the Complex Medical Dermatology Fellowship at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

Additionally, the team interviewed Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, clinical associate professor of medicine at Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School and the founder and director of the Center for Medical Dermatology + Immunology Research in Chicago. Lastly, we spoke with Brett King, MD, PhD, an associate professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine. All 4 of these speakers highlighted what they are most looking forward to at the conference.

 I'm looking forward to the AAD in general this year. I think it's a great location. When you look at the sessions, they're really full of the latest and the newest in research, whether that's atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, HS, vitiligo, or alopecia. I think there's so much going on, and I think it's going to be a really great meeting.

So, despite my academic roots, what I love at AAD is seeing my friends and colleagues from all different places and connecting with trainees, old residents, old medical students, and things along those lines. That's my guilty pleasure. But from a scientific standpoint and a symposium standpoint, it's amazing to look at the progress we've made with new medications across a number of disorders over the last few years, and I look forward to seeing what's coming down the pike to give us better care for our patients.

AAD is everything to everyone. It can be any number of exciting factors. For me, a lot of it stems from just the latest cuts of phase 1, 2, and 3 trials that we've been waiting excitedly to see. As someone who participates in many of these studies and works in them, in many ways, it's always really fun to see the fruition of results. Because sometimes you get a home run, sometimes you hit a double, and sometimes it's a strikeout. That's just the nature of science and clinical investigation. So really, a lot of those late breakers across many different immune-mediated diseases are what's exciting for me.

What is so exciting about AAD is that we have everything from educational, 3-hour long and 1-hour long deep dives into disease states. It is a time when you can come and really learn from A - Z about a disease. At the same time, these late-breaking sessions are truly where our future is presented to us. So you have everything from where we're coming from and what we know today to what we're going to be doing in 5 or 10 years. And that's really, for me, the excitement of the AAD.

To stay updated on the late-breaking data and interviews our team covers at AAD 2025, check out our 

The quotes contained in this interview summary were edited for the purposes of clarity.

This summary, featuring 4 leading experts, provides an overview of what dermatologists may look forward to during the AAD 2025 Annual Meeting.

Panelists discuss the critical role health care providers play in raising awareness about alopecia, emphasizing strategies for effectively informing patients about the importance of early diagnosis and available treatment options.

The Role of Health Care Providers in Raising Awareness About Alopecia Areata

Video content above is prompted by the following:

Increased awareness about alopecia may lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment options. What role do health care providers play in raising awareness about alopecia?

How can health care providers effectively inform patients about importance of early treatment and treatment options?

Healthcare providers play a crucial role in raising awareness about alopecia by educating patients on the condition's early signs and potential treatment options. They can effectively inform patients by integrating discussions about alopecia into routine check-ups, utilizing educational materials, and leveraging digital platforms to reach a broader audience. Providers should emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and intervention, which can lead to more effective management of the condition. By fostering open communication and providing comprehensive information, healthcare professionals can empower patients to seek timely treatment and improve outcomes.

Panelists share practical tips for colleagues on the use of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in clinical practice and provide final insights on the overall management and treatment of alopecia.

Future Directions in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

What kind of tips can you offer colleagues regarding the use of JAK inhibitors in practice?

Please share final thoughts about treatment of alopecia before we conclude today’s discussion.

JAK inhibitors have emerged as a promising therapeutic option in the management of alopecia, offering targeted treatment by modulating immune pathways. Clinicians should consider patient-specific factors, such as disease severity and comorbidities, when selecting JAK inhibitors. Monitoring for potential side effects, including infections and hematologic abnormalities, is crucial. Collaboration with dermatologists can enhance treatment outcomes. As the understanding of JAK inhibitors evolves, staying informed about emerging data and guidelines will be essential for optimizing patient care in alopecia management.

Arash Mostaghimi, MD, MPH

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