Drug Outcomes Research and Policy in Dermatological Conditions and Medications

Skin diseases are among the most prevalent chronic conditions worldwide, imposing major physical, psychological, and socioeconomic burdens. After regulatory approval, dermatological drugs and drug-containing devices are prescribed and used in highly diverse real-world settings that differ from clinical trials, including pediatric, geriatric, multimorbid, and immunocompromised populations. Treatment adherence is often limited by regimen complexity, irritation, cost, or access barriers, while shortages and substitution policies may further affect outcomes. With the rapid introduction of biologics, small-molecule inhibitors, and combination topicals, it has become increasingly important to understand their real-world effectiveness, safety, and value in routine care.



This Research Topic aims to generate comprehensive, practice-relevant evidence on the real-world use and consequences of dermatological medications and related therapeutic devices. The collection seeks to fill the gap between regulatory trials and everyday clinical practice by evaluating how treatments perform under routine conditions and across diverse patient populations. Contributors are encouraged to present studies that assess treatment effectiveness, safety, adherence, patient-reported outcomes, and health-system impacts. We also aim to highlight policy and equity dimensions—including access, affordability, and resource allocation—to support informed decisions by clinicians, policymakers, and payers. By integrating observational research, real-world data analytics, pharmacoeconomics, and innovative computational tools, this Topic strives to inform responsible and sustainable dermatological pharmacotherapy worldwide.



We welcome original research, systematic reviews, brief reports, and policy perspectives that advance the understanding of dermatological drug outcomes. Please note that manuscripts dealing with single analyses of publicly accessible pharmacovigilance databases will not be accepted. Submissions may include studies on:

• Real-world effectiveness, safety, and comparative outcomes of biologics, small molecules, or topical combinations.

• Adherence, persistence, and factors influencing treatment continuation or discontinuation.

• Health-economic evaluations such as cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, and budget-impact analyses.

• Access, affordability, and the influence of regulatory or reimbursement policies on utilization.

• Applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning for outcome prediction, pharmacovigilance, or image-based phenotyping using real-world data sources (EHRs, registries, or patient-generated data).

Studies that integrate clinical, epidemiological, pharmacoeconomic, and policy perspectives are particularly encouraged. The ultimate goal is to improve patient-centered dermatological care through evidence-based, equitable, and transparent drug use policies.