Featured Findings

Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements for Treating Hair Loss: A Systematic Review

Drake L, Reyes-Hadsall S, Martinez J, Heinrich C, Huang K, Mostaghimi A.

JAMA Dermatol. 2023

Are nutritional supplements or dietary interventions safe and effective for patients with hair loss?

In this systematic review of 30 studies of nutritional interventions, the highest-quality evidence suggests the potential effectiveness of Viviscal, Nourkrin, Nutrafol, Lamdapil, Pantogar, Capsaicin and isoflavone, omega 3 and 6 with antioxidants, apple nutraceutical, total glucosides of paeony and compound glycyrrhizin tablets, zinc, tocotrienol, and pumpkin seed oil. No data for dietary interventions were identified.

The findings of this systematic review indicate that nutritional interventions may benefit select patients with hair loss, and although few adverse events were reported, physicians should engage in shared decision-making with patien

Isotretinoin Laboratory Monitoring in Acne Treatment: A Delphi Consensus Study

Xia E, Han J, Faletsky A, Baldwin H, Beleznay K, Bettoli V, Dréno B, Goh CL, Stein Gold L, Gollnick H, Herane MI, Kang S, Kircik L, Mann J, Nast A, Oon HH, See JA, Tollefson M, Webster G, Zip C, Tan J, Tapper EB, Thiboutot D, Zaenglein A, Barbieri J, Mostaghimi A.

JAMA Dermatol. 2022 Aug

What is the optimal approach to laboratory monitoring for otherwise healthy patients treated with isotretinoin for acne?

In this modified Delphi consensus study administered to 22 international dermatologist experts in acne, consensus was achieved for checking alanine aminotransferase and triglycerides at baseline and peak dose. Consensus was achieved for not checking complete blood cell count or basic metabolic panel parameters, among others.

Given the wide variation in practice patterns, these results provide data to guide clinical practice and guideline development to optimize laboratory monitoring for patients treated with isotretinoin for acne.

In The News

New study finds some natural hair loss supplements may actually work

Good Morning America, Dec. 2022

4 effective hair-loss treatments we discovered in 2022 

Insider, Dec. 2022


New Trial Data Show Hair Growth in More Alopecia Areata Patients

Medscape, Mar. 2022

Other Recent Findings

Factors influencing alopecia areata treatment decisions: A qualitative assessment

Han JJ, Faletsky A, Ghatnekar S, Lee KJ, Pérez-Chada LM, Li SJ, Manjaly P, Senna MM, Huang KP, Mostaghimi A.

JAAD Int. 2022 Nov

The utility of augmented teledermatology to improve dermatologist diagnosis of cellulitis: a cross-sectional study

Creadore A, Manjaly P, Tkachenko E, Li DG, Kaffenberger B, Shinkai K, Rosenbach M, Joyce C, Mostaghimi A.

Arch Dermatol Res. 2022 Dec

Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements for Treating Hair Loss: A Systematic Review

Drake L, Reyes-Hadsall S, Martinez J, Heinrich C, Huang K, Mostaghimi A.

JAMA Dermatol. 2023 Jan

Treatment of Acne Vulgaris During Pregnancy and Lactation: A Narrative Review

Ly S, Kamal K, Manjaly P, Barbieri JS, Mostaghimi A.

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2023

Variation in Medicare Part D topical steroid prescription costs

Faletsky A, Kassamali B, Han JJ, Zhao B, LaChance A, Mostaghimi A.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022 Nov

Use of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Acne Vulgaris and Rosacea Clinical Trials From 2011 to 2021: A Systematic Review

Ly S, Miller J, Tong L, Blake L, Mostaghimi A, Barbieri JS.

JAMA Dermatol. 2022 Dec

Development and Validation of a Simple Model to Predict the Risk of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer on Screening Total Body Skin Examination

Hartman RI, Xue Y, Karmouta R, Tkachenko E, Li SJ, Li DG, Joyce C, Mostaghimi A.

Dermatol Res Pract. 2022 Aug

Shared Decision-Making, Therapeutic Choice, and Decisional Regret in Patients With Alopecia Areata

Reyes-Hadsall S, Drake L, Han JJ, Lee KJ, Zhou G, Mostaghimi A, Huang KP.

JAMA Dermatol. 2022 Oct

Placebo group regrowth rate in alopecia areata clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Han JJ, Desai S, Li SJ, Lee KJ, Mita C, Joyce C, Mostaghimi A.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022 Aug

Other Past Studies

November 2, 2020

Sheena Desai, BS; Priya Manjaly, BA; Karen Lee, BS; Sara J. Li, BS; Cyriac Manjaly; Megan Noe, MD, MPH; Arash Mostaghimi, MD, MPA, MPH

In this study, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of Groupon vouchers for medical imaging services in the US to evaluate the scope, pricing, customer feedback, and claims of these discount services. We found that many offerings made unsubstantiated medical claims and failed to mention the potential risks of imaging. Many customer reviews suggested upselling of additional scans at their visits and patient self-referral for scans. Our findings suggest a challenging consumerization of medicine that can put patient safety and benefit at odds with financial goals.

September 11, 2020

Sheena Desai, BS; Priya Manjaly, BA; Karen J. Lee, BS; Sara J. Li, BS; Cyriac Manjaly; Kathie P. Huang, MD; Arash Mostaghimi MD, MPA, MPH

In this study, we evaluate campaigns on GoFundMe.com to understand the outcomes and narratives of hair loss-related crowdfunding campaigns. Our findings demonstrate that has an immense medical and economic burden that patients seek to alleviate through crowdfunding. They also suggest suggesting that our healthcare financing systems may compel individuals to compromise privacy for support.

September 9, 2020

Andrew Creadore, BS; Priya Manjaly, BA; Sara J. Li, BS; Cara Joyce, PhD; Kathie P. Huang, MD; Arash Mostaghimi, MD, MPA, MPH

In this paper, we surveyed over 2000 people regarding their preferences as to which areas of the scalp they would prefer, if obligated, to have complete hair loss. Our results demonstrated clear patterns of hair loss preference that remained largely consistent across gender and race. These location preferences are not reflected in currently used alopecia severity scoring tools, and could contribute to the established discordance between these tools and patient quality of life.

August 14, 2020

Sheena Desai, BS; Priya Manjaly BA; Karen Lee, BS; Sara J. Li, BS; Cyriac Manjaly; Arash Mostaghimi, MD, MPA, MPH

In this paper, we queried ClinicalTrials.gov to evaluate the status of interventional trials for dermatologic conditions from April 2019 through March 2020, finding that there was a significant increase in dermatology-related clinical trial suspensions, withdrawals and terminations from March-May 2020 relative to March-May 2019. Our findings provide evidence to support that dermatology-related clinical trials were disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have long-term repercussions on both patients and therapeutic development within dermatology.

April 20, 2020

Priyank Sharma MD; Elizabeth Tkachenko BS; Arash Mostaghimi MD MPA MPH

In this paper, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients starting their first oral isotretinoin treatment for acne. We found that patients above 35 years old receiving isotretinoin for acne without baseline laboratory abnormalities rarely have high-risk hematologic, hepatic, or lipid abnormalities, confirming previous findings. 

March 11, 2020

Patient Perspectives on the Use of Artificial Intelligence for Skin Cancer Screening

Caroline A. Nelson, MDLourdes Maria Pérez-Chada, MD, MMScAndrew Creadore, BSSara Jiayang Li, BSKelly Lo, BSPriya ManjalyAshley Bahareh Pournamdari, BAElizabeth Tkachenko, BSJohn S. Barbieri, MD, MBAJustin M. Ko, MD, MBAAlka V. Menon, PhDRebecca Ivy Hartman, MD, MPHArash Mostaghimi, MD, MPA, MPH

In this paper we used qualitative methods to evaluate patient’s attitudes towards artificial intelligence (AI) in dermatology. We found that overall, patients are receptive of the idea of using AI in skin cancer screenings as long as the human physician-patient relationship is preserved. Listen to Dr. Caroline Nelson, medical dermatologist at the Yale School of Medicine, discuss this topic in an interview with the JAMA Dermatology below:

Check out related editorial in JAMA Dermatology by Dr. Carrie L. Kovarik : Patient Perspectives on the Use of Artificial Intelligence


LGBT health and skin cancer risk

February 12, 2020

Association Between Sexual Orientation and Lifetime Prevalence of Skin Cancer in the United States

Sean Singer, BSElizabeth Tkachenko, BSRebecca I. Hartman, MD, MPHArash Mostaghimi, MD, MPA, MPH

In this paper, we found that Gay and Bisexual men to have elevated risk of skin cancer relative to heterosexual men. Lesbians with lower risk of skin cancer than heterosexual females. Listen to Dr. Mostaghimi discuss this topic with Dr. Howa Yeung in an interview with JAMA Derm below:

Gender Identity and Lifetime Prevalence of Skin Cancer in the United States

Sean Singer, BSElizabeth Tkachenko, BSRebecca I. Hartman, MD, MPHArash Mostaghimi, MD, MPA, MPH

In this paper, we show a slight increase rate of skin cancer among non gender binary patients. Check out the related editorial from Dr. Howa Yeung in JAMA Dermatology: Sexual and Gender Minority Populations and Skin Cancer—New Data and Renewed Priorities.

Mostaghimi lab

Department of Dermatology

Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Boston, MA, 02215