Welcome to Topical Conversations: Bright Spots, an illuminating 3-part series shedding light on tapinarof, a pioneering nonsteroidal topical treatment for plaque psoriasis.
In Part 2, G Michael Lewitt, MD, is joined by Lauren Miller, PA-C, to discuss the unique features of tapinarof, a nonsteroidal topical treatment option for plaque psoriasis in adult patients.
A unique remittive effect
The pair discusses a unique differentiator of tapinarof, with evidence suggesting that patients may encounter a remittive effect upon discontinuation. In the PSOARING 3 trial, a 40-week, open-label, long-term extension study, patients (n=73) who entered the trial with clear skin maintained clear or almost clear skin for an average of 114 days before returning to a state of mild disease.
A versatile alternative to steroidal therapies
They also discuss the versatility of tapinarof, which can be used on any body part, including the scalp and intertriginous areas, and its minimal systemic absorption with no evidence of straie, tachyphylaxis, skin atrophy, or hypopigmentation. They underscore the advantages of tapinarof over traditional steroidal treatments, highlighting its safety and the potential to reduce the burden of polypharmacy.
Real-world impact
They conclude their conversation by sharing an overview of a real-world patient case, that of a 23-year-old student with psoriasis in the genital area. They detail the significant improvement in both symptoms and emotional well-being seen in the patient after 4 weeks of treatment with tapinarof, highlighting it as a unique and innovative addition to the psoriasis topical treatment landscape.
Missed Part 1? Check it out here to learn about tapinarof's mechanism of action and the phase 4 results from the open-label trial for treatment in the head and neck region.
In the first DermInsider - A Virtual Grand Rounds Series session of the year, join leading experts Dr. Bhutani and Dr. Serota for a dynamic deep dive into one of the most exciting frontiers in psoriatic disease management. Dr. Del Rosso moderates this 45-minute activity that explores the rapidly emerging role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and their potential impact beyond metabolic disease. Don't miss out on this opportunity to catch up on breakthrough insights and emerging evidence on this hot topic!“We have some really interesting data on the horizon that’s going to hopefully help more providers feel confident about using [GLP-1] medications in conjunction with their psoriasis medications that they are used to using.” – Tina Bhutani, MD MASBest of FC25: GLP-1RAs in Psoriasis – Catching Up on The ScienceThis activity is supported by an educational grant from Lilly.
Got a few minutes? Join our expert faculty for their rapid-fire tips on getting started with GLP-1 receptor agonists for patients with psoriasis and obesity.“When we are treating patients with obesity and psoriasis in weight management, really focus on the health gains. It’s not about what people are losing, it’s about what they are gaining in this process.” – Angela Fitch, MDPlease visit the “Educational Resources” page to access the handouts developed by faculty on GLP's in psoriatic disease mentioned in this activity.This activity is supported by an educational grant from Lilly.
In this 20-minute Seminar in Depth from the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference, the faculty explore what differentiates TYK2 inhibitors from traditional JAK inhibitors, as well as how to identify patients with psoriasis who may benefit from oral small molecule therapy.“When thinking about a medication, you need to take a number of things into consideration: location of disease, disease severity, and age. Age plays a big role when I think about what medication I’m going to choose for a patient – Are they of child-bearing age? Are they young and they live in group housing or a dorm?” – Benjamin Lockshin, MDFC25: Encapsulating Progress With New and Emerging TYK2 Inhibitors for Psoriasis: An Online ActivityThis activity is supported by an educational grant from Bristol Myers Squibb.