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Dermatology Top Stories of 2009

A perspective on the most important research in the field from the past year

Dear Readers,

This year, I am pleased to introduce a new way of looking at the Dermatology Top Stories of 2009. We have compiled two lists for you: Our Editors' Choice list shows which stories the Journal Watch Dermatology editors considered to be the most important of the past year. Because meeting the needs of our readers and subscribers is foremost among our goals, we also looked at which online articles our readers downloaded most often. From that effort, we present our Top Ten Most-Read list. This list shows the broad interests of our readers — dermatologist and nondermatologist alike — in therapy, pathogenesis, and the internal consequences of cutaneous diseases.

Our large review on vitamin D and health was much read, confirming the need for similar, broad-based reviews. Our coverage of the WHO tanning bed position paper was also popular, showing that we serve our readership by covering public policy issues. Three articles appear on both lists: the tanning bed article; Botox for Raynaud phenomenon (not surprising, considering the therapeutic challenges remaining here); and the HORIZON study, whose presence on this list indicates that prescribers of oral corticosteroid therapy recognize the risks to bone health and seek knowledge about preventing steroids' adverse effects. Basic science articles were more common in the editors' list, possibly reflecting a more practical orientation among our readers.

Compiling these lists allows us to better understand and meet the needs of our readers. Your comments and suggestions on how to improve Journal Watch Dermatology are always welcome. Contact us by e-mail at jwderm@mms.org or use the Reader Remarks feature at the bottom of this letter online.

Best wishes for another year of stimulating reading.

— Lowell A. Goldsmith, MD, MPH

Published in Journal Watch Dermatology December 30, 2009