Resurgent Clinical Science and Its All About Health

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, since its inception in 1938, evolved from focusing on clinical observation to emphasizing laboratory investigation, and later, genetics and bioinformatics. By 2005, there was a notable shift back to clinical science, requiring well-defined patient populations for studies. Key studies highlighted include the identification of genetic polymorphisms linked to pseudofolliculitis barbae and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, and a study on contact hypersensitivity that disproved a hypothesis about UVR resistance in patients with polymorphic light eruption. This shift underscored the importance of integrating basic and clinical science, with the journal valuing both positive and negative findings for their contributions to health.