Advancing Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis Care: Challenges, Innovations, and Future Directions

Lisa Swanson, MD, FAAD, discusses how pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) treatment challenges include limited approved options, safety concerns, and adherence issues. Effective management requires balancing new therapies like Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors with safety while supporting caregivers through education.

Lisa Swanson, MD, FAAD, discusses how current treatment options for this age group fall short in terms of disease control, safety, and ease of use, while highlighting emerging options that promise better efficacy, fewer side effects, and greater convenience.

Lisa Swanson, MD, FAAD, discusses how caregivers play a crucial role in ensuring successful long-term AD management by providing daily support, monitoring treatment adherence, and offering emotional support, while dermatologists can better support them through education, clear communication, and collaborative care strategies.

Lisa Swanson, MD, FAAD, discusses how factors such as the safety profile, efficacy, age-appropriate dosing, and potential long-term effects of ruxolitinib cream would be crucial in determining its place in treatment for young children.

Lisa Swanson, MD, FAAD, discusses how to balance the need for effective control of Alzheimer's disease symptoms with concerns about long-term safety, particularly when introducing new therapies.

Aaron Farberg, MD, discusses how, when prescribing therapies for pediatric patients, dermatologists prioritize long-term safety alongside efficacy. Topical Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors have demonstrated a favorable safety profile compared with their oral counterparts, with minimal systemic absorption. Appropriate monitoring may include baseline blood work and periodic clinical assessments, particularly in younger children. Effective parent education balances transparent discussion of potential adverse effects with evidence-based reassurance about the therapy’s safety profile.

Aaron Farberg, MD, discuss how JAK inhibitors have come under scrutiny in the past for systemic adverse effects in oral formulations, while exploring the safety data of topical JAK inhibitors in the pediatric population, which appears to show a more favorable risk profile with localized effects.

Aaron Farberg, MD, discuss how appropriate monitoring, including regular assessments of growth, potential side effects, and laboratory tests to evaluate liver function and hematologic parameters, would be necessary when prescribing a topical JAK inhibitor to a younger child (age 2-11 years).

Aaron Farberg, MD, discuss how to educate parents about the potential adverse effects of a new therapy while also reassuring them about its overall safety profile by providing clear, evidence-based information and emphasizing the rigorous testing and monitoring processes.

Jennifer Soung, MD, discusses how pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) burdens entire families through sleep disruption and emotional toll. Parents seek effective nonsteroidal options beyond current treatments. Convenient topical Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors could improve adherence and outcomes.

Jennifer Soung, MD, discusses how the biggest frustrations parents express about current treatment options for their children with AD, including limited effectiveness, side effects, and the lack of long-term solutions.

Jennifer Soung, MD, discusses how having more nonsteroidal options for long-term atopic dermatitis management is crucial, especially for younger children, to minimize potential side effects and support safer, sustained treatment.

Jennifer Soung, MD, discusses how ruxolitinib cream, if approved for use in ages 2–11, could become a valuable addition to the treatment landscape for pediatric atopic dermatitis by offering a non-steroidal option for managing inflammation and symptoms.

Jennifer Soung, MD, discusses how convenience and ease of use influence treatment adherence and how a new topical JAK inhibitor could enhance real-world outcomes by simplifying application and improving patient compliance.

James Song, MD, FAAD, discusses how the treatment of pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) demands personalized consideration of disease severity, patient age, affected areas, and treatment history. Ruxolitinib cream may address gaps by providing a nonsteroidal alternative with fewer adverse effects, potentially delaying or reducing systemic therapy needs.

James Song, MD, FAAD, discusses how ruxolitinib cream addresses a significant treatment gap in pediatric atopic dermatitis by providing a non-steroidal topical option with efficacy comparable to medium-potency corticosteroids but without the associated safety concerns.

James Song, MD, FAAD, discusses how topical Janus kinase inhibitors offer distinct advantages for children with moderate atopic dermatitis by providing effective inflammation control without the adverse effects of topical corticosteroids, particularly in sensitive areas like the face and intertriginous regions.

James Song, MD, FAAD, discusses how clinicians should evaluate treatment response based on objective measures including BSA involvement, EASI scores, and pruritus ratings when determining whether to escalate from topical ruxolitinib to systemic therapy or de-escalate to maintenance treatment in pediatric atopic dermatitis patients.

James Song, MD, FAAD, discusses how emerging topical JAK inhibitors like ruxolitinib cream may reduce the necessity for systemic therapies in select pediatric atopic dermatitis patients by effectively controlling moderate disease and potentially serving as long-term maintenance therapy with a favorable safety profile.

Alexandra Golant, MD, discusses how advancements in pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) treatment, including topical Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors like ruxolitinib, may reshape guidelines, yet hurdles remain in regulatory approval, safety data, and accessibility. Adoption depends on efficacy, cost, insurance, and caregiver education. Unmet needs persist in long-term disease control and tailored pediatric options.

Alexandra Golant, MD discusses how the availability of topical ruxolitinib data in children as young as age 2 could potentially shift pediatric atopic dermatitis treatment guidelines by providing a non-steroidal alternative with a favorable safety profile.

Alexandra Golant, MD discusses how regulatory challenges, ethical considerations in pediatric clinical trials, and limited pharmacokinetic data present significant hurdles for pediatric treatment approvals, while topical ruxolitinib cream's targeted mechanism of action and steroid-sparing benefits make it a meaningful addition for younger children.

Alexandra Golant, MD discusses how cost considerations, insurance barriers, formulary restrictions, and effective caregiver education about proper application will significantly impact the widespread adoption of ruxolitinib cream in pediatric dermatology practice.

Alexandra Golant, MD discusses how addressing severe, recalcitrant atopic dermatitis remains the most pressing unmet need, with emerging biologics, oral JAK inhibitors, and combination therapies offering promising new approaches for these challenging cases.