Joint Task Force
In Part 1 of this Topical Conversations feature with Peter Lio, MD, FAAD, he introduces the latest updates to the atopic dermatitis management guidelines from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Joint Task Force (AAAAI/ACAAI JTF). Guidance addressing atopic dermatitis management was last issued by the AAAAI/ACAAI JTF in 2012.
As part of the multidisciplinary guideline panel, Dr Peter Lio offers a dermatologist’s overview of the updated guidelines.
Guideline design
The guidelines employed systematic reviews of evidence, ensuring a robust foundation for recommendations. They reflect adherence to rigorous guideline development processes and prominent utilization of the GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) framework.
A key strength is the engagement of a multidisciplinary panel, which incorporated the expertise of dermatologists, allergists, primary care practitioners, and allied health professionals.
Crucially, the guidelines also prioritized the voices of patients and caregivers throughout the entire development process.
Inclusiveness is highlighted throughout, with a focus on addressing atopic dermatitis in patients with skin of color and health disparities. There is also an emphasis on clear translation, underscoring the commitment to providing clinically actionable and contextually relevant recommendations and steering away from impractical or theoretical advice. The guidelines are designed with practicality in mind, framed in the form of questions to facilitate easy implementation in real-world practice.
Moisturizers
A key point the guidelines address is the significance of moisturizers in atopic dermatitis care, highlighting that the best moisturizer is one that patients will consistently use. Shared decision-making is crucial in discussing the risks, benefits, and tradeoffs of different types of treatments, including moisturizers, and with moisturizer recognized as a centerpiece of atopic dermatitis care, the emphasis is on patients finding one they like and will use regularly.
Topical therapies
A second key point underscores the importance of topical corticosteroids as a mainstay of therapy. Topical corticosteroids are recommended as a first-line treatment in patients for whom moisturization and avoidance of irritants are not sufficient.
Topical corticosteroids have been shown to be very effective, easily accessible, and generally safe when used correctly. They’re also strongly recommended for continued intermittent therapy to prevent future flare-ups.
Topical nonsteroidal options and elimination diets
Watch Part 2 to hear Dr Peter Lio discuss the updated guidelines for elimination diets and nonsteroidal agents, including topical calcineurin inhibitors and PDE-4 inhibitors, and the noteworthy guidance on the use of topical JAK inhibitors.
Key points
In this 45-minute symposium, expert faculty cover the latest updates for JAK inhibitors, including head-to-head efficacy and safety data for JAK inhibitors and biologics, and share clinical pearls for using JAK inhibitors in dermatology practice for atopic dermatitis."I can say that in my clinic, I am reaching for those high bars. You have toput yourself in the position of the patient or imagine that patient is your family member. Would you want mediocre treatment for them or average treatment or moderate treatment? You’d want them to get the best possible treatment. In my practice I’m now counseling patients 'yes we want clear skin. Yes, we want minimal itch. Yes we want your skin pain gone and for you to sleep better.'”- David Cotter, MD, PhDFC25: Charting the Course to Higher Targets With JAK Inhibition in Atopic Dermatitis: An Online ActivityThis activity is supported by an educational grant from AbbVie.
Don’t miss this Satellite Symposium from the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference®, as Dr. Alexandra Golant, Dr. Mona Shahriari, and Dr. G. Michael Lewitt discuss IL-13 targeting biologics in the treatment of atopic dermatitis as well as strategies for optimizing their use.“To me, coming into an exam room in 2025, when we have so many different treatment options for these patients, it's a unique opportunity to use what we know about the data of these therapeutics and walk patients though their options and how to understand their disease state, and how to best choose the therapy that feels right for them.” – Alexandra Golant, MD FC25: Illuminate the Role of IL-13 Inhibitors for the Management of Atopic DermatitisThis activity is supported by an educational grant from Lilly.
“Of course we’re always starting with our basics: we’re using our gentle cleansers, our moisturization, our avoidance of known allergens or triggers, and then we're doing our topicals. But it can be very difficult if you have heavy stuff on your face or you’re required to put it on over and over. It can be really tough. So this paves the way really nicely to say it is time to move up, it is time to think about the next level, and typically the next step up is going to be a biologic agent.” - Peter Lio, MDA ‘HowTo’ activity delivers a short burst of engaging and compact content for learners to study at their own convenience. This microlearning activity is intended to provide practical insights from two experts on ‘HowTo’ improve care in head and neck atopic dermatitis in 10 minutes.This activity is supported by an educational grant from LEO Pharma.
This 30-minute symposium from the 2025 Pediatrics360 Virtual Conference takes a closer look at biologic therapies that can address the immune pathophysiology, associated comorbidities, and progression of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients.“A lot of them (children with atopic dermatitis) do have tactile sensitivities and don’t like the way any creams, ointments, anything, feel on their skin. Thinking about a shot, even though it hurts, doing a shot once or twice a month can actually often be so much easier than having the parents have to argue with the kid two to three times a day to get the topicals on. So, I actually think of injections very quickly for patients with tactile sensitivities.” – Dr. Elizabeth SwansonPEDS25: Controlling the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Managing Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis with Biologic Therapies: An Online ActivityThis activity is supported by an educational grant from Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.