Dr Peter Lio Describes the AD Treatment Toolbox

Peter A. Lio, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, listed a variety of tools that dermatologists should have in their toolbox to treat atopic dermatitis (AD), including topical medications and non-pharmacologic lifestyle changes.

At the 2023 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference, Lio presented his session titled, "Closing the Healthcare Gaps in the Management of Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis With Biologics."

Transcript

What are some of the new tools dermatologists can use to treat atopic dermatitis?

There are so many tools that we can add to our toolbox for treating atopic dermatitis and other conditions. Of course, we have our topical medications, and there are some really exciting new ones for atopic derm. Some non-steroidal agents are going to break the mold, and for me have already broken the mold, and I'm excited for clinicians who haven't really experimented with them or been exposed to them yet with their patients because I think they will find that they can solve a lot of our problems.

There are some new oral medications that are exciting for patients who are really stuck. We finally have some FDA-approved systemic treatments and our JAK inhibitors. We also, of course, have some biologic agents, some that have been around for a few years, but new ones that are coming; in fact, one is around the corner. We have some excitement on all of these fronts and I think we can pull everything together.

Plus, for those who know me, the other side of my life is thinking about integrative approaches, and there are a lot of fascinating things we can do that are non-pharmacologic. Lifestyle changes, botanical changes, things like that, we can use things to help patients who maybe don't require a prescription but still can do something. Sometimes, even behavioral interventions. I've been interested in things like habit reversal therapy and some of these different approaches to the mind-body connection, which play a huge role in atopic dermatitis.