Topical Prescription Management

Abstract

With recent advances in topical therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD), steroid-sparing options like calcineurin inhibitors, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitors are becoming mainstays in therapy, underscoring the importance of careful selection and usage of topical corticosteroids (TCSs) to minimize side effects. Alongside the necessity of emollient use, these steroid-sparing alternatives offer rapid itch relief and efficacy in improving disease severity. While TCSs still hold a prominent role in AD management, promising novel topical treatments like tapinarof and live biotherapeutics to modulate the skin microbiome are also discussed. Overall, the recent addition of novel topical therapies offers diverse options for AD management and underscores the importance of topical treatments in the management of AD.

Keywords: Calcineurin inhibitors; Emollients; Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors; Maintenance therapy; Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitors; Steroid-sparing; Topical biotherapeutics; Topical corticosteroids (TCS); Topical medications; Atopic dermatitis.