Atopic Dermatitis Treatment: What Matters Most to Children, Adolescents, Young Adults, and Caregivers?

Among individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD) up to age 30 years, itch relief and lesion control are universally prioritized, however, treatment preferences and goals for AD treatment vary significantly by age, disease severity, and current treatment status. The findings come from a recent study published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment that used a web survey with separate versions designed for children, adolescents, young adults, and caregivers with simplified language for younger participants.

Study authors, led by Marlies de Graaf, MD, PhD, a pediatric dermatologist and head of the National Expertise Center of Atopic Dermatitis in Children, in the Department of Dermatology and Allergology at the University Medical Center of Utrecht, The Netherlands, note that managing AD in the young presents a challenge over time as the disease evolves with life stages. And although treatment options continue to expand, that presents its own challenges to selecting therapy, de Graaf and colleagues point out. ​

Treatment goals and preferences among youth and caregivers for those with AD are far less well studied than those of adults. In this study, de Graaf et al explored goals and preferences among individuals with AD of all severities, from age 6 years through age 30 years.

The slide show above offers at-a-glance highlights of the findings.

References

van der Rijst LP, de Bruin-Weller MS, Zuithoff NPA, et al. Treatment goals
and preferences of pediatric atopic dermatitis patients, young adults, and caregivers. J Dermatol Treat. 2025;36:1, 2503273. doi:10.1080/09546634.2025.2503273