Atopic Dermatitis: New Research on Disease Course and Treatment
Jonathan I. Silverberg, MD, PhD, MPH
Recent observational findings have upended the conception of atopic dermatitis (AD) as a disease of early childhood onset and late childhood/adolescent resolution marked mostly by cutaneous symptoms and comorbidities. Childhood AD may persist into adulthood, and adult onset is now well established. Novel treatments are also becoming available after years with no new therapies. Crisaborole and dupilumab are now among AD treatment options. Many systemic and topical therapies are in development.
Variable Course of AD
Longitudinal follow-up of 2 large birth cohorts has revealed multiple patterns of AD development. The stereotypical course of early onset–early resolving disease was the most common, but sizable proportions of children who developed the disease followed other patterns (Figure).1 Although many children outgrow AD by or during adolescence, the disease sometimes persists into later adolescence and adulthood. A 25-study meta-analysis reported that roughly 26% cases of AD began in adulthood (≥16 years old).

Highlights of the 43rd Annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar
This journal supplement is intended for dermatologists, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physician assistants, and other clinicians who practice medical dermatology and aesthetic medicine.
Supported by educational grants from:
Ortho Dermatologics, LEO Pharma Inc., and Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
Activity Information
Expired
Original Release Date: August 2019
Expiration Date: August 31, 2021
Estimated Time to Complete Activity: 2.0 hours
Expired
Participants should read the activity information, review the activity in its entirety, and complete the online post-test and evaluation. Upon completing this activity as designed and achieving a passing score on the post-test, you will be directed to a Web page that will allow you to receive your certificate of credit via e-mail or you may print it out at that time.
The online post-test and evaluation can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/HDS19Supp.
Inquiries about continuing medical education (CME) accreditation may be directed to the University of Louisville Office of Continuing Medical Education & Professional Development (CME & PD) at [email protected] louisville.edu or 502-852-5329.
CME/CE Accreditation Statements
Physicians: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the University of Louisville School of Medicine and Global Academy for Medical Education, LLC. The University of Louisville School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing education for physicians.
The University of Louisville School of Medicine designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses
Joint Provider Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and Global Academy for Medical Education, LLC. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the health care team.
Continuing Nursing Education
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 2.5 contact hours. Designated for 2.4 hours of pharmacotherapy credit for advanced practice nurses.
Educational Needs
Dermatologists can benefit from education on recent developments in many areas of clinical practice. In psoriasis treatment, nearly all patients are prescribed topical therapies. New medications using improved vehicles and fixed-dose combinations have become available, and more are in development. New research linking psoriasis and risk of cardiovascular disease has provided a better understanding of the underlying pathological mechanism and the potential benefit of anti-inflammatory treatment. Recent epidemiologic data on atopic dermatitis in adults have important implications for diagnosis and treatment. In acne treatment, several efficacious systemic treatments are underutilized, and education on their risks and benefits may improve clinical practice. In the treatment of skin cancer, dermatologists should consider several systemic treatments in addition to surgery. Finally, a new botulinum toxin became available recently, and others are in development.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be better able to:
- Describe recent data on psoriasis treatment, including new vehicles for topical treatments, fixed-dose combination therapies, and investigational topical medications
- Review the relationship between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the potential effects of psoriasis treatment on CVD risk
- Describe current research on the temporal patterns of atopic dermatitis onset and resolution and the differences in diagnosis and treatment approach for adult and pediatric patients
- Analyze the efficacy and safety of systemic therapies for acne
- Assess the current nonsurgical treatments for basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and localized melanoma
- Review the options for confirming the diagnosis and data on the use of topical and systemic treatments in the management of onychomycosis
- Assess the advantages and disadvantages of available botulinum toxins used to address patient concerns about facial aging
Disclosure Declarations
Individuals in a position to control the content of this educational activity are required to disclose: (1) the existence of any relevant financial relationship with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients with the exemption of nonprofit or government organizations and non–health-carerelated companies, within the past 12 months; and (2) the identification of a commercial product/device that is unlabeled for use or an investigational use of a product/device not yet approved.
Nathaniel J. Jellinek, MD, has indicated he has nothing to disclose.
Michael S. Kaminer, MD, has indicated he is a Consultant for Artic Fox, Cutera, Cytrellis, Endo, L’Oréal, Soliton, and Zeltiq.
Alan Menter, MD, has indicated he is on the Speakers Bureau for AbbVie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, and OrthoDoc.
Jonathan I. Silverberg, MD, PhD, MPH, has indicated he is on the Speakers Bureau for Regeneron/Sanofi; is a Consultant, and/or Advisory Board member for AbbVie, AnaptysBio, Asana, Dermavant, Eli Lilly, Galderma, GlaxoSmithKline, Glenmark, Kiniksa, LEO, Menlo, Pfizer, Realm, and Regeneron Sanofi; and has received Grant/Contracted Research Support from GlaxoSmithKline.
Linda F. Stein Gold, MD, has indicated she is on the Speakers Bureau for Galderma, LEO, Mayne, Pfizer, Sanofi/Regeneron, Taro, and Valeant; is a Consultant for Foamix, Galderma, LEO, Mayne, Menlo, Pfizer, Sanofi/ Regeneron, Sol-Gel, Taro, and Valeant; and has received Grant/Contracted Research Support from Foamix, Janssen, LEO, Menlo, Pfizer, and Valeant.
Christopher B. Zachary, MBBS, FRCP, has indicated he is a Consultant for Allergan, Candela, Sciton, and Solta.
University of Louisville CME & PD Advisory Board and Staff Disclosures: The University of Louisville CME & PD Advisory Board and office staff have nothing to disclose, with the following Board Member exceptions: Sathya Krishnasamy, MD – Novo Nordisk (Grant Funding); Ashlee Bergin, MD – Merck Pharmaceuticals (Speaking); Michael Sowell, MD – Amgen (Speaking) and Impax Pharmaceuticals (Grant Funding); Rainer Lenhardt, MD – CSL Behring, Mallinckrodt, and Merck (Speaking).
CME/CE Reviewers: Courtney R. Schadt, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Chief of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, has nothing to disclose.
Postgraduate Institute of Medicine planners and managers have nothing to disclose.
Global Academy for Medical Education Staff: Shirley V. Jones, MBA; Eileen A. McCaffrey, MA; and Margaret McLaughlin, PhD, have nothing to disclose.
Off-Label/Investigational Use Disclosure
This CME/CE activity discusses the off-label use of certain approved medications as well as data from clinical trials on investigational agents. Such material is identified within the text of the articles.
References
- Paternoster L, Savenije OEM, Heron J, et al. Identification of atopic dermatitis subgroups in children from 2 longitudinal birth cohorts. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018;141(3):964-971.
- Lee HH, Patel KR, Singam V, Rastogi S, Silverberg JI. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and phenotype of adult-onset atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019; 80(6):1526-1532.e7.
- Hua T, Silverberg JI. Atopic dermatitis in US adults: epidemiology, association with marital status, and atopy. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018;121(5):622-624.
- Silverberg JI, Gelfand JM, Margolis DJ, et al. Patient burden and quality of life in atopic dermatitis in US adults: a population-based cross-sectional study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018;121(3):340-347.
- Shaw TE, Currie GP, Koudelka CW, Simpson EL. Eczema prevalence in the United States: data from the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health. J Invest Dermatol. 2011;131(1):67-73.
- Silverberg JI, Simpson EL. Associations of childhood eczema severity: a US population-based study. Dermatitis. 2014;25(3):107-114.
- Boguniewicz M, Alexis AF, Beck LA, et al. Expert perspectives on management of moderate-tosevere atopic dermatitis: a multidisciplinary consensus addressing current and emerging therapies. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2017;5(6):1519-1531.
- Sidbury R, Davis DM, Cohen DE, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 3. Management and treatment with phototherapy and systemic agents. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;71(2):327-349.
- Eichenfield LF, Tom WL, Berger TG, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 2. Management and treatment of atopic dermatitis with topical therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;71(1):116-132.
- Boguniewicz M, Fonacier L, Guttman-Yassky E, Ong PY, Silverberg J, Farrar JR. Atopic dermatitis yardstick: practical recommendations for an evolving therapeutic landscape. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018;120(1):10-22.e12.
- Simpson EL, Paller AS, Boguniewicz M, et al. Crisaborole ointment improves quality of life of patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis and their families. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2018;8(4):605-619.
- Dupixent [prescribing information]. Tarrytown, NY: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; March 2019.
- Simpson EL, Paller AS, Siegfried EC, et al. Dupilumab efficacy and safety in adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: results from a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 study. Presented at: 27th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress; September 15, 2018; Paris, France. Presentation #4640.
- Peppers J, Paller AS, Maeda-Chubachi T, et al. A phase 2, randomized dose-finding study of tapinarof (GSK2894512 cream) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(1):89-98.e83.
- Hanifin JM, Ellis CN, Frieden IJ, et al. OPA-15406, a novel, topical, nonsteroidal, selective phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor, in the treatment of adult and adolescent patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD): a phase-II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;75(2):297-305.
- Lee YW, Won CH, Jung K, et al. Efficacy and safety of PAC-14028 cream–a novel, topical, nonsteroidal, selective TRPV1 antagonist in patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis: a phase IIb randomized trial. Br J Dermatol. 2019;180(5):1030-1038.
- Lara-Corrales I, Huang CM, Parkin PC, et al. Vitamin D level and supplementation in pediatric atopic dermatitis: a randomized controlled trial. J Cutan Med Surg. 2019;23(1):44-49.
Disclosures
Jonathan I. Silverberg, MD, PhD, MPH, has indicated he is on the Speakers Bureau for Regeneron/Sanofi; is a Consultant, and/or Advisory Board member for AbbVie, AnaptysBio, Asana, Dermavant, Eli Lilly, Galderma, GlaxoSmithKline, Glenmark, Kiniksa, LEO, Menlo, Pfizer, Realm, and Regeneron/Sanofi; and has received Grant/Contracted Research Support from GlaxoSmithKline.