Discussing Current Treatment Options for Atopic Dermatitis, With Peter Lio, MD

In this second segment of his HCPLive interview, Peter Lio, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, spoke about the rapid and recent evolution of atopic dermatitis therapy options following his session presentation at the Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Conference 2026 in Nashville.1

In this presentation, he and his fellow panelists highlighted both the growing number of therapeutics available as well as the increasingly personalized approach to patient care. In his discussion with HCPLive, Lio pointed to the modern eczema treatment landscape as one of the most exciting periods in atopic dermatitis management.

“I am a big nerd for topical therapy, and I'm just so grateful that we have so many wonderful new non-steroidal options, many of which are now approved down to age two,” Lio said.

With several treatments US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for children as young as 2 years of age, Lio believes clinicians have more opportunities to manage this condition while reducing reliance on topical corticosteroids. Although he stressed that steroids remain an important component of treatment, he added that the availability of effective non-steroidal alternatives allows providers to implement such treatments more strategically.

In his interview, Lio also reflected on the transformative impact of newer systemic drugs. Having practiced through an era when many individuals living with moderate-to-severe disease had limited options for therapy, he described the current moment as a dramatic shift in care. According to Lio, therapies that were unavailable just a few years ago are now helping patients achieve levels of disease control that previously seemed unattainable, fundamentally changing expectations for long-term outcomes.

In his look ahead, Lio expressed notable interest in the growing body of literature around addressing patients’ skin microbiome. He described microbiome-targeted medications as being a promising frontier in the atopic dermatitis management space, pointing to emerging approaches such as selective antimicrobial sprays. He also noted topical probiotics and prebiotic interventions as potential supporters to a healthy microbial balance.

Disclosures: Relevant disclosures for Lio include AbbVie, Almirall, Arbonne, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, Dermavant, Eli Lilly and Company, Galderma, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal, LEO Pharma, Pfizer, Regeneron/Sanofi Genzyme and others.

References

1. Lio P, Eichenfield L. Session 8: Anticipated Updates in Pediatric AD Guidelines (AAD 2026 Release). Session presented at: 2026 Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis Conference; June 17-19, 2026; Nashville, TN.