Tips for Communicating with Caregivers for Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis, with Peter Lio, MD

In a new interview at the 2025 Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Conference in Nashville, Peter Lio, MD, spoke about some of the most notable takeaways from his talk titled ‘Pediatric AD: Patient, Provider, Caregiver Connection.’

Lio—known for his role as a clinical assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine—focused on the complex dynamics of care in pediatric dermatology, emphasizing the role of caregivers in addition to the pediatric patient. He highlighted key points of communication with caregivers in his interview with HCPLive, including highlighting potential causes of skin flares.

“We talked about, first of all, the desire for patients to want to get to the root cause of the disease,” Lio explained. “I think that's been an incredibly exciting area in the science of atopic dermatitis, that we can talk about environmental triggers, that there are things out there. For example, one of the things we brought up was diisocyanate, a chemical that is produced by wildfire smoke, but also by exhaust from vehicles. It's even part of some volatile organic compounds that are produced from stuff that we bring into our houses and environments.”

This is something, Lio expressed, that seems to be able to damage the skin barrier, poison the microbiome, and potentially lead to atopic dermatitis. Later, Lio was asked about recent treatment options and ways to frame them to parents and caregivers.

“We have four biologics approved down to age 12 years, which is amazing,” Lio said. “So lots of kids can have access to 1 of those 4. We have 2 oral JAK inhibitors, and then we have a whole host of new topicals, a topical JAK inhibitor, a topical PDE4 inhibitor, and a topical aryl-hydrocarbon receptor modulator. Not to mention the hundreds and hundreds of pre-existing types of topical steroids and over-the-counter products. And there are just so many things that come into a visit. Which cleanser should I use? Do I have to use a special shampoo? What laundry detergent should I use? Can I use a fabric softener? What clothing should I wear?”

Lio noted that writing caregivers a written action plan for their children can be highly effective for communication, with the summary providing guidance.

“In the morning, I'd like you to do 123, in the evening, I'd like you to do 123, and then I'll often put a whole section of all the products with a link,” Lio explained. “By putting a link, they know specifically their product or a photograph of the product, that this is the one I want them to get, especially if you think about a larger line. [The company] might have a product that's designed for sensitive skin, but then they might have one that's for rough and bumpy skin, designed for your feet, or just not meant for a baby's face.”

To learn more about pediatric atopic dermatitis and related topics, view Lio’s full interview video posted above. For more on topics like this, view our latest conference coverage.

The quotes contained in this summary were edited for clarity.