Updated evidence has emerged since the 2014 guidelines that further informs the management of atopic dermatitis (AD) with topical therapies. These updated guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for managing AD in adults using a variety of topical treatments. A multidisciplinary workgroup conducted a systematic review and used the GRADE approach to assess the certainty of evidence and to formulate and grade recommendations.

The workgroup developed 12 recommendations, including the use of nonprescription agents, prescription topical corticosteroids (TCS), calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs), Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitors, antimicrobials, and antihistamines. Strong recommendations are made for using moisturizers, TCIs, TCS, and topical PDE-4 and JAK inhibitors. Conditional recommendations are made for bathing and wet wrap therapy, and against the use of topical antimicrobials, antiseptics, and antihistamines. The review was limited to English-language randomized trials, which may have excluded relevant data published in other languages and long-term follow-up studies.

Reference: Sidbury R, Alikhan A, Bercovitch L, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis in adults with topical therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023;89(1):e1-e20. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2022.12.029.