New and emerging therapies for paediatric atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a complex, chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a profound symptom burden, and substantially affects patients' quality of life. It is particularly challenging to manage in children, because conventional treatments such as topical corticosteroids might be inadequate or cause considerable safety concerns. Research into the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis has led to the testing and development of numerous topical, oral, and injectable targeted therapeutic agents. This Review explores relevant drugs that hold therapeutic promise and are being studied in the paediatric setting, with a focus on target relevance, available efficacy and safety data, potential safety concerns, and long-term effect in children with atopic dermatitis.