Payer Roadblocks in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis Care | Fall Clinical Derm 2025

“It seems to be that roadblocks or speed bumps are being put in the way for newer therapies,” Lawrence Eichenfield, M.D., chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, said in a video interview with Managed Healthcare Executive. “We know the newer therapies have more cost with them, but the innovation is really quite remarkable in terms of impact on the disease, so it is an absolutely huge issue in the field.”

Newer therapies include non-steroidal agents, which offer longer treatment windows with fewer side effects than topical steroids, which can cause skin thinning, easy bruising and redness.

Eichenfield also mentioned the lack of pediatric data, which stalls approvals.

Eichenfield will speak at the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from Oct. 23 to 26. He will present his session, ‘Pediatric Dermatology - Who Has Better Pearls?’ on Oct. 25.