Treatment of atopic dermatitis in pediatric practice: challenges and solutions

Larkova I.A., Revyakina V.A.

Federal Research Center for Nutrition, Biotechnology, and Food Safety, Moscow, Russia

This article addresses topical anti-inflammatory therapy for atopic dermatitis, the most common inflammatory skin disease with an early onset of clinical manifestations, which is relevant to pediatric clinical practice. The chronic, relapsing course of atopic dermatitis requires ongoing treatment and symptom control, which poses challenges not only to the efficacy but also to the safety of prescribed medications. In this regard, it is shown that pimecrolimus cream 1% is a useful topical treatment option for pediatricians. It can be prescribed both during exacerbations and for long-term anti-relapse treatment, including in infancy and early childhood. The efficacy and safety of this drug, as well as its advantages over topical glucocorticosteroids, have been confirmed by clinical studies and many years of domestic and international practice, as reflected in this article.
This article examines topical anti-inflammatory therapy for atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease that manifests primarily in early childhood, which is relevant to pediatric clinical practice. The chronic, relapsing course of AD requires long-term symptom control, which presents the clinician with two key challenges: achieving sustained remission and minimizing the risks associated with prolonged use of topical medications. Particular attention is paid to balancing the efficacy and safety of therapy, including modern approaches to the use of corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors. Therefore, pimecrolimus cream 1% occupies an important place in the arsenal of topical therapy for atopic dermatitis (AD) in children. The drug can be used both for the relief of exacerbations and for long-term anti-relapse treatment, including in infancy and early childhood. Its efficacy and favorable safety profile compared to topical glucocorticosteroids (TGCS) are confirmed by clinical trial data and many years of experience in Russian and international practice.

For citations: Larkova I.A., Revyakina V.A. Treatment of atopic dermatitis in pediatric practice: challenges and solutions. Pharmateca. 2025;32(10):26-32. (In Russ.). DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/pharmateca.2025.10.26-32

Authors’ contribution: I.A. Larkova – study concept and design. I.A. Larkova – data collection and processing. I.A. Larkova – writing. V.A. Revyakina – editing. All co-authors approved the final version of the article and are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the article.
Conflicts of interest: The authors confirm that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding: This work was conducted as part of the state assignment of the Federal Research Center for Nutrition and Biotechnology No. FGMF-2025-0003, «Development and Implementation of Innovative Dietetic Technologies in the Medical Rehabilitation System for Patients with Alimentary-Dependent (Non-Communicable) Diseases».

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About the Authors

Inna A. Larkova, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Senior Researcher, Department of Allergology and Diet Therapy, Federal Research Center for Nutrition, Biotechnology, and Food Safety, Moscow, Russia; inna_larkova@mail.ru (corresponding author)
Vera A. Revyakina, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Head of the Allergology Department, Federal Research Center for Nutrition, Biotechnology, and Food Safety, Moscow, Russia

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