Topical treatments in special populations of atopic dermatitis - Chinese perspective.

Introduction: Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin disease, characterized mainly by polymorphic skin lesions and severe itching, significantly affecting patients' physical and mental health. The pathogenesis of AD is complex, involving multiple factors such as genetics, environment, immunity, and microbiota. In terms of treatment, traditional systemic therapies are gradually being replaced by more targeted molecular immunotherapies, and the range of topical medications has become more diverse. However, research on AD treatment in special populations, such as children, pregnant women, lactating women, and the elderly, remains relatively limited.

Areas covered: This review aims to discuss the research progress on topical treatments for AD in special populations both domestically and internationally, with a focus on personalized treatment approaches. It covers many aspects such as hormones, antimicrobial drugs, small molecule drugs, nanotechnology and microecological therapies, and proposes personalized treatments for each group and problems that need to be solved by current research.

Expert opinion: Special populations have unique physiological characteristics, which may lead to different responses to topical medications. Therefore, personalized treatment strategies are especially important in this context. As insights into pathogenesis evolves, the novel therapies are on the rise, holding promise for more targeted treatment approaches.