EADV Symposium 2026 sessions spotlight
Session type: Focus on
- Saturday, 9 May
- 10:45 - 12:15 EEST
- Banqueting Hall
Presentation details:
Off-label therapies
Efstratios Vakirlis, Greece
Off-label prescribing is a common and often necessary practice in pediatric dermatology due to the limited number of medications formally approved for use in children.
Key Takeaways
- Off-label use is often essential in pediatric dermatology due to limited approved therapies for children.
- Evidence-based decision-making and age-specific safety considerations are critical when prescribing off-label treatments.
- Clear communication with caregivers about benefits and risks will help mitigate medico-legal and ethical risks.
Presentation details:
Biologics
Aleksandra Lesiak, Poland
Therapeutic biologics are targeted immunomodulatory agents used in children with moderate-to-severe inflammatory and autoimmune skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and selected autoimmune dermatoses. These therapies act by selectively inhibiting key cytokines involved in disease pathogenesis, allowing precise immune modulation with an acceptable safety profile under specialist supervision. In paediatric practice, commonly used agents include dupilumab, lebrikizumab, and tralokinumab for atopic dermatitis; etanercept, ustekinumab, adalimumab, ixekizumab, and secukinumab for psoriasis; and rituximab or tocilizumab in selected autoimmune conditions. Biologic therapy can reduce inflammatory activity, improve skin healing, limit disease progression, and significantly enhance quality of life. Careful assessment, infection screening, vaccination review, and structured long-term monitoring are essential to ensure safe and effective treatment outcomes.
- Targeted immunotherapy for severe paediatric skin disease
- Indications: atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, autoimmune dermatoses
- Examples: dupilumab, adalimumab, ustekinumab, secukinumab, rituximab
- Reduce inflammation and improve quality of life
- Require specialist monitoring
Presentation details:
JAK inhibitors and small molecules
Lucero Noguera, Spain
Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors therapeutic strategies in pediatric dermatology
Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are rapidly reshaping therapeutic strategies in pediatric dermatology by offering targeted control of inflammatory and autoimmune pathways. In children and adolescents, their role is expanding from “last-resort” use toward earlier, evidence-informed integration in selected cases—particularly for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata, and increasingly for other immune-mediated dermatoses encountered in specialist practice. This talk provides a practical, clinically oriented update on JAK inhibitors in pediatrics.
Key learning objectives
- Identify the main pediatric dermatology indications for JAK inhibitors (e.g., atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata) and recognize scenarios where they may be considered.
- Apply a structured approach to patient selection, baseline assessment, monitoring, and follow-up to support safe prescribing in children and adolescents.
- Anticipate and manage adverse events and practical issues (infections, labs, vaccinations, drug interactions), and communicate benefits/risks effectively to families.
- Integrate JAK inhibitors into a broader treatment pathway, including how to position them versus biologics and conventional systemic therapies
Presentation details:
Tips on physical and surgical therapies
Anna Belloni Fortina, Italy
Pediatric therapies require a blend of medical precision and playful engagement to ensure both physical recovery and emotional well-being.
Pediatric physical therapy focuses on improving strength, balance, and motor skills through movement-based play. Preparing a child for surgery involves reducing anxiety through age-appropriate education and comfort.
Clear Communication: Use simple terms to describe the procedure. Post-Operative Recovery: Early Movement: Encourage walking as soon as allowed (often within 24 hours) to prevent blood clots and speed up recovery.
Pain Management: Use distraction techniques like movies or favorite books alongside prescribed medications to manage discomfort.
Emotional Support: It is normal for children to show behavioral regression (e.g., bedwetting or tantrums) after surgery; remain patient and maintain a consistent routine at home.