Dermatologists may prescribe atopic dermatitis treatment, but they are not the only healthcare professionals influencing what patients actually do at home. The International Society of Atopic Dermatitis used its September 2026 digest, published on 1 October 2026, to draw attention to a surprisingly under-discussed part of atopic dermatitis care: the pharmacy counter.
For families managing childhood atopic dermatitis, pharmacists and pharmacy staff may be among the professionals they encounter most often. Parents collect prescriptions, purchase moisturisers and cleansers and frequently ask questions about whether a medicine is safe, how it should be applied or which over-the-counter product might help. Advice given during those interactions can strongly influence treatment behaviour.
ISAD President Professor Alain Taïeb highlighted findings from a French national survey of 406 pharmacy-based healthcare professionals. Almost all respondents reported counselling people with atopic dermatitis. Yet only around one quarter had completed continuing education in dermatology, and fewer than one in ten regularly read dermatology literature.
The survey found that much of the advice surrounding basic moisturiser use and cleansing oils was appropriate. However, recommendations concerning complementary therapies were more variable and were not always aligned with current atopic dermatitis guidelines. ISAD reports that 30% frequently recommended probiotics and almost one in five advised food avoidance.
This gap matters.
Atopic dermatitis is surrounded by misinformation. Patients and families are frequently presented with claims involving restrictive diets, “natural” cures, supplements and products marketed as alternatives to evidence-based therapy. If trusted healthcare professionals unintentionally reinforce unsupported information, the result can be confusion or reduced adherence to effective treatment.
On the other hand, well-informed pharmacists can play a powerful role. They can reinforce correct use of prescribed medicines, address concerns about topical corticosteroids, explain moisturiser use and recognise situations in which a patient should return to a doctor. For families, that kind of accessible support may be particularly valuable between dermatology appointments.
ISAD's message points to a practical opportunity: strengthening dermatology education among pharmacists could improve care without inventing a single new treatment. Better atopic dermatitis care does not depend only on discovering new molecules. It also depends on making sure evidence reaches every person involved in the treatment pathway.
A prescription can be perfectly written. But if patients receive conflicting advice when they collect their treatment, outcomes can still suffer. Sometimes better healthcare begins with making sure everyone around the patient is speaking the same evidence-based language.