Adherence, Specialty Pharmacies, and the Future of Precision Pediatric Care

Even the most advanced treatment plan is ineffective without adherence. In the final video in this series on management of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis in pediatric patients, Adelaide Hebert, MD, professor and director of pediatric dermatology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, notes that when children fail to improve despite appropriate therapy, she often suspects barriers such as treatment fatigue, cost, or confusion about application. Collaboration with Autumn Atkinson, MD, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, allows primary care clinicians to reinforce plans, assess real-world use, and communicate findings back to dermatology.

The faculty also discuss the growing role of specialty pharmacies in pediatric dermatology, particularly for biologics and newer topical agents. These services assist with prior authorizations, copay support, and medication delivery. Hebert and Atkinson view patient-driven requests prompted by direct-to-consumer advertising as opportunities for education and shared decision-making, while emphasizing that therapy choices must remain evidence-based and individualized.

In the concluding segment of this series, Hebert and Atkinson look ahead to emerging precision-medicine tools that may help match pediatric patients with optimal targeted therapies. They reiterate that most pediatric inflammatory dermatoses remain clinical diagnoses but acknowledge a role for biopsy and advanced testing in complex cases. The discussion closes by underscoring the importance of strong pediatrician–dermatologist partnerships in translating therapeutic advances into better long-term outcomes.