George Han, MD, PhD: Advancing Atopic Dermatitis Care: Early Use of Topical JAK Inhibitors

February 13, 2026

George Han, MD, PhD, a faculty member at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, New York, discusses evolving treatment strategies for atopic dermatitis, emphasizing limitations of long-term topical steroid use, including skin thinning and systemic absorption. He reviews nonsteroidal options like calcineurin inhibitors and crisaborole, noting efficacy and tolerability challenges. He then highlights topical Janus kinase inhibitors, particularly ruxolitinib (Opzelura), as potent, well-tolerated therapies that can be used earlier in the regimen to simplify care, minimize steroid exposure, and improve patients’ quality of life.

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