The Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) Annual Meeting focused on different aspects of pediatric dermatology, including topical treatments, technology, and misinformation.
The Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) Annual Meeting took place from July 11 to July 14, 2024, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The meeting focused on different topics within pediatric dermatology, including inflammatory hair disorders, use of corticosteroids, hormonal therapies, and the misinformation crisis, among other topics. With more than 650 participants in attendance, the meeting was the most successful SPD meeting to date.
The SPD Annual Meeting featured multiple presentations across the 3 days of general sessions. Jen Miller, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist at Lurie Children’s Hospital, was among the first speakers and highlighted the use of systemic corticosteroids in pediatric dermatology. This included how much doctors should be dosing, how corticosteroids could affect the adrenal gland, and how to wean the patient off of corticosteroids so as not to impact the adrenal gland. “Work on being aware of the signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency or steroid withdrawal symptoms, regardless of what series your patient's been taking; be willing to learn about these things.… Be willing to check for recovery of adrenal function, and ask us if you have any questions,” Miller concluded.
SPD covered numerous topics related to treating pediatric patients with skin conditions. | Image credit: kwanchaichaiudom - stock.adobe.com
Systemic hormonal therapies were highlighted on the second day of the conference and presented by Andrea Zaenglein, MD, a dermatologist at Penn State/Hershey Medical Center. Zaenglein went over different ways of addressing acne in pediatric patients, including screening for polycystic ovarian syndrome and using contraceptives to treat the acne. This can also include using emergency contraceptives with these pediatric patients. Zaenglein also suggested thinking about using combined oral contraceptives to treat these patients.
Misinformation was also a big talking point during the meeting. Timothy Caulfield, JD, professor in the faculty of law and the school of public health at University of Alberta, gave a presentation on how misinformation can affect medicine. Caulfield highlighted how celebrities and algorithms can affect information. He highlighted a study done at Oxford that found that 20% of all disinformation originated from celebrities and 69% of what other US citizens spread was from that celebrity. Caulfield emphasized that physicians have one of the most trusted jobs within the country. “You guys, this room, can make a difference,” he said. “So what do we need to do? Teach critical thinking skills [and] media literacy.”
Romy Cho, MD, a pediatrician at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, gave a presentation on when to involve child protective services when evaluating a child’s condition. This included showing pictures of past incidences of parents neglecting to treat their child’s condition and pictures of skin conditions that a divorced parent claimed were caused by the other parent. Cho stated that pictures to assess these potential hazards for the child are inherently limited due to lighting and the limitations of the camera lens, even if they do make dermatology consults a little easier to perform. Cho emphasized that framing the needs of the patient as well as what needs aren’t being met and what the harms are could help in addressing child protective services if there is ever a need to call on them after a consult, whether it be on camera or in person.
Toxicology in topicals was one of the last sessions of the meeting, conducted by Lawrence Schachner, MD, a pediatric dermatologist at the University of Miami. Schachner focused on how dangerous topical treatments could be in especially young children, as the toxicity could kill them if the medicines are not applied properly. “There’s great safety and efficacy in what we give people. However, babies do have a variable level of disruption and babies with skin conditions that we see the most have a high variability of increased disruption,” said Schachner.
The SPD Annual Meeting saw multiple topics covered in a short amount of time by experts who taught all in attendance about the various aspects of dermatology. These topics highlighted various areas that are important in taking care of children with skin conditions, from newborns to the late teen years, with this information enabling their clinicians to give them the best possible care.
The Push for Fair Pricing and Reform in Pharmacy Benefit Management
April 3rd 2025Amid growing legislative pressures and industry debates, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are exploring new strategies to enhance transparency, reduce patient costs, and navigate the evolving healthcare landscape.
Read More
The Importance of Examining and Preventing Atrial Fibrillation
August 29th 2023At this year’s American Society for Preventive Cardiology Congress on CVD Prevention, Emelia J. Benjamin, MD, ScM, delivered the Honorary Fellow Award Lecture, “The Imperative to Focus on the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation,” as the recipient of this year’s Honorary Fellow of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology award.
Listen
Using AI-Driven Strategies to Optimize Specialty Drug Costs, Manage Polypharmacy
April 2nd 2025As health care costs continue to rise, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions are emerging as a powerful tool for managing specialty drug spending and polypharmacy risks, as showcased in recent research presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2025 conference.
Read More
Promoting Equity in Public Health: Policy, Investment, and Community Engagement Solutions
June 28th 2022On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Georges C. Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association, on the core takeaways of his keynote session at AHIP 2022 on public health policy and other solutions to promote equitable health and well-being.
Listen
How Recent Federal Policy Changes Are Shaping Managed Care Pharmacy
April 2nd 2025Federal legislative and regulatory changes are reshaping pharmacy practice, with key challenges in government funding, pharmacy benefit manager reform, and health care policy shifts—topics explored by experts at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy's annual meeting.
Read More
The IRA’s Unintended Consequences for Drug Pricing and Coverage
April 2nd 2025The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) may be restricting Medicare Part D formularies, increasing patient costs, and stifling pharmaceutical innovation, experts warned at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2025 annual meeting.
Read More