Harvard Dermatologist Presents Key Updates at 2025 RAD Conference
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Chronic hand eczema (CHE) requires precise diagnosis and tailored treatment approaches, as many cases are mistakenly treated as atopic dermatitis (AD) despite different underlying mechanisms, according to a leading dermatologist speaking at the 2025 Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Conference.
Diagnostic Challenges in CHE Management
Dr. JiaDe “Jeff” Yu, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School, emphasized that CHE comprises multiple barrier-disruptive conditions including irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and AD. “The treatment really depends on what we’re trying to treat,” Yu told Dermatology Times. “If it’s AD, current AD therapies work well. But much of CHE isn’t AD, and we may be failing those patients.”
As director of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Occupational and Contact Dermatitis Clinic, Yu noted that while repurposed AD treatments like JAK inhibitors help some patients, they often prove inadequate for non-AD CHE cases.
Psychosocial and Occupational Impact
Yu highlighted CHE’s disproportionate quality-of-life burden: “We think about it as hand eczema, but it’s probably the most critical part of your body when interacting with the community. Whether at work, with loved ones, or caring for children, hand eczema affects all aspects of life.”
Emerging Treatment Options
The conference spotlighted delgocitinib, a topical pan-JAK inhibitor that may become the first FDA-approved CHE-specific therapy. Comparative studies show it matches the efficacy of oral alitretinoin (used in Canada and Europe) with superior safety. “This represents a major advance in directly targeting CHE’s inflammatory pathways,” Yu said.
Unmet Needs in Contact Dermatitis
Yu called for developing targeted allergic contact dermatitis treatments, noting current management relies solely on allergen avoidance. “We need industry collaboration to help patients who can’t eliminate exposures due to work or lifestyle constraints,” he urged.
Conference Advances Clinical Dialogue
Yu praised the RAD conference’s role in advancing dermatologic care: “With disease-specific meetings like this, you come in knowing some, you leave knowing a lot.” The event gathered clinicians, researchers and industry leaders to address critical gaps in eczema management.
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