Conference report: 10^th annual skin allergy meeting of Skin Allergy Research Society

SESSION 1: ATOPIC DERMATITIS

The session on atopic dermatitis was chaired by Dr. T K. Sumathy, Senior Professor and Head of Department, Dermatology, Ramaiah Medical College, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, and Dr. B. S. Chandra Shekhar, Chief Dermatologist and Medical Director, CUTIS Academy of Cutaneous Sciences, Bengaluru. Dr. Leong Kin Fon, Consultant Pediatric Dermatologist, Pediatric Institute, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, delivered an interesting talk on “Pathophysiology of itch in atopic dermatitis and upcoming therapeutic options.” He covered the role of allergens, irritants, microbial dysbiosis, autoimmunity, and genetics in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis. He discussed in depth three mechanisms of itch in atopic dermatitis including the increasing number of “pruritogens” directly stimulating the nerve endings via histaminergic and non-histaminergic pathway and neuronal sensitization with hyperknesis and alloknesis and habitual with/without psychogenic effects. He also discussed the impact of disease on quality of life. He discussed topical as well as systemic treatment options. He provided significant insights about the treatment options Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, dupilumab, and newer treatment options in the pipeline.

Dr. Sandipan Dhar, Professor and Head, Department of Pediatric Dermatology, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, India, spoke on “Prevention of atopic dermatitis: Myth or Fact?.” He spoke about primary and secondary prevention of atopic dermatitis. He discussed different triggers for atopic dermatitis. He provided information-related role of moisturizers, probiotics, and prebiotics in the management of atopic dermatitis; Dr. (Brigadier) Sanjeev Vaishampayan provided an overview of the current status of tofacitinib in atopic dermatitis. Dr. Bela Shah explained how abrocitinib differs from other small molecules. Evidence on crisaborole, a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, was presented by Dr. Anant Patil, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Dr. DY Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai. Dr. Sandipan Dhar also discussed the place of dupilumab in atopic dermatitis. After these presentations, a panel discussion on atopic dermatitis was moderated by Dr. Deepika Pandhi. The panelists for this session were Dr. Abhishek De, Associate Professor, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, and Dr. Sahana Srinivas, Consultant Pediatric Dermatologist, Department of Pediatric Dermatology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bengaluru, Dr Sandipan Dhar, Dr Leong Kin Fon and Dr Bela Shah. There was extensive discussion on diagnosis, monitoring and treatment options for atopic dermatitis.

SESSION 2: URTICARIA

The session on urticaria was chaired by Dr. Sarvajnamurthy Aradhya Sacchidanand, Chief Consultant Dermatologist, Sujala Polyclinic and Lab, Bengaluru and Executive Director, Siddaganga Medical College, Tumakuru and Dr. Venkataram, Mysore. The session started by Dr. Kiran Godse, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Dr. DY Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai, with a talk on “Urticaria management: SAS guideline.” He discussed the role of second-generation antihistamines in the management of chronic urticaria. In his presentation, he also provided options for the treatment of patients with difficult-to-treat urticaria. Dr. Abhishek De provided an overview of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of inducible urticaria. The panel discussion on urticaria was moderated by Dr. Prabhakar Sangolli. The panelists for this session included Dr. Indrashis Podder, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kolkata; Dr. Kiran Godse, Dr. DA Satish, Senior Consultant Dermatologist, Skin, Cosmetic and ENT Care Centre, Bengaluru; and Dr. Mukesh Girdhar, Senior Dermatologist, Assistant Director Dermatology, Max Hospital, Delhi.

SESSION 3: CONTACT DERMATITIS

The last session was on contact dermatitis. This session was chaired by Dr. Vijay Aithal, Professor and Head, Department of Dermatology, St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru, and Dr. Leelavathy B, Professor and Head, Dermatology, Bowring Medical College and RI, Bengaluru. The session started with Dr. Sathish Pai, Professor, Dermatology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. He spoke on photodermatoses. The panel discussion on contact dermatitis was moderated by Dr. Krupashankar DS, Consultant Dermatologist, Mallige Medical Centre, Bengaluru. The panelists for this session were Dr. S. C. Rajendran, Director and Senior Consultant Dermatologist at Cosmetic Skin Care Clinic, Koramangala, Bengaluru; and Chief Consultant, Vydehi Advanced Aesthetic Centre, Dr. Rashmikant Shah, Senior Consultant Dermatologist, KRS Derma Care, Kandivali West, Mumbai; Dr. Sathish Pai and Dr. Reena Rai, Professor and Head of Department, Dermatology, PSG Institute of Medical Science and Research. Vote of thanks was provided by Dr. Anant Patil. In summary, the 10^th Annual Skin Allergy Meeting 2023 organized by SAS in association with Bengaluru Dermatological Association was a great success, with its interesting and in-depth discussions on relevant topics related to skin allergy.