Report on Advances in Pediatric Dermatology and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

A report from the 2025 Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) Annual Meeting, featuring insights from Dr. Lawrence Eichenfield, highlights a transformative era in pediatric dermatologic care. These advancements demonstrate significant contributions toward achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in health, innovation, and education.

Enhancing Child Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

The primary focus of recent progress in pediatric dermatology is the direct improvement of health outcomes for children, a core objective of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Therapeutic Innovations for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases

The field has shifted from observational approaches to targeted therapeutic innovation, fundamentally changing the management of chronic conditions and improving the quality of life for children and their families.

• Atopic Dermatitis: Breakthroughs, including the use of dupilumab and oral JAK inhibitors in younger children, are providing life-altering results.
• Psoriasis: Progress has been made in accelerating access to systemic therapies for children, overcoming previous regulatory delays.
• Infantile Hemangiomas: The evolution from serendipitous discoveries, such as using propranolol, to prospectively designed drugs marks a significant advancement in targeted care.

These developments support SDG 3 by reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases, minimizing comorbidities, and moving patients toward long-term remission.

Fostering Innovation and Reducing Health Inequalities (SDG 9 & SDG 10)

The progress outlined aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by promoting scientific research and technological upgrades, and with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by ensuring equitable access to medical advancements.

Strategic Innovation and Research Expansion

The field is experiencing a deliberate, science-driven approach to developing new treatments. The presentation of over 150 research posters at the SPD meeting indicates a growing volume of scientific inquiry, fostering an ecosystem of continuous innovation.

Addressing Gaps in Healthcare Access

Efforts to include children earlier in systemic therapeutic trials for conditions like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are actively addressing historical inequalities in access to cutting-edge treatments between adult and pediatric populations. Future breakthroughs in genetically targeted therapies for rare conditions are expected to further reduce health disparities for vulnerable patient groups.

Promoting Lifelong Learning and Collaborative Partnerships (SDG 4 & SDG 17)

The report underscores the importance of professional development and collaboration, which are essential for sustaining progress and are reflected in SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Commitment to Professional Development

The rapid evolution of available therapies necessitates a commitment to lifelong learning among dermatology professionals. This aligns with SDG 4 by ensuring that practitioners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to provide the best possible care.

The Role of Professional Collaboration

The SPD Annual Meeting serves as a critical platform for building partnerships that advance the field. This collaborative environment is essential for achieving shared objectives, as emphasized by SDG 17.

1. Continuous Education: Practitioners must remain humble about the limits of current knowledge and actively seek out cutting-edge information to benefit patients.
2. Collaborative Networks: In-person meetings create professional and personal relationships that are vital for driving research and advancing patient care.
3. Future Outlook: Long-term data supporting early intervention and new genetically targeted therapies are anticipated to emerge from this collaborative and innovative environment.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article’s core focus is on advancements in pediatric dermatology, directly contributing to the health and well-being of children with skin conditions. It discusses new, effective treatments for chronic diseases like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, which “totally changing the lives of our individuals and families.”

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• The text heavily emphasizes scientific research and therapeutic innovation. It describes the field’s shift to “deliberate, science-driven advancements” and highlights “breakthroughs in genetically targeted therapies.” The mention of “the volume of research” expanding points to a robust innovation ecosystem.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The article touches upon the need for continuous professional education. Dr. Eichenfield stresses the importance of “lifelong learning for dermatology professionals” and advises trainees to “always be humble about what we don’t know,” underscoring the need for ongoing skill development in a rapidly changing medical field.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The role of collaboration is explicitly mentioned as crucial for advancing the field. The article highlights the “irreplaceable value of in-person collaboration” at events like the SPD Annual Meeting, which “creates these relationships—partially networking, partially friendship building—that makes it fun to continue to advance the field.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The article addresses this by discussing new systemic therapies for chronic non-communicable inflammatory diseases (psoriasis, atopic dermatitis) which can “reduce comorbidities” and improve quality of life.
• Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines. The article discusses accelerating access to treatments for children and the development of new, effective therapies like “dupilumab and other systemic therapies, advanced systemic therapies, oral JAK inhibitors.”

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries…encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers. The article is a case study of this target in action, detailing a “transformative period in pediatric dermatologic care” driven by a “volume of research” and “science-driven advancements.”

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. This is relevant through the emphasis on “lifelong learning for dermatology professionals” to keep pace with therapies that are “markedly different from 10 to 15 years ago,” ensuring the workforce has up-to-date skills.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources. The SPD Annual Meeting serves as a platform for such a partnership, where professionals share knowledge (“more than 150 posters presented”) and collaborate to “advance the field.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

• Development of new therapies: The article explicitly names new treatments such as “propranolol for infantile hemangiomas,” “dupilumab,” and “oral JAK inhibitors,” which serve as indicators of progress in providing effective healthcare.
• Inclusion in clinical trials: The fact that “children now included earlier in systemic therapeutic trials” is an indicator of improved access to cutting-edge treatments for pediatric populations.
• Improved patient outcomes: The article implies progress through descriptions of therapies “totally changing the lives of our individuals and families,” moving patients “toward remission,” and reducing “comorbidities.”

Indicators for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)

• Volume of research output: The article provides a specific metric: “more than 150 posters presented” at the SPD meeting. This number serves as a direct indicator of research activity and knowledge generation in the field.
• Advancement in therapeutic technology: The mention of “breakthroughs in genetically targeted therapies” is an indicator of sophisticated, science-driven innovation.

Indicators for SDG 4 (Quality Education)

• Need for continuous professional development: The statement that current therapies are “markedly different from 10 to 15 years ago” implies a need for continuous training, which can be measured by participation in lifelong learning programs and conferences.

Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

• Professional collaboration and networking: The article points to the SPD meeting itself as an indicator of partnership, fostering “in-person collaboration” and “networking” to advance patient care.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: dermatologytimes.com