Spring Live Global Virtual Symposium
Friday April 4th, 2025 – 15:00 to 17:00 (Zürich Time, CEST)
Misinformation has been recognized as a critical Global Health challenge during the COVID pandemic, prompting its inclusion on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) priority list.
In the digital age, the rapid spread of health-related misinformation on social media poses a significant threat to public understanding and management of diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD).
Misleading claims about treatments, causes, and preventative measures can undermine evidence-based practices, erode trust in healthcare professionals, and exacerbate the burden on patients.
This symposium led by the International Society of Atopic Dermatitis (ISAD) and its therapeutic education task force ISAD-OPENED will bring together patients’ representatives, social media experts and dermatologists to explore strategies for identifying, addressing, and mitigating the impact of misinformation on AD.
Through collaborative discussions, we aim to equip the global community with tools to promote accurate information and improve patient outcomes in the face of this growing challenge.
SPEAKERS
Cathal O’CONNOR
Marine CALVET
Alpana MOHTA
Dana SAADE
Mikael ALSTERHOLM
PROGRAM
| 14:58 | OPENING |
| 15:00 | INTRODUCTION Alain TAÏEB / Peter SCHMID-GRENDELMEIER |
| SESSION 1 6 PRESENTATIONS (10 min.each including Q&A) | |
| Moderator: — | |
| 15:10 | Misinformation in Atopic Dermatitis Cathal O’CONNOR (Ireland) Consultant dermatologist and paediatrician, University College Cork PhD in infantile neurophysiology in Infant with Irish Clinical and Academic Training programme Postdoctoral fellowship in Great Ormond Street Hospital London and Crick Institute London Future Leader of European Society for Paediatric Dermatology and European Society for Dermatological Research. |
| Moderator: — | |
| 15:20 | The experience of the Eczema Foundation with social media handling Marine CALVET (France) Project Manager for the Pierre Fabre Eczema Foundation, Corporate Foundation of the Pierre Fabre Laboratories dedicated to the fight against eczema. Marine CALVET oversees digital projects including the Foundation’s website and social media channels. Prior to this, she for two years as a Sales Engineer in the field of cosmetic ingredients. Marine holds an Engineering degree in Biology as well as a Master’s degree in marketing, Management & Communication. |
| Moderator: — | |
| 15:30 | Misinformation in dermatology: experience of a dermatologist involved in social media Alpana MOHTA (India) Dermatologist Dr. Alpana MOHTA is a dual-board certified dermatologist with a fellowship in allergology from Hospital Clinic Barcelona and EAACI/UEMS certification in allergology and clinical immunology. With over 90 scientific publications, Dr. MOHTA is also an editorial board member of the International Journal of Dermatology. Her research focuses on psoriasis, tropical diseases, mycobacterial infections, and the impact of dermatological diseases on quality of life and public health. Dr. MOHTA is the recipient of the Imrich Sarkany Non-European Memorial Scholarship from EADV and the Strauss and Katz World Congress Fund Scholarship from the AAD. In 2023, she received a travel grant from ISAD to present her findings on pediatric atopic dermatitis as a speaker. Currently based in India, Dr. MOHTA is a private practitioner and through her growing social media presence, she strives to actively debunk misinformation and advocate for evidence-based practices in dermatology. |
| Moderator: — | |
| 15:40 | #TSW on TikTok, an example of a massive social media influence impacting AD patients Dana SAADE (Lebanon) Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology and a dermatologic surgeon, American University of Beirut Medical Center Dr. Dana SAADE is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology and a dermatologic surgeon at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC). Since 2018, she has been practicing in Lebanon, where she treats a diverse range of patients with various dermatologic concerns. Her primary focus is on surgical and procedural dermatology, where she specializes in both skin cancer management and cosmetic procedures. Her interest in Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) began unexpectedly when she came across a TikTok video of a patient suffering from the condition. Intrigued by the impact it had on patients, she decided to delve deeper into the subject and explore it in her research and publication: “Investigating Topical Steroid Withdrawal Videos on TikTok: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Top 100 Videos”. Her commitment to addressing this issue has led her to become an active member of the International Society of Atopic Dermatitis (ISAD) task force, where she works alongside global experts to raise awareness about TSW and correct the misconceptions surrounding it. Dr. Saade is dedicated to providing scientifically backed management options and relief for her patients, while combating the spread of misinformation in order to ensure better outcomes for those affected by TSW. |
| Moderator: — | |
| 15:50 | Deciphering TSW as studied on a Facebook AD Group Mikael ALSTERHOLM (Sweden) MD, PhD, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Mikael ALSTERHOLM, MD, PhD is a senior consultant, post-doc researcher and lecturer at The Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden and at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. Mikael Alsterholm´s field of expertise is atopic dermatitis and he does post-doc research work on various aspects of treatment and follow-up, including topical steroid withdrawal. He is also a member of the board for SwedAD, the nationwide quality registry for atopic dermatitis in Sweden. |
| TRANSITION Alain TAÏEB / Peter SCHMID-GRENDELMEIER | |
| 16:00 | SESSION 2 DEBATE: HOW TO FIGHT MISINFORMATION IN AD Moderators: — |
| Are We All Corticophobic? Jean-François STALDER (France) Nantes University | |
| Public Health perspective Hanof AHMED (Qatar) M.D. MPH AKC, Hamad Medical Corporation Dr. Hanof AHMED’s interest in chronic inflammatory diseases and her background in Masters of Public Health harmonized after noticing the rapid spread of misleading skincare trends and unverified treatment claims on topical steroid withdrawal. Recognizing the potential harm to patients, she became committed to analyzing and addressing the impact of digital misinformation, aiming to bridge the gap between evidence-based dermatologic care and online discourse. | |
| Questions of the audience All speakers and moderators + David TROYA ISAD-OPENED Taskforce Coordinator David TROYA is a Scientific Publications and Licensing Manager for the ISAD-OPENED international task force. He works alongside Professor Stalder, coordinating the research projects of this task force. His primary focus is on Therapeutic Patient Education for Atopic Dermatitis. He also teaches Communication in English at Centrale Nantes Engineering School. | |
| 17:00 | CLOSING REMARKS Alain TAÏEB |
Who is this for, is there a recording?
Our event is free and open to all.
All participants have to register online on our platform to get the link to attend.
Publication
➜ Topical Steroid Withdrawal in Atopic Dermatitis: Patient-reported Characterization from a Swedish Social Media Questionnaire, Mikael ALSTERHOLM, DOI: 10.2340/actadv.v105.40187