A network meta-analysis of 291 randomized clinical trials involving 45,846 participants found that potent and very potent topical corticosteroids, tacrolimus 0.1%, and topical Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors were the most effective short-term treatments for atopic dermatitis (AD). Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitors such as crisaborole and roflumilast were least effective. Short-term corticosteroid use was not linked to skin thinning, while tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, and crisaborole most often caused mild application-site irritation. Long-term corticosteroid-related thinning was rare, occurring in 6 of 4069 participants. Researchers emphasized the need for longer head-to-head and real-world studies to guide treatment decisions.