Treatment for atopic dermatitis

ABSTRACT

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic skin disease of young children and poses a significant global health problem. More than half of children with AD develop asthma and allergies, typically in the first few years of their life. AD is a paradigmatically complex disease with a number of contributing factors, which include genetics, the environment, infection, and skin barrier dysfunction. The diverse clinical phenotypes of AD reflect the genetic and epigenetic background affecting the innate and adaptive immune system, as well as neuro-immunological and environmental factors including microbiologic signals. The gold standard for the management of AD is efficient, ideally proactive, anti-inflammatory treatment combined with strategies aimed at restoring the epidermal barrier. This includes avoidance of trigger factors, skin barrier repair and maintenance, and the use of anti-inflammatory agents. Basic skin care is also considered an important pillar in the management of AD, with functional emollients beginning to appear on the market. In addition, a number of new candidate molecules for the treatment of AD are currently under investigation in clinical trials. Last but not least, treatment compliance remains a key factor for the successful management of AD. Due to its complex clinical phenotype, the future management of AD should be more individualized, addressing personal clinical and genetic/biologic.