Atopic dermatitis 


• Chronic, relapsing dermatitis associated with intense pruritus 
.

• Distribution varies in infantile, childhood and adulthood forms; 
periods of quiescence can occur between stages 
.

• Acute inflammation with extensor and facial involvement is common in infants, whereas both chronic inflammation and localization to flexures increase in prevalence with age 
.

• Often associated with xerosis as well as a personal or family history of atopy (e.g. asthma, allergic rhinitis) 
.

• Genetic basis (e.g. FLG mutations) with variable expression influenced by environmental factors 
.

• Immuno-aberration is evidenced by the common occurrence of serum IgE elevation and eosinophilia; the Th2 predominance in acute lesions evolves into a predominance of IFN-g-producing
T cells in chronic hyperplastic lesions 
.

• Langerhans cells and other dendritic cells that bind IgE result in enhanced T-cell reactivity to irritants, self-proteins, allergens, infectious antigens and superantigens 
.

• Clinically responsive to topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors.