Emerging Age of Opportunity for More Effective Treatments in Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by widespread
lesions, which manifest as erythematous areas with crusting and/or scaling, oozing, excoriations,
and lichenification. Additionally, pruritus/itching is one of the major symptoms of the
disease which has prompted a description of AD as “the itch that rashes”. Combined, these
symptoms significantly impact on the quality of life (QoL) for millions of individuals worldwide.
For years, AD was primarily considered a disease that affected children and adolescents,
but recent epidemiological studies have highlighted the increased incidence of disease among
the adult population as well.