Introduction to Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic recurrent eczematous disorder. It often begins in infancy or early adolescence, and is accompanied by severe itching and various skin symptoms. Moreover, there is an increasing number of atopic dermatitis patients worldwide. Clinical manifestations are diverse, this heterogeneity may be due to the multifactorial pathogenesis of the disease, which includes the defects of the skin barrier, immunological dysregulation, and environmental factors. In this chapter, recent new insights of pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis and its consequences are presented with the blueprint of treatment strategies.