Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a common skin disease thatis often associated with other atopic disorders, such as allergicrhinitis and asthma.1 The clinical manifestations of atopicdermatitis (Figure 1) vary with age; three stages can oftenbe identified. In infancy, the first eczematous lesions usuallyemerge on the cheeks and the scalp. Scratching, which frequentlystarts a few weeks later, causes crusted erosions. During childhood,lesions involve flexures, the nape, and the dorsal aspects ofthe limbs. In adolescence and adulthood, lichenified plaquesaffect the flexures, head, and neck. In each stage, itchingthat continues throughout . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Epidemiology of Atopic Dermatitis
Genetics of Atopic Dermatitis
Barrier Function of the Skin
Physical Barrier
The Innate Immune System
Immunopathologic Mechanisms of Atopic Dermatitis
Initial Mechanisms of Skin Inflammation
The Initiation Site of Sensitization
Dendritic Cells
A Biphasic T-Cell–Mediated Disease
Staphylococcus aureus
Mechanism of Pruritus
Autoimmunity in Atopic Dermatitis
A Unifying Hypothesis
Clinical Implications
Conclusions
Source Information
From the Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Address reprint requests to Dr. Bieber at the Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Medical Center, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany, or at thomas.bieber@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
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