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Review
. 2013 Jun;62(2):151-61.
doi: 10.2332/allergolint.13-RAI-0564.

New insights into atopic dermatitis: role of skin barrier and immune dysregulation

Donald Y M Leung  1
Affiliations
Review

New insights into atopic dermatitis: role of skin barrier and immune dysregulation

Donald Y M Leung. Allergol Int. 2013 Jun.

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is often associated with the development of food allergy and asthma. New insights into AD reveals an important role for structural abnormalities in the epidermis resulting in a leaky epithelial barrier as well as chronic immune activation that contribute to the pathophysiology of this common skin disease. Patients with AD have a predisposition to colonization or infection by microbial organisms, most notably Staphylococcus aureus and herpes simplex virus (HSV). Measures directed at healing and protecting the skin barrier and controlling the immune activation are needed for effective management of AD. Early intervention may improve outcomes for AD as well as reduce the systemic allergen sensitization that may lead to associated allergic diseases in other organs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: No potential conflict of interest was disclosed.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Immunologic pathways involved in different phases of atopic dermatitis. Published with permission from: Gittler JK, Shemer A, Suárez-Fariñas M, et al. Progressive activation of TH2/TH22 cytokines and selective epidermal proteins characterizes acute and chronic atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012; 130: 1344–54.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparison of clinical and biophysical features of atopic dermatitis patients with (ADFLG) and without (ADNON-FLG) filaggrin mutations. Published with permission from: McAleer MA, Irvine AD. The multifunctional role of filaggrin in allergic skin disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013; 131: 280–91.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Stepwise approach for management of AD according to disease severity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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MeSH terms