2023 Consensus Korean Diagnostic Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis

doi:10.5021/ad.24.049

. 2025 Feb;37(1):12-21.

doi: 10.5021/ad.24.049.

2023 Consensus Korean Diagnostic Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis

Ji Hyun Lee^#¹, Sul Hee Lee^#², Youin Bae³, Young Bok Lee⁴, Yong Hyun Jang⁵, Jiyoung Ahn⁶, Joo Yeon Ko⁷, Hyun-Chang Ko⁸, Hye One Kim⁹, Chan Ho Na¹⁰, Young-Joon Seo¹¹, Min Kyung Shin¹², Yu Ri Woo¹³, Bark Lyn Lew¹², Dong Hun Lee¹⁴, Sang Eun Lee¹⁵, Jiehyun Jeon¹⁶, Sun Young Choi¹⁷, Tae Young Han¹⁸, Yang Won Lee¹⁹, Sang Wook Son²⁰, Young Lip Park²¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
² Department of Dermatology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
³ Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea.
⁴ Department of Dermatology, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
⁵ Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
⁶ Department of Dermatology, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
⁷ Department of Dermatology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
⁸ Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
⁹ Department of Dermatology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
¹⁰ Department of Dermatology, Chosun University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
¹¹ Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University Medical School, Daejeon, Korea.
¹² Department of Dermatology, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
¹³ Department of Dermatology, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
¹⁴ Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
¹⁵ Department of Dermatology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
¹⁶ Department of Dermatology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
¹⁷ Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
¹⁸ Department of Dermatology, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea.
¹⁹ Department of Dermatology, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
²⁰ Department of Dermatology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea. skin4u@korea.ac.kr.
²¹ Department of Dermatology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea. ylpark@schmc.ac.kr.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 39894669
PMCID: PMC11791022
DOI: 10.5021/ad.24.049

2023 Consensus Korean Diagnostic Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis

Ji Hyun Lee et al. Ann Dermatol. 2025 Feb.

. 2025 Feb;37(1):12-21.

doi: 10.5021/ad.24.049.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
² Department of Dermatology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
³ Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea.
⁴ Department of Dermatology, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
⁵ Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
⁶ Department of Dermatology, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
⁷ Department of Dermatology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
⁸ Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
⁹ Department of Dermatology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
¹⁰ Department of Dermatology, Chosun University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
¹¹ Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University Medical School, Daejeon, Korea.
¹² Department of Dermatology, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
¹³ Department of Dermatology, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
¹⁴ Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
¹⁵ Department of Dermatology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
¹⁶ Department of Dermatology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
¹⁷ Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
¹⁸ Department of Dermatology, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea.
¹⁹ Department of Dermatology, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
²⁰ Department of Dermatology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea. skin4u@korea.ac.kr.
²¹ Department of Dermatology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea. ylpark@schmc.ac.kr.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 39894669
PMCID: PMC11791022
DOI: 10.5021/ad.24.049

Abstract

Background: In 2006, the Korean Atopic Dermatitis Association (KADA) working group released the diagnostic criteria for Korean atopic dermatitis (AD). Recently, more simplified, and practical AD diagnostic criteria have been proposed.

Objective: Based on updated criteria and experience, we studied to develop and share a consensus on diagnostic criteria for AD in Koreans.

Materials and methods: For the diagnostic criteria, a questionnaire was constructed by searching the English-language literature in MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. A modified Delphi method composed of 3 rounds of email questionnaires was adopted for the consensus process. Fifty-four KADA council members participated in the 3 rounds of votes and expert consensus recommendations were established.

Results: Diagnostic criteria for AD include pruritus, eczema with age-specific pattern, and chronic or relapsing history. Diagnostic aids for AD encompass xerosis, immunoglobulin E reactivity, hand-foot eczema, periorbital changes, periauricular changes, perioral changes, nipple eczema, perifollicular accentuation, and personal or family history of atopy.

Conclusion: This study streamlined and updated the diagnostic criteria for AD in Korea, making them more practicable for use in real-world clinical field.

Keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Dermatitis; Diagnosis; Guideline; Korea.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have nothing to disclose.

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References

1. Bieber T. Atopic dermatitis. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:1483–1494. - PubMed
1. Lee JH, Son SW, Cho SH. A comprehensive review of the treatment of atopic eczema. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2016;8:181–190. - PMC - PubMed
1. Hanifin JM, Rajka G. Diagnostic features of atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh) 1980;92:44–47.
1. Haileamlak A, Lewis SA, Britton J, Venn AJ, Woldemariam D, Hubbard R, et al. Validation of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) and U.K. criteria for atopic eczema in Ethiopian children. Br J Dermatol. 2005;152:735–741. - PubMed
1. Williams HC, Burney PG, Pembroke AC, Hay RJ. The U.K. Working Party’s diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis. III. Independent hospital validation. Br J Dermatol. 1994;131:406–416. - PubMed

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[1] Bieber T. Atopic dermatitis. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:1483–1494. - PubMed

[2] Bieber T. Atopic dermatitis. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:1483–1494. - PubMed

[3] Lee JH, Son SW, Cho SH. A comprehensive review of the treatment of atopic eczema. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2016;8:181–190. - PMC - PubMed

[4] Lee JH, Son SW, Cho SH. A comprehensive review of the treatment of atopic eczema. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2016;8:181–190. - PMC - PubMed

[5] Hanifin JM, Rajka G. Diagnostic features of atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh) 1980;92:44–47.

[6] Hanifin JM, Rajka G. Diagnostic features of atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh) 1980;92:44–47.

[7] Haileamlak A, Lewis SA, Britton J, Venn AJ, Woldemariam D, Hubbard R, et al. Validation of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) and U.K. criteria for atopic eczema in Ethiopian children. Br J Dermatol. 2005;152:735–741. - PubMed

[8] Haileamlak A, Lewis SA, Britton J, Venn AJ, Woldemariam D, Hubbard R, et al. Validation of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) and U.K. criteria for atopic eczema in Ethiopian children. Br J Dermatol. 2005;152:735–741. - PubMed

[9] Williams HC, Burney PG, Pembroke AC, Hay RJ. The U.K. Working Party’s diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis. III. Independent hospital validation. Br J Dermatol. 1994;131:406–416. - PubMed

[10] Williams HC, Burney PG, Pembroke AC, Hay RJ. The U.K. Working Party’s diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis. III. Independent hospital validation. Br J Dermatol. 1994;131:406–416. - PubMed

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2023 Consensus Korean Diagnostic Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis

Affiliations

2023 Consensus Korean Diagnostic Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis

Authors

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