Whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components are risk factors for atopic dermatitis (AD) remains unclear. This study investigated the association between MetS and AD in Korean adults. Nationally representative data for 5,007 Korean adults, aged 19-40 years, from the cross-sectional Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2011 were analysed. AD in female patients was associated with MetS (p = 0.02) and increased triglyceride level (p = 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, the odds ratio for female participants with MetS was 2.92; for central obesity (waist circumference ≥ 85 cm), 1.73; and for hypertriglyceridaemia, 2.20. In this large-scale nationwide study in Korean adults, MetS and its components (central obesity and hypertriglyceridaemia) correlated positively with the presence of AD in women.