The Long-Term Course of Atopic Dermatitis

Katrina Abuabara; David J Margolis; Sinéad M Langan

doi:10.1016/j.det.2017.02.003

The Long-Term Course of Atopic Dermatitis

Dermatol Clin. 2017 Jul;35(3):291-297. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2017.02.003. Epub 2017 Apr 22.

Authors

Katrina Abuabara¹, David J Margolis², Sinéad M Langan³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), 2340 Sutter Street, N421, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. Electronic address: katrina.abuabara@ucsf.edu.
² Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
³ Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing condition, meaning that the intensity of symptoms usually fluctuates over time. Changes in skin physiology may be evident from birth, suggesting that AD may be a lifelong condition marked by intermittent symptoms/disease activity. Methodological considerations for studying the long-term course of AD are reviewed in detail. Improved measurement of the frequency and duration of active disease periods can help to elucidate more about the clinical course AD and the role of treatment in long-term outcomes.

Keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Atopic eczema; Clinical course; Eczema; Epidemiology; Natural history.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Dermatitis, Atopic / drug therapy
Dermatitis, Atopic / epidemiology*
Dermatitis, Atopic / physiopathology
Humans
Incidence
Prevalence
Recurrence
Remission Induction
Secondary Prevention
Symptom Flare Up*
Time Factors

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

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