Dr. Sailesh Gupta

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and relapsing condition with diverse clinical manifestations that reflect its complex nature.1 Lesions are traditionally categorised as "acute" with oozing and erythema, or "chronic" characterised by xerosis and lichenification. The symptoms arise from complex pathophysiological processes involving molecular pathways and inflammatory cytokines such as IL-31, IL-1, IL-2, TNF-a, and IL-6.2 AD presents differently in adults compared to children, but shares core features like flexural lesions, atopy, and xerosis.3 There is no definitive laboratory test for AD. While patch testing for contact dermatitis, bacterial culture for impetigo, microscopy for tinea and scabies diagnosis, and biopsy with laboratory techniques like cell flow cytometry for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) can assist, clinical signs remain the primary basis for diagnosis in most cases.4 Treatment options include topical therapies such as emollients, corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, Crisaborole, and Delgocitinib, as well as systemic treatments like corticosteroids, Cyclosporine A, Azathioprine, Mycophenolate mofetil, Methotrexate, Dupilumab, and oral JAK-inhibitors.5 "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8648436/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11083669/ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pde.14971 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4470205/ https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/19/10381"