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Advances in the Diagnosis and Therapeutic Management of Atopic Dermatitis

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Abstract

Atopic dermatitis is a very prevalent disease that affects children as well as adults. The disease has a severe impact on quality of life for the patients and their families. The skin in atopic dermatitis patients is a site of both a severe inflammatory reaction dominated by lymphocytes and decreased skin barrier function. The treatment of the disease is mainly aimed at reducing the inflammation in the skin and/or restoring the skin barrier function. However, most of the treatments used today singularly aim at reducing the inflammation in the skin. Depending on the severity of the disease, the anti-inflammatory treatment may be topical or systemic, but basic treatment, no matter the severity, should always be emollients. In addition, new studies have shown good effects of psychosocial interventions, such as eczema schools, for patients and their families. This review covers the latest trends in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

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Acknowledgments

Mette Deleuran is an investigator, speaker and/or an advisor for AbbVie A/S, MSD, Pierre Fabre Dermo-cosmétique, Meda Pharma, Leo Pharma, and Regeneron. Christian Vestergaard is an investigator and/or speaker for Abbvie A/S, Leo Pharma, Novartis and Astellas. No sources of funding were used to prepare this review.

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  1. Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, P.P. Ørumsgade 11, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Christian Vestergaard & Mette Deleuran

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  1. Christian Vestergaard
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Correspondence to Mette Deleuran.

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Vestergaard, C., Deleuran, M. Advances in the Diagnosis and Therapeutic Management of Atopic Dermatitis. Drugs 74, 757–769 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-014-0219-3

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