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Adult-Onset Atopic Dermatitis: Characteristics and Management

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Abstract

Recent epidemiological studies found the US prevalence of atopic dermatitis in adults to be approximately 7%. In particular, one in four adults with atopic dermatitis report adult onset of their disease. Adult-onset compared to child-onset atopic dermatitis is associated with distinct risk factors, lesional distribution and morphology, associated signs, genetics, and comorbidities. Adult-onset atopic dermatitis is a clinical diagnosis, and must be distinguished from other entities in the differential diagnosis, e.g., allergic contact dermatitis and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Further research is necessary to better understand the pathogenesis and optimal treatment approaches in adult-onset/recurrent atopic dermatitis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Paras P. Vakharia

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Paras P. Vakharia

  3. Departments of Dermatology, Preventive Medicine and Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Jonathan I. Silverberg

  4. Northwestern Medicine Multidisciplinary Eczema Center, 676 N. St. Clair St, Suite #1600, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Jonathan I. Silverberg

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  1. Paras P. Vakharia
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  2. Jonathan I. Silverberg
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Contributions

Paras P. Vakharia and Jonathan I. Silverberg contributed equally to the study concept and design, literature search, acquisition of data, data analysis and interpretation, drafting of the manuscript, and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonathan I. Silverberg.

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Funding

This publication was made possible with support to Jonathan I. Silverberg from the Dermatology Foundation.

Conflict of interest

Paras P. Vakharia and Jonathan I. Silverberg have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this article.

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Vakharia, P.P., Silverberg, J.I. Adult-Onset Atopic Dermatitis: Characteristics and Management. Am J Clin Dermatol 20, 771–779 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-019-00453-7

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