Atopic dermatitis prevention and treatment.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the cause of substantial morbidity including severe pruritus and impaired personal and familial quality of life. Furthermore, the rising incidence and familial association of AD have highlighted the need for disease prevention. It is largely genetic in nature and cannot be avoided in all cases. However, low-risk prevention strategies have been attempted to reduce triggering of first onset of AD in predisposed individuals. Therapeutics for active disease include trigger avoidance, barrier repair, topical medicaments including topical corticosteroids (TCs) and nonsteroidal agents, phototherapy, and antibacterial interventions.