TY - JOUR T1 - Advances in atopic dermatitis JF - Clinical Medicine JO - Clin Med SP - 177 LP - 181 DO - 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0280 VL - 21 IS - 3 AU - Alice Plant AU - Michael R Ardern-Jones Y1 - 2021/05/01 UR - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/21/3/177.abstract N2 - Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease characterised by itch and is responsible for significant reduction in quality of life. While AD primarily arises in those under the age of 2 years, it is frequently persistent into adulthood. Recognition of AD is important for the general physician, especially to distinguish causes of acute flares that may present in any medical setting, such as eczema herpeticum and associated allergic reactions. While, to date, treatments have largely focused on broad spectrum immunomodulation with corticosteroids or systemic therapies (such as ciclosporin and methotrexate), increased knowledge in the pathophysiology of the disease has recently led to the expansion of treatment options available for those suffering with AD, and the new drugs on the horizon promise a previously unimagined potential for effective and safe treatment. ER -