Childhood atopic dermatitis: current developments, treatment approaches,\nand future expectations

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disorder of childhood. Underlying factors that\ncontribute to AD are impaired epithelial barrier, alterations in the lipid composition of the skin, immunological imbalance including\nincreased Th2/Th1 ratio, proinflammatory cytokines, decreased T regulatory cells, genetic mutations, and epigenetic alterations. Atopic\ndermatitis is a multifactorial disease with a particularly complicated pathophysiology. Discoveries to date may be considered the tip of\nthe iceberg, and the increasing number of studies in this field indicate that there are many points to be elucidated in AD pathophysiology.\nIn this review, we aimed to illustrate the current understanding of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms in AD, to evaluate available\ntreatment options with a focus on recently discovered therapeutic agents, and to determine the personal, familial, and economic burdens\nof the disease, which are frequently neglected issues in AD. Currently available therapies only provide transient solutions and cannot\nfully cure the disease. However, advances in the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease have led to the production\nof new treatment options, while ongoing drug trials also have had promising results