Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting twenty percent of children and approximately five percent of adults

1. Atopic dermatitis has various presentations depending on age, but is generally characterized by inflamed and reddened skin, with dry and scaly skin lesions. Pruritus (itchiness) is severe and a direct consequence of inflammation, leading to a scratch-itch cycle which perpetuates the lesions.

2. In atopic dermatitis, allergen specific IgE antibodies bind to receptors on mast cells in the skin, creating sensitised cells which undergo degranulation upon exposure to the allergen. Subsequent release of inflammatory mediators by these cells creates the inflammatory cascade, lesions and pruritus characteristic of atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis can have substantial negative physical and psychological impacts, contributing to impaired quality of life especially in relation to the itch which can cause great distress and significantly disturb sleep.