Clinical Presentation of Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that can affect individuals from infancy to adulthood. Also referred to as “the itch that rashes,” atopic dermatitis is classically associated with significant pruritus that is accompanied by characteristic cutaneous and other clinical findings. The diagnosis of atopic dermatitis can be challenging due to the wide range of clinical presentations based on patient factors such as age, skin type, ethnicity, and other comorbid conditions. This chapter reviews the classical findings as well as the less common manifestations of atopic dermatitis.