[Dermatology Reports 2012; 4:e1] [page 1] Atopic dermatitis in adolescence

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflam-matory skin disorder that typically occurs dur-ing childhood especially in the first year of life, with a variable frequency from 10 % to 30%. Recent studies have shown that in Europe among 10-20 % of children with AD suffer from this disorder also in adolescence. AD is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a typi-cal onset in the first years of life and with a 10-30 % prevalence among young children. AD prevalence in adolescence has been estimated around 5-15 % in European countries. AD per-sists from childhood through adolescence in around 40 % of cases and some risk factors have been identified: female sex, sensitization to inhalant and food allergens, allergic asthma and/or rhinoconjunctivitis, the practice of cer-tain jobs. During adolescence, AD mainly appears on the face and neck, often associated with overinfection by Malassezia, and on the palms and soles. AD persistence during adoles-cence is correlated with psychological diseases such as anxiety; moreover, adolescents affect-ed by AD might have problems in the relation-ship with their peers. Stress and the psycho-logical problems represent a serious burden for adolescents with AD and cause a signifi-cant worsening of the patients ’ quality of life (QoL). The pharmacological treatment is simi-lar to other age groups. Educational and psy-chological approaches should be considered in the most severe cases