Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder
characterized by recurrent eczematous lesions and intense itch. More precisely, the
earliest lesion is a small erythematous papule or papulovesicle. These papules may then
later become erythematous plaques with clinical features of weeping, crusting, or
scaling, depending on the severity of the lesions. The most problematic symptom of
AD is itch. The “itch-scratch” cycle involves the act of scratching affected areas of the
skin to relieve AD-associated itch, which can further worsen the disease.
This skin disorder affects people of all ages and ethnicities, has a substantial
psychosocial impact on patients and relatives, and is the leading cause of the global
burden of skin disease. Moreover, AD persistence has been reported in 60% of adults
who had the disease as children.
AD is associated with an increased risk of multiple comorbidities, including food
allergy, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and mental health disorders. The pathophysiology is
complex and involves a strong genetic predisposition, epidermal dysfunction, and T-cell-driven inflammation. There is increasing evidence that AD involves multiple
immune pathways. Currently, there is no cure, but increasing numbers of innovative
targeted therapies hold promise for achieving disease control. As effective medical
treatments for this condition are limited in number, many patients have turned to
alternative therapies, including so-called natural products, such as herbs and algae. In
this chapter, we summarized and discussed advances in the understanding of the
disease and its implications for prevention, management, and future research, with a
focus on natural solutions.