Itching for innovation: role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists as a future therapy for atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition which affects over 200 million people worldwide, with patients commonly presenting with dry, itchy and sore skin. The challenge in finding optimal treatment for AD stems from the heterogenous nature of the disease and its multifaceted aetiology: skin barrier dysfunction, immune system dysregulation, genetic factors, environmental factors and alterations in skin microorganisms. Traditional treatments for AD such as corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors and immunosuppressants have several limitations such as reoccurrence of symptoms when discontinued, lack of targeted action and risk of adverse effects.