Treatment and managed care issues of atopic dermatitis.

The specific cause of atopic dermatitis (AD) is not known. It is a multifactorial disease involving environmental agents, immune dysregulation, genetic predisposition, and defects in skin barrier function. Patients are typically classified as having mild, moderate, or severe disease. Most patients with AD can control their symptoms with various combinations of moisturizers, conventional prescription therapies, and lifestyle modifications, while patients with more severe disease may require adjunctive treatment with phototherapy, biologic treatments, or systemic immunosuppressants. As a result, patient-centered treatment plans are critical to patient care. The appropriate use of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment interventions combined with patient-specific written action plans could improve both patient health and medication outcomes.