Pathophysiology epidemiology and characteristics

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease involving complex interactions among skin barrier dysfunction, Th2-skewed immune responses, an itch-scratch cycle, and dysbiosis of the skin microbiome. Clinical features vary by age: infants often present with exudative lesions on the face, while lichenified lesions on flexural areas predominate in later childhood. Pediatric skin is characterized by a thinner stratum corneum and reduced water retention capacity, resulting in immature barrier function. AD frequently persists beyond school age, with a prevalence of 10-15%. This review summarizes the pathophysiology, age-specific clinical manifestations, characteristics of pediatric skin, and epidemiology of AD.