ATOPIC DERMATITIS: MODERN APPROACHES TO DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT — A DERMATOLOGY PERSPECTIVE
Keywords:
Atopic dermatitis, eczema, skin barrier dysfunction, filaggrin, Th2 inflammation, IgE, pruritus, topical corticosteroids, dupilumab, allergic march.Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease with substantial global disease burden and rising clinical significance in pediatric and adult dermatology practice. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of AD, drawing on systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and consensus clinical guidelines, supplemented with epidemiological data and clinical guidance specific to Uzbekistan. The pathogenesis of AD reflects a sequential interplay of skin barrier disruption, Th2-dominant immune activation, and secondary microbial dysbiosis. Diagnosis relies on established clinical criteria supported by standardized severity scoring (SCORAD, EASI), while treatment follows a stepwise ladder from basic skin care and topical anti-inflammatory agents to systemic immunosuppressants, phototherapy, and, in refractory disease, targeted biologic or JAK-inhibitor therapy. Early recognition, individualized barrier-repair and anti-inflammatory strategies, and expanded access to modern targeted therapies are essential to reducing AD-related morbidity, including within the healthcare system of Uzbekistan.
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