Perspectives in Atopic Dermatitis-Optimizing Outcomes: Introduction

v o c w p t e Atopic dermatitis (AD) has a substantial impact on both patients and their families. This issue of Seminars in Cuaneous Medicine and Surgery highlights newly recognized asects of AD pathogenesis as well as the evolution in therapy that ffers opportunities for improved outcomes. The faculty memers convened for this supplement provide up-to-date evidence hat supports some long-held concepts; they also review other ecently published data that challenge clinicians to reconsider ong-standing ideas about the pathogenesis and treatment of D. The major topics concerning AD that are addressed in this upplement include epidemiology, pathogenesis, microbial colnization and infection, comorbidities, disease in adults, preention and treatment strategies, and improving the patientlinician/parent-clinician partnership in AD management.