Atopic dermatitis. When and how to use topical corticosteroiods?

Atopic dermatitis is a disease characterized with increasing prevalence around the world. It has chronic relapsing course and has a negative impact on the quality of life. Topical steroids (TS) due to their mechanisms of action remain the mainstay of topical treatment for AD patients. At the same time, well known side effects associated with corticosteroid therapy, although seen more frequently with incorrect TS use, and rare with the use of modern TS, in some instances limit their use. That is a reason for proper selection of topical treatment algorythms of AD including emollients and other medications in addition to the TS.