Atopic dermatitis: new insights into a common condition

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common conditions managed in the community world-wide. The Global Burden of Disease consortium estimates that at least 2.2% of the global population (about 171 million people) lived with AD in 2019 (Faye et al, 2024). In England, eczema prevalence is highest among children (8.0% in those aged younger than 2 years and 14.2% in those aged 2–6 years) and lowest in adults aged 30–39 years (2.8%). Prevalence shows a second peak of 9.9% in people aged 80 years and older (de Lusignan et al, 2021).

AD incidence also shows two peaks. The incidence in England is highest in children aged younger than 1 year old (15.04 per 100 person years) and lowest in people aged 40–49 years (0.35 per 100 person years). Incidence reaches 0.79 per 100 person years in people aged 80 years and older (de Lusignan et al, 2021). AD risk factors also change with age. Recent research suggests, for instance, that antihypertensives may be associated with 43 500 new cases of AD annually among older adults in the UK (Ye et al, 2024).