Future perspectives in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease with an increasing prevalence. The guidelines for the treatment of atopic dermatitis enable us to manage many patients with atopic dermatitis under a global consensus, which also contributes to improving their quality of life. However, there remain some patients with atopic dermatitis whose symptoms cannot be satisfactorily controlled using the therapeutic management recommended by the guidelines. Recent genetic, immunological and physiological insights into the pathomechanisms of atopic dermatitis are expected to overcome the limitations of the currently available treatment. Advances in pharmacology and biotechnology will also provide more efficient and safer medications. In this review, the limitations of the currently available therapies and the advantages and disadvantages of new approaches for the treatment of atopic dermatitis including topical and systemic immunosuppressants as well as biologics and anti-pruritic agents are discussed. Potential new cellular targets for the treatment of atopic dermatitis are also illustrated.