Why carry out this study?

Mild atopic dermatitis (AD) has been traditionally managed with topical therapies; nonetheless, the latest systemic treatments open the way for discussions about early intervention.

To date, conventional therapeutic strategies are primarily aimed at symptom relief, with systemic treatments to be reserved for moderate-to-severe cases. However, some patients still experience a significant disease burden.

What was learned from the study?

Proactive systemic treatment might nip the “atopic march” in the bud, as it might modify the natural course of AD and disrupt the recurrent cycles of flares and remissions.

We suggest that early systemic intervention might be considered when pruritus is present even with no visible skin lesions, as it is a central driver of the “itch–scratch” cycle in AD, provided that the patient’s quality of life is severely affected. This approach aims to break that cycle and minimize subsequent skin damage and inflammation.