Key Points

Atopic dermatitis is the most common chronic pediatric skin disorder, characterized by itchy eczema.

Autism spectrum disorders refer to a group of neurodevelopmental diseases that affect children’s interaction and communication skills.

The brain and epidermis, which share the same embryological origin, may be susceptible to common environmental insults, such as pollutants, N2O, drugs, and maternal diet.

The severity of both autism and eczema is correlated with the levels of common pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha).

Children with atopic dermatitis who are ≤5 years old and between 6 and 11 years old have a higher risk of developing autism.

The presence of allergic comorbidities increases the risk of developing AD.

Males have a greater risk of developing both autism and atopic dermatitis.

The identification of risk factors and clinical features associated with both ASD and AD can help in the creation of diagnostic/screening tools for use in clinical practice and could help in predicting clinical outcomes.