Predictive biomarkers for atopic dermatitis

The discovery of early-life preclinical biomarkers for atopic dermatitis (AD) is an important area of research to prevent AD development and introduce treatment measures early to reduce AD severity. Birth cohort studies performed worldwide have given insights into skin barrier components, such as lipids and proteins, cytokine immunologic markers, and microbiome alterations that are present prior to the clinical diagnosis of AD. This article reviews the structure of the skin barrier and the early-life biomarkers that are present in children at risk for AD.