Defining the Potential for Disease Modification in Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a common inflammatory disorder affecting the skin, often associated with a strong disease burden and a long-term impact on patients' quality of life. Although most treatments for atopic dermatitis have been mainly focusing on alleviating symptoms, emerging therapies and approaches may offer the potential to modify the disease course, thereby leading to off-treatment remission and prevention of comorbidities. However, a consensus on the definition of disease modification in atopic dermatitis is yet to be reached. The aim of this article is to review the concept of disease modification in atopic dermatitis and its different dimensions, including underlying pathophysiology, disease control, atopic and nonatopic comorbidities, subclinical biomarkers, and the importance of early therapeutic intervention. Ultimately, identifying therapies with long-lasting effects on atopic dermatitis progression could alleviate the global health burden of atopic diseases.