The treatment of atopic eczema in adults

Atopic eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that predominantly occurs in childhood, with the majority (60%) of cases clearing spontaneously by adolescence. However, around 2% of adults are also affected by the disease, and in these patients the disease usually represents a lifelong chronic management problem. Most patients are managed in the community, where adults represent over a third of all atopic eczema cases.1 In this article, we discuss the current treatment options available for these patients, highlighting areas where evidence for treatments remains lacking.