History and definition

Abstract

History of atopic dermatitis is reviewed. Atopic dermatitis was recognized as a chronic relapsing pruritic skin disease and called differently historically. Neurodermite disseminatus and prurigo diathetique are the distinct concepts leading to that of atopic dermatitis. Sulzburger established the concept of atopic eczema/dermatitis by introducing the concept of atopic hypersensitiveness to this skin disease. His idea was now widely accepted. In 1980 a new phenotype of atopic dermatitis appeared to us and was named adult-type atopic dermatitis. The mechanism and pathogenesis have been investigated extensively to define the real figure of this intractable skin disease.