Infectious complications of atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease linked to a genetic predisposition and accompanied by acute inflammatory manifestations that develop due to abnormality of skin barrier properties and changes in both innate and adaptive immune responses. The high risk of developing complications of this disease caused by skin and systemic infections is one of the most urgent problems of modern health care. However, infectious complications of atopic dermatitis may include skin and soft tissue infections, herpetic eczema, bacteremia, osteoarthritis, myelitis, septic arthritis, and endocarditis. Skin barrier defects, type 2 immune-mediated inflammation, Staphylococcus aureus colonization, and skin dysbiosis are main predisposing factors for an increased incidence of infectious complications of atopic dermatitis. The development of infectious complications of atopic dermatitis may be prevented by comprehensive treatment of exacerbations of the underlying disease, sanitation of chronic infection foci, as well as restoration and maintenance of the skin barrier function. The use of special moisturizers and emollients for skin care during exacerbation and remission is an important and integral part of therapeutic and preventive measures. Emollients are medical cosmetic products that are close to the natural lipid skin barrier in composition. They not only effectively soften and moisturize the skin, but also restore damaged protective properties. Additional components of emollients with anti-in-flammatory and antimicrobial activity are an optional, but desirable condition to prevent recurrence of the disease and reduce the risk of developing a secondary infection. Thus, not only special skin care drugs, but also products for patients with atopic dermatitiscan contribute to the development of antibacterial protection and prevent the development of infectious complications. © 2022, Remedium Group Ltd. All rights reserved.