Diagnosis
Clinicians diagnose AD based on clinical characteristics, and the lack of objective criteria can hinder diagnosis.1 Thus, diagnosing AD in children with dark skin can pose a particular challenge given the varied clinical presentation of AD across skin types. Severe cases of AD may not be diagnosed or treated adequately in deeply pigmented children because erythema, a defining characteristic of AD, may be hard to identify in darker skin types.10 Furthermore, clinical erythema scores among black children may be “strongly” underestimated using scoring systems such as Eczema Area and Severity Index and SCORing Atopic Dermatitis.4 It is estimated that the risk for severe AD may be 6 times higher in black children compared to white children.10 Additionally, patients with skin of color can present with more treatment-resistant AD.4
Treatment of AD
Current treatment is focused on restoring epidermal barrier function, often with topical agents, such as moisturizers containing different amounts of emollients, occlusives, and humectants; corticosteroids; calcineurin inhibitors; and antimicrobials. Emollients such as glycol stearate, glyceryl stearate, and soy sterols function as lubricants, softening the skin. Occlusive agents include petrolatum, dimethicone, and mineral oil; they act by forming a layer to slow evaporation of water. Humectants including glycerol, lactic acid, and urea function by promoting water retention.11 For acute flares, mid- to high-potency topical corticosteroids are recommended. Also, topical calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus may be used alone or in combination with topical steroids. Finally, bleach baths and topical mupirocin applied to the nares also have proved helpful in moderate to severe AD with secondary bacterial infections.11 Phototherapy can be used in adult and pediatric patients with acute and chronic AD if traditional treatments have failed.2
Systemic agents are indicated and recommended for the subset of adult and pediatric patients in whom optimized topical regimens and/or phototherapy do not adequately provide disease control or when QOL is substantially impacted. The systemic agents effective in the pediatric population include cyclosporine, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and possibly methotrexate.11 Dupilumab recently was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for patients 12 years and older with moderate to severe AD whose disease is not well controlled with topical medications.
Patients with AD are predisposed to secondary bacterial and viral infections because of their dysfunctional skin barrier; these infections most commonly are caused by S aureus and herpes simplex virus, respectively.2 Systemic antibiotics are only recommended for patients with AD when there is clinical evidence of bacterial infection. In patients with evidence of eczema herpeticum, systemic antiviral agents should be used to treat the underlying herpes simplex virus infection.2 Atopic dermatitis typically has been studied in white patients; however, patients with skin of color have higher frequencies of treatment-resistant AD. Further research on treatment efficacy for AD in this patient population is needed, as data are limited.4
Treatment of AV in Patients With AD
Two of the most prevalent skin diseases affecting the pediatric population are AD and AV, and both can remarkably impact QOL.12 Acne is one of the most common reasons for adolescent patients to seek dermatologic care, including patients with skin of color (Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI).13 Thus, it is to be expected that many black adolescents with AD also will have AV. For mild to moderate acne in patients with skin of color, topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide typically are first line.13 These medications can be problematic for patients with AD, as retinoids and many other acne treatments can cause dryness, which may exacerbate AD.