Fig. 2

Overview of treatment principles in atopic dermatitis. Skin-care is essential and should be maintained regardless of any additional treatment. Topical corticosteroids (TCS) and topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) are first-line therapies. A wide range of TCS preparations are available, and choice (potency, strength, dosage) should be tailored towards individual patient needs; typically, medium- to high-potency TCSs are used for short periods to treat acute flares. In sensitive areas (e.g. face, neck, flexural areas) lower-potency TCS or TCIs are recommended. *Systemic immunosuppressant therapy includes cyclosporine A (licensed therapy in Europe / off-label in the US) azathioprine, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil (all off-label) and systemic corticosteroids. †Biologic therapies e.g., dupilumab, now approved in Europe and the US in refractory patients with moderate-to-severe AD, either as monotherapy or in combination with TCS. Information based on published recommendations [3, 4, 14,15,16,17]