Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that is part of the atopic syndrome and is frequently associated with asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctilitis. Acute eczematous lesions are characterized by erythema, cozing and crusting, whereas chronic lesions show thickened skin and papules. In addition to local and systemic therapy adjusted to the stage of the disease, the search for relevant trigger factors and consecutively their avoidance plays a crucial role in disease management. Aeroallergens like house-dust-mites, pollen and animal epithelia represent important trigger factors in sensitized patients. While allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is widely and most effective used in allergy to insect venoms and allergic rhinitis, its use in AD is still controversial. Double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials show that SIT is effective in patients with AD and clinically relevant sensitization to house dust mites and grass pollen and leads to clinical improvement of eczema. Despite these encouraging data, the use of SIT as a routine therapeutic approach in AD requires further evaluation.