Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease associated with a significant patient burden on quality-of-life. Rising evidence demonstrate skin microbiome playing an essential role in AD pathogenesis. A decrease in skin microbial diversity, particularly an overabundance of Staphylococcus aureus colonization, is observed on AD lesional skin, plus is associated with disease severity.1
AD epidemiology studies report a higher incidence and prevalence among patients with skin of color (SOC).2 Racial/ethnic variations in AD clinical phenotypes and endophenotypes, including S. aureus colonization, have been reported.3 Despite higher prevalence and persistence, particularly in children, populations with skin of color remain underreported and underrepresented in dermatology clinical trials.4 The lack of diversity in AD clinical trials contributes to the lack of knowledge and documentation surrounding the various possible AD clinical manifestations, disease progression, impact on quality-of-life, and most importantly short and long-term treatment strategies.
Given skin barrier including skin microbiome changes are linked to AD pathogenesis, prebiotic emollients are shown to improve disease symptoms and maintain skin barrier integrity, normalizing skin microbiota.5 This JDD supplement aims at providing the most recent updates on the role of skincare in managing AD and xerosis in diverse ethnic patients, highlighting nuances between skin conditions and impact on quality-of-life, plus bringing forth new clinical knowledge on the benefits of a prebiotic cleanser and moisturizer regimen to manage long-term sequelae.
