Atopic Dermatitis in Seniors Common, Hard to Treat

A review in the British Journal of Dermatology found dermatologists treating seniors with atopic dermatitis have little evidence on hand for diagnosing and best treating the condition, reports Dermatology Times . "Seniors with atopic dermatitis rarely achieve complete disease remission, and many affected people eventually die with the condition," said researchers at the University of Florida College of Medicine. There is strong evidence that physical or environmental irritation, along with a defective epidermal barrier, may play a role in the development of atopic dermatitis in seniors, and the lessening of skin barrier function associated with aging can worsen the ailment. Although immune system changes related to aging seem connected to atopic dermatitis-associated defects, studies have yielded little proof as to whether those changes directly affect pathogenesis. "Increased atopic dermatitis severity in seniors may be related to greater S. aureus colonization and infection due to its role in atopic dermatitis development in the general population," the authors speculate. Diagnosis in older adults may be problematic because they tend to have more comorbidities and side effects from medications, and clearer diagnostic criteria for dermatologists is definitely needed.