What Is Atopic Dermatitis? Causes, Symptoms, and the Role of Research
Atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema, is a chronic skin condition that affects millions of people around the world.1 It’s particularly common in children, though many adults are affected as well. Atopic dermatitis causes the skin to become dry, itchy, and inflamed, often resulting in discomfort that impacts day-to-day life.
While eczema can be managed, there is currently no cure, which is why research into new and more effective treatments is so important. Volunteers, both with and without skin conditions, play a vital role in helping scientists make progress.2
What Causes Atopic Dermatitis?
Atopic dermatitis is a complex condition involving both the immune system and the skin barrier. In people with eczema, the skin doesn’t hold onto moisture as well as it should, which allows irritants, allergens and microbes to pass through more easily. This can trigger an immune response that leads to inflammation and itching.
Genetics, environmental triggers (like pollen, detergents, or weather changes) and even stress can play a role in flare-ups. While its common in families, not everyone with eczema has a known family history. Importantly, atopic dermatitis is not contagious, it can’t be passed from person to person. 3
What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look and Feel Like?
Atopic dermatitis presents differently from person to person, but common symptoms include dry and scaly skin, red or dark patches, intense itching, cracked or thickened areas of skin or occasional oozing or crusting from broken skin.
The most affected areas include the hands, elbows, knees, neck, and face, although eczema can appear anywhere on the body. Symptoms often come and go in cycles active disease flare-ups followed by periods of remission. 4
Everyday Challenges of Living with Atopic Dermatitis
For many people, eczema isn’t just about irritated skin, it’s a condition that can affect sleep, concentration, self-esteem and overall wellbeing. The itch-scratch cycle can lead to infections, scarring and emotional distress, particularly in young children and teenagers.
Managing eczema often involves a strict skincare routine, lifestyle adjustments, and medications such as emollients, topical steroids, or immunosuppressants.5
Why Research Matters
Scientific research is key to understanding what causes eczema and how to treat it more effectively. Today, researchers are using real human skin samples to study the condition in detail – from identifying biomarkers of inflammation to testing how potential treatments behave in human tissue.6
By comparing skin from people with eczema to healthy skin, scientists can learn more about what goes wrong at the cellular level and work to develop therapies that target those underlying issues.
How You Can Help
If you’re living with atopic dermatitis, or you’re healthy and simply want to support medical research, joining our volunteer registry is a powerful way to make a difference. You may be invited to donate a small sample of skin, complete a questionnaire, or participate in a clinical study that helps advance understanding and treatment of eczema and other skin conditions.
Participation is always voluntary, confidential and approved by ethical review boards. Every contribution helps move dermatology research forward.
Atopic dermatitis can be frustrating, painful, and unpredictable, but thanks to ongoing research and the generosity of volunteers, there is hope for more effective, personalised treatments in the near future.
Whether you have eczema or not, your involvement could help bring relief to countless people living with chronic skin conditions.
References:
1. “Eczema - Atopic.” NICE Website: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, cks.nice.org.uk/topics/eczema-atopic/#:~:text=Atopic%20eczema%20is%20a%20chronic%2C%20itchy%2C%20inflammatory%20skin,of%20onset%20in%20the%20first%20year%20of%20life. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
2. “My Eczema Navigator.” NHS Choices, NHS, www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/display-pil/pil-my-eczema-navigator-8237#:~:text=Although%20there%20is%20no%20cure%20for%20atopic%20eczema%2C,in%20more%20severe%20cases%2C%20oral%20or%20injected%20medications. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
3. “What Is Atopic Dermatitis?” Cleveland Clinic, 2 June 2025, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24299-atopic-dermatitis.
4. “Atopic Eczema.” NHS Choices, NHS, www.nhs.uk/conditions/atopic-eczema/. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
5. Elite Clinical Studies. “The Impact of Untreated Atopic Dermatitis on Daily Life.” Elite Clinical Studies, 9 Apr. 2025, www.eliteclinicalstudies.com/the-impact-of-untreated-atopic-dermatitis-on-daily-life/#:~:text=The%20Daily%20Challenges%20of%20Untreated%20Atopic%20Dermatitis%201,Burden%20...%205%20Interference%20With%20Daily%20Routines%20.
6. Bledsoe, M. J., & Grizzle, W. E. (2022). The Use of Human Tissues for Research: What Investigators Need to Know. Alternatives to laboratory animals : ATLA, 50(4), 265–274. https://doi.org/10.1177/02611929221107933