The American Academy of Dermatology has released new evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and assessment of atopic dermatitis based on an extensive review of the scientific literature. Published online in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (December 2, 2103), the first of four sections in the guidelines of care focus on methods for diagnosing and monitoring atopic dermatitis. The guidelines also discuss measurements for disease severity and quality of life, as well as associated conditions that commonly affect patients with atopic dermatitis.
Key recommendations include:
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Monitoring of patients’ immunoglobulin E levels is not recommended because they do not correlate with disease severity.
Asking the patients general questions about itch, sleep, impact on daily activity, and persistence of the disease.
Coordinating with other specialties when providing care for atopic dermatitis patients who have associated conditions that affect more than the skin, such as sleep issues, asthma, food allergies, ADHD, and other psychological conditions.
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