Trends in the Epidemiology and Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in the United Kingdom (UK)

Atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly called eczema, is one of the most frequently occurring skin conditions. It is estimated to affect around one fifth of children in developed countries and is also becoming increasingly common in less developed countries. Exact estimates of how common eczema is, vary considerably and there has not been an in-depth analysis of the number of people with eczema in the UK. It is also unclear which groups of people are most affected and which treatment options are being used. Most people with eczema are managed by their general practitioner (GP) with only a few people requiring specialist care. GP records therefore provide an excellent opportunity to explore how common eczema is and which treatments are being used currently.