Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory and relapsing cutaneous disease characterized by pruritus, cutaneous inflammation, and transepidermal water loss (Krakowski 2008). The incidence of AD in industrialized nations has increased by 2- to 3-fold over 30 years– it is estimated to affect between 15% and 30% of children in industrialized nations and up to 10% of adults (Bieber 2010; Silverberg 2013). The economic burden associated with AD is significant, with direct health care costs and indirect costs, such as those associated with missed work, estimated at $1000 per patient annually in the United States, and total estimated annual costs of $5.297 billion in 2015 (Drucker 2017; Mallett 2007).

The increasing incidence of AD and poor recognition of the disease in some patient groups is a public health concern. Also, there are disparities in the diagnosis and management of African Americans ( Cohen 2020). AD symptoms and its daily management cause significant effects on quality of life for both patients and caregivers. AD is associated with an increase in other atopic manifestations as well as with serious comorbidities that can significantly affect overall patient health and wellbeing (Silverberg 2015; Simpson 2012; Yu 2016; Zheng 2011).

There have been mounting evidence suggesting the involvement of intricate interactions between genetic, environmental as well as lifestyle factors as a causal factor for atopic dermatitis (Cohen 2020). Many times, these modifiable external factors and surrounding environments might contribute to disparities in prevalence, severity, management, and quality of care among different racial and ethnic groups. Therefore, it is pertinent to educate clinicians about differences in AD between African Americans and other populations, which might be essential for the development personalized and tailored treatment regimens, as an important step to address these ongoing gaps.

Recognizing our role in reducing these disparities, LiVDerm aims to educate clinicians and care teams – evidence-based prevention and treatment plans, especially in the community where most health is affected to enhance the care of patients from different racial and ethnic groups.