Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common and chronic, pruritic inflammatory skin condition that can affect all age groups. This evidence-based guideline addresses important clinical questions that arise in its management. In this second of four sections, treatment of AD with non-pharmacological interventions and pharmacological topical therapies are reviewed. Where possible, suggestions on dosing and monitoring are given based on available evidence.

The balance between regulatory and effector functions is important for maintaining efficient immune responses, while avoiding autoimmunity. The inflammatory skin disease psoriasis is sustained by the ongoing activation of pathogenic effector T cells. We found that a CD4+ T lymphocyte subpopulation in peripheral blood, phenotypically CD25high, CTLA-4+, Foxp3high (regulatory T (Treg) cells), is deficient in its suppressor activity in psoriasis. This was associated with accelerated proliferation of CD4+ responder T cells in psoriasis, the majority of which expressed CXCR3. Nevertheless, criss-cross experiments isolated the defect to psoriatic Treg cells. To examine Treg cells in a nonlymphoid tissue of a human T cell-mediated disease, Treg cells were also analyzed and isolated from the site of inflammation, psoriatic lesional skin. At the regulatory vs effector T cells ratios calculated to be present in skin, however, the psoriatic Treg cell population demonstrated decreased suppression of effector T cells. Thus, dysfunctional blood and target tissue CD4+CD25high Treg cell activity may lead to reduced restraint and consequent hyperproliferation of psoriatic pathogenic T cells in vivo. These findings represent a critical component of human organ-specific autoimmune disease and may have important implications with regard to the possible therapeutic manipulation of Treg cells in vivo.