Maintz L, Welchowski T, Herrmann N, et al. - The main factors associated with the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) are investigated.

• Cross-sectional data obtained from 367 patients with active AD (age ≥12 years) were analyzed.

• Among the participants, mild disease (EASI ≤7) was recorded in 177 (48.2%), moderate disease (EASI >7 and ≤ 21) in 120 (32.7%), and severe disease (EASI >21) in 70 (19.1%) patients.

• Increased probability of severe AD was observed in significant correlation with the following factors: age between 12 and 21 years or older than 52 years, age at AD onset older than 12 years, total serum immunoglobulin E level greater than 1,708 IU/mL, eosinophil values greater than 6.8%, atopic stigmata (cheilitis, white dermographism), male gender, sports less than once per week, (former) smoking, and alopecia areata.

• These phenotypic characteristics and patient age frames may aid in attaining a deeper insight into the disease, estimation of severity probability, closer monitoring of predisposed patients, and personalized prevention and therapy.