Choi JY, et al. - Since the actual amounts of topical corticosteroids (TCS) and emollients used in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) under real-world conditions are not known despite decades of use, researchers sought to quantify the use of TCS and emollients in moderate-to-severe AD. Double-blinded drug prescribing was prospectively recorded at the point of drug dispensing within a catchment area of roughly 450,000 people over a 31-year period in a population-based cohort marked by failure of disease control in primary care (n = 844). In order to minimize fluctuations, prescription was recorded over a 12-month period for each patient. Investigators found that the use of TCS is strongly linked to concurrent antidepressant treatment. TCS use in male patients is considerably greater and higher in AD patients who also have asthma. Underuse of emollients can be a major factor in the exacerbation of the disease. Emollients' real-world use is four times lower than the amount recommended in current guidelines.