The Etiology of Atopic Dermatitis

This book will present completely new, unique findings in eczema: sweat ducts that become occluded with staphylococcal biofilms trigger the innate immune system with TLR2 receptor activity and this leads to production of the 'itching' and inflammation in this disease. Dermatologists and pediatricians treat eczema exceedingly well and this is ordinarily accomplished with corticosteroid containing topicals. However, after treatment, it is intriguing that aggressive moisturization and cautious bathing will in most instances prevent future flares of the disease, even though it is precipitated by bacteria and their biofilms. Diseases where eczema has been found with a completely unrelated disorder have shown occluded sweat ducts on histopathologic examination. These include Meyerson's nevus which has a nevus and eczema in the same biopsy and Doucas Kapetanakis-type of pigmented purpuric dermatosis that shows occluded sweat ducts along with the capillaritis.

Dr. Allen is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has served on the boards of the American Society of Dermatology and the American College of Physicians and has published over 40 scientific articles in the fields of dermatology and dermatopathology. For the past ten years, he has been the Professor and Chair of the Department of Dermatology of Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Herbert B. Allen's specialties include dermatology and dermatopathology, skin pathology and fungal infections and is board-certified with the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Pathology.