A review of patient adherence to topical therapies for treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed dermatologic conditions in the United States. Topical agents are the mainstay of treatment for AD, and when used correctly, these therapies generally are straightforward and efficacious. However, poor adherence to treatment can prevent patients from achieving disease control. This article provides a review of the literature on patient adherence to topical therapies for AD as well as a discussion of methods to improve patient adherence to treatment in the clinical setting.