Atopic Dermatitis Workup

  • Author: Brian S Kim, MD; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: Apr 4, 2012
 

Laboratory Studies

  • No chemical marker for the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is known.
  • Laboratory testing is seldom necessary. A swab of infected skin may help with the isolation of a specific organism and antibiotic sensitivity.
  • Allergy and radioallergosorbent testing is of little value.
  • A platelet count for thrombocytopenia helps exclude Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and testing to rule out other immunodeficiencies may be helpful.
  • Scraping to exclude tinea corporis is occasionally helpful.
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Histologic Findings

Biopsy shows an acute, subacute, or chronic dermatitis, but no specific findings are demonstrated.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Brian S Kim, MD  Clinical Instructor, Department of Dermatology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Brian S Kim, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Peter Fritsch, MD  Chair, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Innsbruck, Austria

Peter Fritsch, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Dermatological Association, International Society of Pediatric Dermatology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard P Vinson, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Van Perry, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio

Van Perry, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

Additional Contributors

Bernice R Krafchik, MBChB, FRCPC Professor Emeritus, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Dermatology, University of Toronto

Bernice R Krafchik, MBChB, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, Canadian Medical Association, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and Society for Pediatric Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Typical atopic dermatitis on the face of an infant.
Flexural involvement in childhood atopic dermatitis.
Dirty neck sign in chronic atopic dermatitis.
Irritation around mouth of an infant with atopic dermatitis.
 
 
 
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