Epidermal changes in atopic dermatitis

The epidermal changes occurring in various lesions of atopic dermatitis are reported. Quantitative evaluation or epidermal thickening suggests that both differentiated and undifferentiated compartments are increased in lichenified lesions. In dry skin (xerosis) of atopic dermatitis moderate but obvious inflammatory changes are observed. There is a mild increase of the epidermal volume without folding of the dermo-epidermal interface. The latter is most prominent in exudative and lichenified lesions where a fourfold overall increase of epidermal volume is observed.