Clinical and histological features of dry skin in atopic dermatitis

Of 200 atopic dermatitis patients observed during cold months, 44 (22%) had ichthyosis vulgaris. Histologically, the dry skin in atopic dermatitis coexistent with ichthyosis demonstrated ichthyotic features which were frequently superimposed with eczematous changes. The dry skin in pure atopic dermatitis demonstrated the histology of mild eczema. Examinations using monoclonal antibodies showed that the dry skin in pure atopic dermatitis had increased numbers of OKT6-positive cells in epidermis. The lymphocytes in the dermal infiltrates consisted predominantly of LEU-3a-positive cells. It is concluded that the dry skin often seen in atopic dermatitis may be a mild eczematous lesion of atopic dermatitis, or a manifestation of concomitant ichthyosis, or a complex of these two changes.