This entirely revised edition of the successful work presents the state of the art in clinics, research and practical management of atopic dermatitis - eczema. The wide variability in clinical morphology including differences between age groups and ethnicities is illustrated by color pictures including the typical minimal manifestations or  stigmata  suggestive of atopy. The dramatic rise in the prevalence of this disease over the last few decades is reflected by detailed analyses of epidemiological data from all over the world. In-depth descriptions of key pathophysiological mechanisms including epidermal barrier, molecular genetics, itch pathophysiology and modern cellular immunology offer readers a deeper understanding of the complex events leading to the often excruciating symptoms.