Atopic dermatitis was described in 1933 but exists since antiquity. We review descriptions of a childhood skin disease compatible with our modern diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, in ancient medicine and in nineteenth century dermatology texts. We identify Hebra's prurigo and Besnier's diathetic prurigo as forerunners of atopic dermatitis, the latter being a synthesis of infantile eczema and prurigo. The pathogenic theories which link atopic dermatitis to humoralistic medicine, to digestive diseases, to allergy may have had consequences on today's reluctance to consider atopic dermatitis as a skin disorder, the treatment of which relies mainly on topicals.
© 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.