When it comes to atopic dermatitis (AD), “flare” is a term generally used to describe worsening of disease or a disease event. This term is used in eczema research, healthcare practice and clinical trials, yet there is no one definition. Furthermore, there is no definition created with significant input from patients themselves.
In 2023, the research team at the National Eczema Association (NEA) conducted an online survey to learn more about AD patient experiences and get closer to a definition of “flare” from the patient perspective.
The purpose of this survey was to validate among a larger group of AD patients what we learned from the smaller group of AD patients, and to ultimately gain consensus from the AD patient community on what is important to include in a definition of flare.