Misconceptions About Allergy’s Connection to Atopic Dermatitis, with Anne Marie Singh, MD

Misconceptions about atopic dermatitis and its connection to food allergy were highlighted by Anne Marie Singh, MD, following her talk at the 2025 Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Conference in Nashville.

Singh, who serves as associate professor of pediatric allergy, asthma, and immunology at the University of Wisconsin's School of Medicine, was asked about patients’ views on triggers for their atopic dermatitis flare. Eczema and atopic dermatitis are referred to here interchangeably.

“I think there are a lot of patients and frankly, sometimes some physicians out there who are looking for a silver bullet,” Singh explained. “You know, eczema is it's not an easy disease. It comes and goes, but unfortunately, we have no cure. People are looking for one often, and they are looking to find ‘What is that one trigger that's in my diet or my environment that I can remove and make this whole problem go away?’ So I think that is a common misconception. We know the triggers of atopic dermatitis are varied.”

Singh highlighted the complexity of atopic dermatitis, noting that it is often misconstrued as having a simple trigger. She noted that triggers are varied, including foods, aeroallergens, stress, and infections, and that food allergies are more common in children with eczema.

Singh also expressed that up to half of children with eczema may have an immediate food allergy, but true food-triggered atopic dermatitis is rare.

“I think some important take-home messages are that food allergy and eczema are both more common than they used to be,” Singh said. “Kids with eczema are definitely at higher risk for food allergy, as I mentioned. If you look at the research studies, up to half of kids with eczema will have a food allergy. However, that food allergy is most often an immediate food allergy. So those immediate symptoms of a food allergy and that ‘true food food-triggered atopic dermatitis’ is rare.”

Singh noted that if one is worried about a food allergy, they should see an allergist. She emphasized the importance of collaboration between allergists and dermatologists, noting the role of early food introduction in preventing food allergies. Singh also expressed excitement about the advancements in novel therapies for atopic dermatitis, including biologic, small-molecule, and topical non-steroidal treatments, which offer new hope for managing the disease.

For any additional information on this subject and related subjects, view the full video above or check out the latest conference coverage here.

The quotes that are used in this summary are edited for clarity.