About the Project
A CDC-Funded Public Health Initiative
Atopic Dermatitis Is More Than a Skin Disease
For the first time, we have the data to prove it — state by state, community by community. And now we know where to act
The public health case
Closing critical care gaps
AD affects an estimated 16.5 million adults and 9.6 million children in the United States. But for decades, public health systems have treated it as a cosmetic concern, undercounting its burden, underfunding its research and underequipping the providers on the front lines of care.
Through this CDC-funded initiative, NEA is changing that. We developed the first state-level estimates of AD prevalence and disease burden — the data foundation needed to target resources, train providers and drive meaningful policy change.
This initiative will:
Establish the first state-level baseline of AD prevalence and disease burden
Equip primary care providers with tools to diagnose and manage AD earlier
Strengthen public health planning with data that is local, actionable and current
Reduce disparities in access to care for communities hit hardest by AD
Build a long-term hub for evidence-based AD resources available to everyone
Who this is foR
Built for the people closest to this problem
This initiative was designed to reach the providers, professionals, advocates and community members with the most power to change how AD is understood, diagnosed and treated.
State and county public health professionals
Primary care and specialty healthcare providers
Medical associations
Policymakers
Researchers and educators
Communities experiencing health disparities, including Black, Indigenous and other people of color, individuals with adult-onset AD, Medicaid beneficiaries and people living in rural or underserved areas
All people living with AD and their caregivers
Our Approach
A four-year plan to go from data to impact
This project follows a deliberate sequence: first, build the evidence base. Then translate it into tools providers can use. Then put it in front of the communities who need it most.
Meet our Team
Led by the National Eczema Association
NEA is a patient advocacy organization dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for everyone affected by eczema. This CDC-funded initiative is a direct expression of that mission, bringing scientific rigor to a disease that has been systematically underestimated and putting the results in the hands of the people who can do something about it.
All resources developed through this project are available to the public.