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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Topical corticosteroids are a useful form of treatment for atopic dermatitis. However, patients are likely to be addicted after long-term treatment.¹ This paradoxical phenomenon has so far been underestimated, and improvement following the temporary rebound flare after discontinuation of corticosteroid therapy has been entirely ignored.

Report of a Case

A 20-year-old man was affected with atopic dermatitis since early childhood. He used topical corticosteroids intermittently but found that the amount and frequency of applications had steadily increased since he turned age 18 years. The patient used 10 to 40 g per month of 0.12% betamethazone valerate ointment on his body and 0.25% predonisolone acetate ointment on his face. Total IgE was 7179 U/mL and white blood cell count showed 27.1% eosinophils.

He had developed patchy erythema and prurigo on his entire body before discontinuing treatment with topical steroids. One month after he discontinued steroid use, prurigo flattened and the erythema extended over his entire . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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