BERLIN, November 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Three hundred delegates from across the world are taking part in the Skin Allergy Meeting,  SAM, 2012 of the European Academy of Allergy and Immunology, EAACI, from 29 November to 1 December in Berlin. The event is hosted by the Allergy Centre Charité - Charité-UniversitätsmedizinBerlin chaired by Dr Clive Grattan, Chairperson of the Dermatology Section of EAACI, and under the direction of the organising committee led by Professor Marcus Maurer.

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The management of atopic dermatitis continues to be a major challenge to dermatologists. Over 90% of cases start in children before the age of 5 years old. It has been estimated that 10-20% of school children may be affected in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Although it may be less common in Africa and Eastern Europe, its presentation can be equally severe and distressing anywhere in the world. All these data will be discussed during the session "Practical guide to the management of atopic dermatitis" given by Professor Zuberbier during SAM 2012.

EAACI experts agree that no single cause can be found but the vital importance of the skin barrier function is being increasingly recognised as an underlying reason for the skin inflammation that develops as a result of the immune system becoming overactive. Food allergies may be important in up to 20% of very young children with atopic dermatitis so understanding how to recognise them can play an important part in helping these children, in addition to providing regular treatment with emollients, steroid creams, immunosuppressive ointments and antibiotics. Further understanding of allergies in atopic dermatitis and how to prevent them is an important goal of research.

SAM 2012

SAM 2012 is a biannual meeting organised by EAACI with the goal to give the participants up-to-date knowledge on skin diseases where allergy may play a role -together with information on current treatment options, strategies and differential diagnoses, such as allergic contact dermatitis and tropical and travellers' dermatoses to auto inflammatory syndromes. The goal is to disseminate the latest developments on these topics, to give the best treatment to patients.

About EAACI

The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, EAACI is a non-profit organisation active in the field of allergic and immunologic diseases such as asthma, rhinitis, eczema, occupational allergy, food and drug allergy and anaphylaxis. EAACI was founded in 1956 in Florence and has become the largest medical association in Europe in the field of allergy and clinical immunology. It includes over 7,700 members from 121 countries worldwide, and all of the National Allergy Societies from Europe.