Study population and characteristics
We enrolled 20 adults with moderate-to-severe AD (15 females and 5 males, mean age 31 years) and 20 healthy volunteers (11 females and 9 males, mean age 40.3 years) under institutional review board-approved protocols (Table 1 ). Clinical severity scores were measured using a 5-grade AD Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score (mean score 2.6, Table 1 ). Exclusion criteria included immunodeficiency, use of biologics within the previous 12 weeks, use of systemic steroids, use of immunosuppressants or phototherapy within the previous 4 weeks, and use of any topical medication within the previous 2 weeks.