Conventional therapy for atopic dermatitis has evolved along with better understanding of underlying impaired barrier function, role of microorganisms, and immune abnormalities. Emollients, along with antimicrobial and topical anti-inflammatory therapies, remain the cornerstone of conventional therapy. Recent therapeutic advances include use of nonsteroidal therapy for epidermal barrier repair, along with proactive therapy with topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors. Minimal anti-inflammatory treatment of the underlying residual disease is the immunobiologic rationale for proactive therapy. Further progress in understanding this increasingly common disease will hopefully lead to more targeted therapies.