**9. Role of a clinician**

Patient education, in addition to treatment, is a factor that can drastically help improve the health of any patient. The healthcare practitioner plays a very important role in a patients' improvement of atopic dermatitis. They can assist a patient in determining what the causative agent is, and provide counselling on how to avoid that particular agent. A physician's knowledge on appropriate diagnosis and the available treatment options is very important in ensuring optimal care. As the drug experts, pharmacists are also responsible for the care of the patient. By providing practical advice concerning the appropriate use of drug products, such as topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors, compliance can be optimized and adverse effects minimized. In addition, the pharmacist can diminish the stress and anxiety often experienced by patients and caregivers, particularly parents of infants and children with atopic dermatitis. In addition, a pharmacist can advise undiagnosed or untreated patients' on when it is necessary to receive treatment from a physician.
