The patient complains that “wool makes me itch” or “I am allergic to wool.” What disease does this patient probably have?

Pruritus is such an integral part of atopic dermatitis that no diagnosis of active atopic dermatitis can be made without a history of itching. External factors, such as irritating clothing (e.g., wool), dry air, and emotional stress, exacerbate atopic dermatitis. Patients tend to have a personal or family history of asthma, rhinitis, and various allergies. Primary skin lesions are not typically seen, but lichenification (an exaggeration of the skin folds) is common because of constant rubbing by the patient. Therapy involves avoiding wool or other irritating clothing. Antihistamines are used to treat pruritus in atopic dermatitis, although some physicians attribute their beneficial effects to their sedative properties.