There is much confusion in the field of atopic dermatitis (AD) regarding how to best measuredisease severity objectively. Therefore, we aimed to establish a new adequate scoring system for AD, that should be based on comparisonand analysis of various scoring systems. We report as follows. Methods: We searched for data relating to severity scoring systems for atopic dermatitis in Entrez PubMed From 1990 to 2001 Results and Conclusions: 1. Properties of severity scoring systems were validity, reliability, sensitivity of change and ease of use. 2. The essential items of severity scoring systems were extent. intensity and subjective symptoms. 3. The surface extent of the lesion was evaluated by the percentage of involvement of each of 10 areas. 4. The criteria of severity were divided into intensity and subjective symptoms. Intensity items are erythema, papulation, lichenification, oozing, dryness, excoriations, and pigmentation. The subjective symptom is pruritus, evaluated according to sleep loss. 5. The significant items of severity scoring system were symptomsrather than areas. As it were, we assumed extent accounted for around 30% of each total score, with intensity and subjective symptoms representing 70%.