Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, highly pruritic, chronic inflammatory skin disease. Dysfunction of the epidermal barrier is witnessed by an increased transepidermal water loss in lesional and non-lesional AD skin. The inflammation in lesional AD skin is well characterized. Non-lesional skin of AD patients shows histological signs of a subclinical inflammation and a pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu. This microinflammation is present even in seemingly healed skin and must be taken into account regarding treatment of AD. Emollients provide a safe and effective method of skin barrier improvement, because they provide the skin with a source of exogenous lipids, thus improving its barrier function. The use of emollients is recommended for all AD patients irrespective of overall disease severity. Patients with moderate to severe AD should combine the emollients with a proactive therapy regimen of topical calcineurin inhibitors or topical corticosteroids. Skin areas affected by active eczema in flare should receive daily anti-inflammatory therapy first before introducing emollients, to induce rapid relief of skin lesions and pruritus. The microinflammation persisting in seemingly healed AD lesions should be addressed by a proactive treatment approach, consisting of minimal anti-inflammatory therapy and liberal, daily use of emollients. An emollient containing an extract of Rhealba oat plantlet has shown anti-inflammatory and barrier repairing properties, and was clinically tested in studies targeting the microinflammation in AD. All emollients based on Rhealba oat plantlet extract are free of oat protein, as the Rhealba extract is derived from the aerial parts of the oat plantlet and is unrelated to oatmeal proteins. The Rhealba oat plantlet extract is produced in a specific process, allowing the extraction of high levels of active principles such as flavonoids and saponins, whilst being virtually free of oat proteins to minimize the risk for allergic reactions.