Observer-Blinded Dose Escalating, Single Dose to Study Safety and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Gel vs. Placebo

Inclusion Criteria:

- Subjects must meet all of the following criteria to be included in the study:

1. Ability to understand, agree to, and sign the study Informed Consent. If the patient is unable to provide consent for him/herself, the patient's legally authorized representative may provide written consent.

2. A signed Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization form which permits the use and disclosure of subject's individually identifiable health information.

3. Male or Female Subjects of any race 18 years of age and older.

4. Physician diagnosed clinically stable Atopic Dermatitis according to the criteria of Hanifin and Rajka affecting ≤25% of total BSA with comparable bilateral antecubital or popliteal lesions. Each lesion must have an ADSI ≥6 with a difference between the lesions of ≤1. It will be in the opinion of the Investigator whether the lesions are clinically stable.

5. Moderate to heavy growth of S. aureus based on culture at the time of screening.

6. Willingness to discontinue use of other Atopic Dermatitis treatment for the duration of the study unless specifically permitted by the Investigator.

7. Women of child-bearing potential must:

- Have negative urine pregnancy tests prior to study treatment to rule out pregnancy, and

- Use at least one method of birth control that results in a low failure rate (i.e. less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correctly such as implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some intrauterine devices (IUDs), sexual abstinence or vasectomized partner for the duration of study participation.

8. Willingness not to wash the antecubital lesions on both arms, or the popliteal lesions on both legs, with soap and water from the time of test article application at baseline visit until after the completion of the Day 2 visit.

9. Allow digital photos of arms or legs to be taken and stored.

Exclusion Criteria:

- 1. Women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding or have a positive pregnancy test at the site.

2. Any dermatological conditions that could interfere with clinical evaluations or any disease state or physical condition which might expose the patient to an unacceptable risk by study participation.

3. Any underlying disease(s) or other dermatological conditions that require the use of exclusionary topical or systemic therapy (see Points 5 and 6).

4. Known sensitivity to any of the components of the study medication. 5. Washout of 4 weeks for topical treatments used on the six designated sites, including but not limited to: antibacterial products, anti-inflammatories (e.g. corticosteroids, tacrolimus, Pimecrolimus). Other than the six sites on the arms or legs, topical mediations may be used before/during the duration of the study.

6. Willing not to apply any prescription or over the counter topical product on the selected designated sites on arms or legs.

7. Washout of 4 weeks for systemic treatments for AD, including but not limited to corticosteroids (oral or intramuscular injections), systemic immunomodulators or immunosuppressive (e.g., methotrexate, cyclosporine, hydroxychloroquine), antibiotics (oral or injected, if required to treat a medical condition short duration of oral antibiotics (≤10 days) are permitted after randomization).

8. Spontaneously improving or rapidly deteriorating dermatitis of the antecubital fossa or popliteal fossa.

9. Netherton's syndrome or other genodermatoses that result in defective epidermal barrier function.

10. Washout of 4 weeks for bleach baths. 11. Washout of 4 weeks for phototherapy.