Cutaneous lymphocyte‐associated antigen (CLA⁺) T cells are specialized for skin homing and represent the main T‐cell population in atopic dermatitis (AD) lesions. CLA⁺ is expressed on the surface of circulating CD45RO⁺ memory T cells and most skin‐infiltrating T cells. Mechanistic studies and thus treatment advancements are limited by the need of large number of skin biopsies. Circulating CLA⁺ T cells may be a reliable surrogate marker of the inflammatory events occurring in the skin, and thus, the evaluation of CLA⁺ T cells in the blood may eliminate the need for skin biopsies. Preliminary work in AD has established that disease‐associated T‐cell abnormalities can be approached by either a study of skin lesions or activated CLA⁺ T‐cell subsets in peripheral blood. Future studies in adults and children, across different skin disorders, correlating blood and skin phenotypes and determining skin‐homing T‐cell functional properties are needed to establish whether CLA⁺ memory subsets can be used as biomarkers and a substitute for skin biopsies. This review summarizes the latest advancements reached on circulating CLA⁺ in AD and the great potential they harbor in understanding AD mechanisms.