Background Skin‐homing T cells are characterized by expression of cutaneous lymphocyte‐associated antigen (CLA). Few data are available on the frequency of circulating CLA+ cytokine‐producing T cells in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Objectives We aimed to investigate cytokine synthesis capability vs. CLA expression in phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin‐stimulated, secretion‐inhibited peripheral blood T cells of AD patients compared with healthy subjects and psoriatic patients. Methods Multiparameter flow cytometry was used. Results The expression of CLA among CD4+ T cells was significantly elevated in AD patients compared with healthy subjects and psoriatic patients, whereas there was no significant difference between each group in CLA expression among CD8+ T cells. The frequency of interleukin (IL)‐4‐ and IL‐13‐producing cells in AD patients was significantly higher than in healthy subjects (in both CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell subsets) and psoriatic patients (in CD4+ T cells). In contrast, the frequency of interferon (IFN)‐γ‐producing cells was significantly reduced in AD patients, among both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, compared with healthy subjects and psoriatic patients. Moreover, in AD patients, the frequency of IL‐4‐ and IL‐13‐producing cells was remarkably increased among the CLA+ subset (in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells), whereas the frequency of IFN‐γ‐producing cells was decreased in the CLA+ subset (in CD4+, but not in CD8+ T cells). Conclusions These results provide evidence for the expansion of skin‐homing type 2 cytokine‐secreting T cells, associated with a reduction in skin‐homing type 1 cytokine‐producing T cells, in peripheral blood of AD patients.