Additional file 1: Fig. S1. Representative images of hematoxylin and eosin–stained skin sections from each experimental group of mice on day 11. NOR untreated control group, MC903 MC903-induced atopic dermatitis group, pAP MC903- and preventive acupuncture-treated group, tAP MC903- and therapeutic acupuncture-treated group, CP MC903- and acupuncture at control point (non-acupoint)-treated group. Magnification, ×100. Fig. S2. Representative activity tracks in the open field test (OFT, top) and elevated plus maze (EPM, bottom). NOR untreated control group, MC903 MC903-induced atopic dermatitis group, pAP MC903- and preventive acupuncture-treated group, tAP MC903- and therapeutic acupuncture-treated group, CP MC903- and acupuncture at control point (non-acupoint)-treated group. Fig. S3. Representative immunoblots of plasticity-related (A, C, and E; pCREB, ΔFosB and BDNF) and DA-related (B, D, and F; TH, D1AR and pDARPP-32) proteins in the brain reward regions. NOR untreated control group, MC903 MC903-induced atopic dermatitis group, pAP MC903- and preventive acupuncture-treated group, tAP MC903- and therapeutic acupuncture-treated group, CP MC903- and acupuncture at control point (non-acupoint)-treated group. CREB cyclic AMP-response element binding protein, pCREB phospho-Ser133 CREB, BDNF brain-derived neurotrophic factor, TH tyrosine hydroxylase, D1AR dopamine D1 receptor, DARPP-32 dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of 32 kDa, pDARPP-32 phospho-Thr34 DARPP-32. Fig. S4. Correlations between clinical symptom of atopic dermatitis and psychological distress. A Heatmap of the correlation matrix comparing the clinical symptoms of atopic dermatitis (skin lesion severity and scratching behavior) and psychological distress (anxiety-like/depression-like behavior). Color represents the Spearman’s correlation coefficient. *** p < 0.001. B Scatterplots depicting the association between pairs. The linear model describing the relationship is depicted as a solid line with a 95% confidence interval (CI), as indicated by dashed lines. EPM elevated plus maze, OFT open-field test, TST tail suspension test. NOR untreated control group, MC903 MC903-induced atopic dermatitis group, pAP MC903- and preventive acupuncture-treated group, tAP MC903- and therapeutic acupuncture-treated group, CP MC903- and acupuncture at control point (non-acupoint)-treated group.