The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of tannic acid (TA) on late cornified envelope 1(LCE1) gene expression in the skin of atopic dermatitis mice. Atopic dematitis was induced in BALB/c mice by repeated application of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) on the shaved back skin of the mice. The experimental group was divided into 4 groups, viz. control group, olive-acetone group, DNCB group and DNCB+TA group. The DNCB+TA group displayed improved dermatitis skin symptoms, such as rashes, papules, and eczema in comparison with the DNCB group. In the DNCB+TA group, the dermatitis symptoms such as rash, papule and eczema improved compared with the DNCB group. Histological findings in the DNCB group showed that the stratum corneum was destroyed, the layers of keratinocytes were thickened, and distinction between the dermis and epidermis was not clear. Compared to the DNCB group in DNCB+TA group, the stratum corneum was preserved and the distinction between the dermis and epidermis could be clearly observed. The cornified envelope constituent proteins lec1a1, lec1a2, lec1b, lec1d, lec1e, lec1f, lec1g, lec1i and lec1l increased the gene expression in DNCB group, and the expressions of these genes became reduced in DNCB+TA group. These results showed that TA has certain effect in improving atopic dermatitis, which in turn signified the potential of TA as a remedy to improve atopic dermatitis. In this regard, further studies on the mechanism of action and stability of TA in the improvement effect are needed.