Atopic Dermatitis - Treatment and Symptoms

Atopic Dermatitis is a skin disorder that is characterized by itching, scaling, thickening of the skin, and is usually located on the face, elbows, knees, and arms. It is a chronic non contagious genetically determined disease of the skin. That is very common in children but may occur at any age. It is also known as eczema and atopic eczema.; it cannot be passed from one person to another. Any or all of three closely linked conditions; atopic dermatitis, asthma and hay fever (allergic rhinitis)can be the cause of Atopic Dermatitis.A family history of asthma, eczema or hay fever is particularly useful in diagnosing atopic dermatitis in infants. In atopic dermatitis, the skin becomes extremely itchy. Scratching leads to redness, swelling, cracking, "weeping" clear fluid, and finally, crusting and scaling.

The word "dermatitis" means inflammation of the skin. "Atopic" refers to a group of diseases where there is often an inherited tendency to develop other allergic conditions, such as asthma and hay fever. In most cases, there are periods of time when the disease is worse (called exacerbations or flares) followed by periods when the skin improves or clears up entirely (called remissions). As some children with atopic dermatitis grow older, their skin disease improves or disappears altogether, although their skin often remains dry and easily irritated. In others, atopic dermatitis continues to be a significant problem in adulthood.

Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

• Using emollients frequently and liberally especially after bathing
• Using a soap substitute instead of soap
• Bandaging the skin to protect it and prolong contact with emollients or topical steroids (Bandaging with topical steroids should only be done under the direction of a health care provider
• Topical calcineurin inhibitors such as pimecrolimus cream or tacrolimus ointment
• Antibiotics
• Antihistamines
• Phototherapy
• Oral corticosteroids
• Ciclosporin

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