Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease that causes redness, swelling, and itching. It is more common in children, but it can develop at any age. It is a chronic disease with periods of exacerbation and remission of variable duration. People who suffer from it may also have seasonal allergies or asthma.

Atopic dermatitis occurs in people whose skin lacks the ability to provide proper protection against external agents, generally due to genetic causes. In these individuals, the skin is affected by various environmental factors, irritants, and allergens.

The main risk factor associated with atopic dermatitis is having a family or personal history of eczema, allergy, allergic rhinitis, or asthma. In people with a genetic predisposition, there are a number of triggers for dermatitis:

• Stress, which can cause an alteration in the immune response.
• Allergens, both food and airborne allergens.
• Skin irritants, such as wool or synthetic fiber clothing, hot water, or certain soaps and detergents.
• Certain microorganisms, especially S. aureus, a common colonizer of the skin in people with atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis usually begins in childhood and can continue into adolescence and adulthood. The signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis can vary from person to person and include the following:

• Dry skin.
• Itching, which can be very intense.
• Reddish to grayish-brown patches that appear especially on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, chest, inside the elbows, or face.
• Thickened, cracked, and scaly skin.
• Sensitive and inflamed skin from scratching.

The following suggestions can prevent episodes of dermatitis and minimize symptoms if they appear:

• Use moisturizers on the skin at least twice a day.
• Try to avoid triggers that worsen the condition, such as certain foods, sweat, stress, soaps, detergents, etc.
• Take shorter baths or showers, avoiding very hot water.
• Use mild soaps.
• Dry carefully, avoiding strong rubbing.