Atopic Eczema Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

What is Atopic Eczema(Dermatitis) ?

Atopic Eczema (Dermatitis) is a disease that makes the skin red and itchy. It’s normal in infants, but it can happen at any age. Atopic dermatitis is long-lasting (chronic) and appears to flare up occasionally. Asthma or hay fever may accompany it.

No treatment was found for atopic dermatitis. However, therapies and self-care steps can alleviate itching and avoid new outbreaks. For example , it helps avoid harsh soaps, moisturises your skin daily, and uses medicated creams or ointments.

Atopic dermatitis ( AD) is a chronic skin condition that is characterised by dry , itchy skin. AD is also referred to as eczema, a term that refers to a larger category of skin disorders. “Dermatitis” refers to the condition of the skin and “atopic” refers to diseases caused by allergic reactions.

As an atopic condition, AD is categorised as hay fever and asthma.

What are the kinds of Atopic Eczema?

All forms of eczema cause scratching and redness, but the most severe and persistent form of eczema is AD. Other forms of eczema shall include:

• Hand Eczema
• Contact dermatitis, which happens only when the skin is in contact with certain chemicals.
• Dyshidrotic eczema, a blissful type of eczema occurring only on the fingertips, palms and soles of the legs.

Doctors are trying to better understand how eczema functions and how it affects so many people. There is currently no proven treatment for this common disease.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of atopic eczema vary widely from person to person and include:

• Dry skin
• Itching, which can be serious, particularly at night.
• Red to brownish-gray patches, particularly on the hands, thighs, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, inside the elbows and knees, and in babies, the face and scalp.
• Tiny, raised bumps that can leak fluid and crust when scratched
• Thick, broken, scaly skin
• Raw, responsive, swollen skin from scratch
• Atopic Dermatitis most commonly starts before age 5 and can continue in adolescence and adulthood. It flares out occasionally for some people, and then clears up for a bit, sometimes for a few years.

Causes of Atopic Eczema

Doctors are not sure what causes eczema. It appears to run in families, so if one of your parents or siblings has it, there might be a greater risk that you or your child will have it, too.

Kids sometimes have someone in the family who has allergies, hay fever, or asthma. Some doctors think it makes them more likely to get eczema. Around half of the children who have it will also have hay fever or asthma.

Living somewhere that’s always cold or has a lot of pollution will raise the odds of catching it, too.

Food allergies do not cause atopic dermatitis. But having atopic dermatitis may increase your risk of food allergies, such as peanuts.

Atopic eczema is not infectious. You can’t take it or give it to anyone else.

How is atopic dermatitis being treated?

There is no known treatment for AD. It is important to find the right medication to help relieve itching and discomfort. Calming the skin decreases tension and helps avoid unnecessary scratching that leads to infections of the skin.

Treatment choices range from over-the-counter skin care, prescription medications, and lifestyle improvements.

The best preventive measure is to moisturise your skin. This increases the working of the skin barrier. Healthier skin will become less often inflamed and have a stronger protection against allergens and irritants.

Bathing and moisturising every day is the best way to hydrate your skin. It is necessary to apply a moisturiser within minutes of bathing.

Prevention

The following tips can help prevent Atopic Eczema (flares) and mitigate the drying effects of bathing:

• Moisturize the skin at least twice a day Creams, ointments and lotions are sealed in moisture. Pick a product or item that fits well for you. Using petroleum jelly on your baby’s skin will help prevent the development of atopic dermatitis.
• Try to recognise and eliminate causes that make the condition worse. Stuff that may cause skin reactions worse include sweat, stress, obesity, soaps , detergents, dust and pollen. Reduce your sensitivity to stimuli.
• Children and infants may experience flares from consuming certain foods, including eggs, milk, soy and wheat. Speak to your child’s doctor about discovering possible food allergies.
• Take a shorter bath or shower. Cap your baths and showers for 10 to 15 minutes. Using soft, rather than hot, water.
• Take a bath of bleach. The American Academy of Dermatology advises the use of a bleach bath to help avoid flares.
• The diluted-bleach bath eliminates bacteria on the skin and associated infections. Add 1/2 cup (118 millilitres) of household bleach, not concentrated bleach, to a 40-gallon (151 litres) bathtub filled with warm water. Measurements are for a U.S.-standard tub complete with drainage holes. Soak from the neck or the affected areas of the skin for about 10 minutes. Don’t submerge your ears. Take a bath of bleach no more than twice a week.
• Using just soft soaps Choose a gentle soap. More natural oils can be extracted by deodorant soaps and antibacterial soaps and dry your face.
• Dry yourself thoroughly After bathing gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel and apply a moisturiser while your skin is still moist.