Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis, sometimes called eczema, is a kind of dermatitis, an atopic skin disease.

Presentation

Skin of an affected person reacts to irritants, food and air allergens and becomes red, flaky and very itchy. It also becomes vulnerable to inflamations caused by bacteria. Joints (for example inner sides of elbows and knees) are most commonly affected regions.

Atopic dermatitis very often occurs together with other atopic diseases like hay fever, asthma and conjunctivitis. It is a chronic disease and its symptoms can grow or disappear over time. There is no cure for it, but its symptoms can be diminished with various treatments.

Originally controversial, the association of food allergy with atopic dermatitis has now been clearly demonstrated, especially in severe disease of infancy.

Atopic dermatitis is often mistaken with psoriasis.

Treatment

The severity can be reduced by minimising drying of the skin and avoiding or minimising contact with known allergens. The issue of allergies often complicates a case of atopic dermatitis.

Topical treatment (those applied onto the skin) centre around reducing the dryness of the skin. Moisturisers (also known as Emollients) are available from a pharmacist or on prescription.

Most soaps wash away the oils produced by the skin that normally serve to prevent drying. Using a soap substitute such as aqueous cream helps keep the skin moisturised.

If moisturisers on their own don't help, topical steroid ointments or creams may be used. These are safe to use provided they are prescribed by a doctor.

Although many people are intimidated by the term 'steroids', their proper use can result in atopic dermatitis being brought under control, making the disease far more bearable for the sufferers.

Alternative medicines may (illegally) contain very strong steroids (Ramsay H M, Goddard W, Gill S, Moss C.

Herbal creams used for atopic eczema in Birmingham, UK illegally contain potent corticosteroids. Archives of Disease in Childhood 2003; 88:1056-1057).

Health Tip: Breast-Feeding Benefits Baby - Newsday (subscription) Health Tip: Breast-Feeding Benefits Baby Newsday (subscription) The skin condition atopic dermatitis.Asthma.Obesity.Childhood leukemia. newsday.com is now available at no charge to Newsday and Optimum Online ... and more » Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:08:47 GMT+00:00 Lacidofil® Probiotics Reduces Child Atopic Dermatitis - Inside Cosmeceuticals.com Lacidofil® Probiotics Reduces Child Atopic Dermatitis Inside Cosmeceuticals.com The extent and severity of AD was evaluated using the SCORAD Index (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis). Immunological parameters were also assessed at day 0 and 30. ... Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:15:23 GMT+00:00 Lallemand probiotic shows dermatitis, milk allergy promise - NutraIngredients.com Lallemand probiotic shows dermatitis, milk allergy promise NutraIngredients.com ... reduce the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children when used with a topical emollient, and increase antibodies against cow's milk allergen IgG4. ... Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:39:12 GMT+00:00 Provectus Pharmaceuticals Will Present at the Rodman & Renshaw 12th Annual ... - MarketWatch (press release) Provectus Pharmaceuticals Will Present at the Rodman & Renshaw 12th Annual ... MarketWatch (press release) Its dermatological drugs also target abnormal or diseased cells, with the current focus on psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Provectus has recently completed ... and more » Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:06:28 GMT+00:00 Food Allergy Tests Available - Coastweek Food Allergy Tests Available Coastweek Typically atopic dermatitis (eczema) occurs between birth and three months of age; gastrointestinal symptoms related to food allergens are most prevalent ... Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:10:04 GMT+00:00 Make that change - The Hindu The Hindu Make that change The Hindu It differs from conditions like Atopic Dermatitis which is an allergic condition and Psoriasis as well as ringworm condition which can also cause scurfy ... Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:07:45 GMT+00:00 Protopic, Cancer and Other Risks: Is the Message Getting Through? - Lawyers and Settlements Lawyers and Settlements Protopic, Cancer and Other Risks: Is the Message Getting Through? Lawyers and Settlements What's worrisome in this case is the perceived regular use of Protopic skin ointment that is meant to be a second-line defense against atopic dermatitis, ... Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:07:28 GMT+00:00 Controversy Over Probiotics for AD - Inside Cosmeceuticals.com Controversy Over Probiotics for AD Inside Cosmeceuticals.com ESSEN, Germany?Mixed results over probiotics' benefit on atopic dermatitis (AD) are stirring. Studies suggest probiotics stabilize the intestinal barrier ... Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:14:48 GMT+00:00 Peanut Allergy and Asthma: A Double Threat - Medscape Peanut Allergy and Asthma: A Double Threat Medscape The investigators collected demographic data along with clinical history of atopic dermatitis, family history of asthma, presence of gastroesophageal reflux ... Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:25:13 GMT+00:00 Debate Continues over Elidel - Lawyers and Settlements Lawyers and Settlements Debate Continues over Elidel Lawyers and Settlements Washington, DC: It's hard to know what to think about Elidel, the topical medication so often used to treat rosacea, eczema, and atopic dermatitis (AD). ... Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:06:03 GMT+00:00 Page:  1