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).

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