What Are The Symptoms And Diet For Atopic Dermatitis?
Atopic Dermatitis (Neurodermatitis) or Eczema is a very common skin disease in children. It is a chronic eczematous skin disease which is mostly hereditary. It is a reaction pattern(itchy) that the skin produces in a number of diseases. People of all skin colors can get Atopic Dermatitis. The term ‘Atopic’ means ‘strange having an allergic tendency’ and ‘dermatitis’ means skin inflammation.
Atopic Dermatitis is not contagious and is not caused by food. Those having atopic dermatitis are at increased risk for food allergies such as of peanuts, soy, wheat, dairy products, and eggs.
Atopic Dermatitis occurs as rashes, dry and scaly patches on cheeks, neck, elbow, knee creases and ankles. Children often get atopic dermatitis in the first year of life. Most people get AD before their fifth birthday. Many children who develop eczema never have it again when they grow up.
Signs of Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic Dermatitis has different symptoms depending on age.
The most common symptoms which are visible in infants- are dry, scaly, pink, itchy skin, especially on the cheeks. The bumps can bubble up and ooze out the fluid. The infant have trouble in sleeping due to the severe itching. The skin at times become sensitive to touch.
It should be noted that eczema is not caused by skin being dirty. Cleaning the skin too often can make the condition worse.
The most common symptoms visible in children (ages 2 till puberty) are redness, swelling, and blister formation. Red to brownish gray patches that develop on hands, feet, neck, ankles, upper chest, eyelids, on face, and scalp. The rashes may appear in the crease between buttocks and legs.
The skin gets bumpy and thick which may itch even when the Atopic Dermatitis is not flaring.
The most common symptoms visible in adults’ – rashes in the crease of elbows or knees, neck and face and around eyes. There is nonstop itching and the patient experiences very dry skin, there could be cracking, weeping, crusting and scaling of skin in Atopic Dermatitis. Cracked skin often hurts and bleeds.
Atopic Dermatitis may be accompanied by asthma or hay fever in some cases.
Who gets Atopic Dermatitis?
Eczema is caused by a dysfunctional skin barrier and dysregulation of the immune system due to genetic, immunologic and environmental factors.
A family history of Atopic Dermatitis, asthma or hay fever, allergic conditions, causes the children to have extra sensitive skin. It is commonly associated with elevated levels of Immunoglobulin E (IgE).
The place where one lives also contributes to AD conditions. Pollution and cold dry climate, low humidity, puts one at a higher risk of developing AD.
Females are more likely to get AD.
The most common factors that trigger eczema are stress, anger, heat,sweat, and contact with irritating substances such as wool, synthetic fabrics, perfumes, skin care products, strong soaps, and detergents. Pollen, mold, animal dander, tobacco smoke are other things that may trigger Atopic Dermatitis.
Diagnoses of Atopic Dermatitis
It is easy to diagnose Atopic Dermatitis as the symptoms are easily visible. The doctor determines the problem by taking the family history and performing a patch test to find allergies.
Treatment /Controlling Atopic Dermatitis
Treatment of eczema flares should begin with the first sign of inflammation.
By avoiding all the factors that trigger the condition, one can control the flare ups of Atopic Dermatitis. That may include some medications, skin care, lifestyle changes like changing laundry detergent, washing clothes before wearing them, avoiding harsh soaps, moisturizing the skin regularly with either coconut oil or lavender essential oils or even moving to the new climate. The person going through the flare of eczema should avoid swimming as chlorine and other chemicals in pools irritate the sensitive skin. It is important to take a shower after swimming and apply moisturizer on the whole body.
Using a humidifier is a good option as dry air is stressful for the skin.
Taking bath with dead sea salts improves the skin hydration and reduces inflammation, redness, and roughness. In patients where infections are common, bleach baths can be done once or twice a week. It consists of bathing in a dilute solution of bleach and clear warm water. It is recommended to avoid long hot showers. Always bathe the child in warm water and for a limited time. Bubble bath for a child experiencing eczema is not recommended. For small children, partially dry their skin and apply the medication on the affected areas. Apply the moisturizer on top of the medicine. Moisturizing should immediately follow bathing or showering since exposure to water can exacerbate eczema.
The patient needs to avoid wearing tight- fit clothes, rough or scratchy clothing like the one made with wool, mohair or other irritating fibers. Always wear loose, natural fabrics that can let the skin breathe.
In order to avoid scratching, one can cover the area with dressing or bandage and wear gloves at night to minimize the skin damage. The patient should cut the nails at all times. Continuous scratching often leads to raw, sensitive and swollen skin. It is very important to avoid scratching as scratching worsens the condition and may lead to infection. Scratching also makes the skin thick, dark and scarred.
It is recommended to avoid strenuous exercise if sweating is triggering the condition.
Phototherapy helps to calm inflammation in some cases as it increases the vitamin D production and helps to fight bacteria of the skin. 10 minutes exposure to the sun, can provide relief from the symptoms like itching and speed up the healing in some cases. One needs to use a sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher to avoid getting sunburn
Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin E supplements, Vitamin D supplements and Probiotics should be taken as they help in speedy healing.
Eczema can be easily controlled if some precautions are taken and understanding what exactly is triggering the condition. There are periods of time when the problem gets worse, that time is called exacerbations or flares and then there are periods of remission when the skin improves or clears up completely.
