Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis, also known as "atopic eczema", is the most common form of eczema, affecting up to 20% of people all over the world. It is a red, itchy rash that tends to appear first in early childhood, in fact, 90% of people with atopic dermatitis experience their first flare-up before the age of five. In most cases it is a chronic condition, but for a lucky few, it may only flare up once or twice in early childhood and then disappear forever.

Causes of Atopic Dermatitis

No one is exactly sure what causes atopic dermatitis, but we suspect it's a combination of factors including heredity (whether or not someone else in your family had it), environment, and immune system function. Atopic dermatitis is more common in those whose parents and siblings have asthma or allergies.

Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms

In infants, atopic dermatitis most often appears on the cheeks and scalp . Adolescents and adults usually have it on their hands, feet, backs of knees, elbows, wrists, ankles and/or face, although it can appear anywhere on the body. Some people get it in the creases of their eyelids.

Atopic dermatitis symptoms include:

• Severely itchy skin
• Dry, scaly, red patches of skin
• Lesions that leak clear fluid and then crust over

Atopic dermatitis may be unsightly and uncomfortable, but it isn't contagious or life-threatening and there are lots of things you can do to take care of your skin and prevent flare-ups. There are also many effective treatments available. If you think you have atopic dermatitis, there's no need for you to grin and bear it; talk to your doctor about your treatment options.

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