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Published 17:26 IST, October 17th 2019

Atopic Dermatitis: Symptoms, causes and treatments for this disease

Atopic Dermatitis or eczema is usually caused in children below the age of five years. The symptoms include flaky, scaly skin, rashes and skin irritation. Read

Reported by: Vageesha Taluja
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Sometime or the other, a person must have suffered from itchy skin. But if you have red, long-lasting rashes apart from continual itching, there is a possibility that it is Atopic Dermatitis. Also known as eczema, this skin condition can be often found in kids. But it can be caused at any age. Moreover, rashes tend to fade away and then come back again.

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Symptoms of Eczema

According to the World Health Organisation, in most of the people, Atopic Dermatitis usually develops in the first few months of their life. They have their first signs before the age of five years. The symptoms include red, scaly, crusted areas particularly on cheeks, and scalp, wrists, folds of knees and elbows, and front parts of the arms and legs. Both children and adults experience reddened rashes, and itchy scaly skin on the back of the neck, apart from elbow and knee creases. The visible symptoms may also include tiny bumps. If you scratch, germs spread and lead to infection. It causes bumps to fill with pus. Make sure, if this happens you consult a doctor. Furthermore, scratching also makes your skin get darker, thick and scarred. Usually, irritation is even worse during the night time, when you go to sleep.

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Other symptoms:

  • There are chances, that rash might bubble up and erupt with clear fluid.
  • Cracked, flaky skin that sometimes bleeds
  • Darkening of skin surrounding your eyes

Causes

As per the World Health Organisation, Atopic Dermatitis or eczema is a disease of unknown aetiology. This means that experts are not sure about the disease’s cause. This might run in families. Therefore, if anyone of your parents or siblings suffers from eczema, there is more chance of you or your child having it too. Children with Atopic Dermatitis have someone in their family who have allergies or asthma. According to some doctors, these things makes them more likely to get eczema.

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Triggers

According to WHO, there are a few things that trigger the symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis.

  • Soaps containing strong perfumes or irritants
  • Contact with woollen clothes
  • Detergents
  • Domestic animals
  • Mold
  • Pollen and dust or sand particles
  • Cigarette smoke
  • Stress, anxiety and anger
  • Dry air and less humid weather
  • Food including dairy products, eggs, wheat, nuts and soy

Treatment

How to treat Atopic Dermatitis?

These are some of the medications that your doctor might suggest.

  • Steroid creams and ointments
  • For even more severe cases, he might suggest steroid pills
  • Antibiotics for infection
  • Wet dressing to partially relieve
  • Oral prednisolone with time limitations and care to avoid its side effects
  • At night, antihistamines to facilitate sleep

Disclaimer: Sometimes symptoms and effects of Atopic Dermatitis or eczema might differ from person to person. It is best advised to consult a doctor to detect early signs.

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08:54 IST, October 17th 2019