Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a long lasting chronic skin problem in which the affected skin becomes red with rash, with extreme itching, and later on becomes dry in tone.
In its severe stage, some small blister like growths appear on skin surface and these blisters are seen with full of clear fluids. This disease is not infectious.

Atopic dermatitis is called atopic eczema although it is not a typical eczema but one of the many variants of eczema. This skin problem is prevalently seen in children, and as they get adult the disease gets carry forward with their ascending age and is seen in their adulthood also. It is seen in adults also.

The definite causes responsible for the occurrence of atopic dermatitis are not clear yet. But the research and study reveals that a family history with allergic diseases like asthma, hey fever, triggers the recurrence of this skin disorder in the next generation. That is why the occurrence of this disease is thought to have a connection with allergic irruption.

Rather than family history other factors which trigger the occurrence of this skin disorder are skin infection, stress, strong soap or detergent and washing in inadequate water, weather changes especially in transitional period to cold to summer or summer to cold, and intake of certain allergy prone foods like egg, shell foods, nuts, soy products, and peanuts.

Animal dander and dust mites also have proven to be active stimulant of this skin disorder.

The main symptom of atopic dermatitis is intense itching followed by episode of rash, sometimes the infected area becomes red, and blisters come out on the skin surface. The rashes recur on and on and thus the shin tone becomes dry and thickened in texture. If the blisters get scratched the chance of infection may spread rapidly, although this is not contagious, but the blisters may get infected by nail scratching and get septic.

The intensity of infection depends on the area affected by rash; if the affected area is smaller in size, proper moisturizing manages the problem but in case of larger area the rash needs medication according to doctor’s advise.

Although atopic dermatitis is an unending disease but imposing some restrictions on the affected person the intensity of the disease can be reduced. The impositions are like application of moisturizer in the affected area, avoid triggers of allergy, controlling the scratching habit, and in case of rash to trim the nails, regular bathing with cold or lukewarm water, and in case of babies, put hand gloves to prevent scratching tendency.