Atopic Dermatitis-Eczema: Causes, Signs, Treatment

Atopic Dermatitis & Eczema is a chronic, itchy, inflammatory skin condition most commonly found in children, but not exclusively.

Έκζεμα - Ατοπική Δερματίτιδα: Αντιμετώπιση & Θεραπεία

Τι είναι η Ατοπική Δερματίτιδα; Η Ατοπική Δερματίτιδα , είναι μια χρόνια δερματοπάθεια , αλλεργικής αιτιολογίας και συχνά έχει κληρονομική προδιάθεση . Συναντάται κυρίως σε παιδιά, αλλά αφορά και τους ενήλικες.

Τι είναι το έκζεμα; Το έκζεμα αποτελεί συχνή φλεγμονώδη, μη μεταδοτική δερματική πάθηση που αφορά σε ενήλικες και παιδιά. Αν και πολλές φορές το έκζεμα συνδέεται με την ατοπική δερματίτιδα, η τελευταία αποτελεί τον πλέον κοινό τύπο εκζέματος. Η επιστημονική ονομασία έκζεμα θα μπορούσε να χαρακτηριστεί ως «βεντάλια» που περιλαμβάνει μία ομάδα καταστάσεων οι οποίες προκαλούν φαγούρα, ερεθισμό και φλεγμονή στο δέρμα.

Έκζεμα - Ατοπική Δερματίτιδα: Συμπτώματα Το πιο κοινό σύμπτωμα στο έκζεμα και στην ατοπική δερματίτιδα είναι η φαγούρα, η οποία συνοδεύεται από μία ακατανίκητη, πολλές φορές, επιθυμία για ξύσιμο. Τα συμπτώματα διαφέρουν από ασθενή σε ασθενή και μπορεί να περιλαμβάνουν ακόμη: ξηροδερμία δερματικό εξάνθημα λεπιοειδές δέρμα πρήξιμο

Eczema & Atopic Dermatitis: Images

Eczema - Atopic Dermatitis: Areas of Appearance Eczema and atopic dermatitis can appear on any part of the body. The most common areas of appearance are: Hands Neck Elbows Ankles Knees Feet Face, especially the cheeks Ears Lips Less frequently, eczema can appear: On the nipples On the chest In the folds of the vulvar area On the penis

Eczema & Its Types There are 7 main types of eczema.

Atopic Dermatitis Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. Millions of people of all ages worldwide are affected by atopic dermatitis, or atopic eczema as it is sometimes called. It appears in people of all ages, starting from childhood (usually mild atopic dermatitis). Regardless of the location of its appearance, which can be anywhere on the body, atopic dermatitis is characterized by intense itching, dry skin, as well as rashes with flares and remissions. Individuals with mild atopic dermatitis may experience limited dry skin, which causes itching, while in more severe cases, the disease can cause extensive skin inflammation throughout the body and intense, prolonged itching. The exact causes of atopic dermatitis have not been precisely determined; however, family history, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergies, as well as lifestyle factors (environmental pollution, exposure to smoke, stress, etc.), appear to play a significant role.

Contact Dermatitis More than 15,000 causes can lead to this type of skin disease. Irritant contact dermatitis accounts for approximately 80% of dermatitis cases, while allergic contact dermatitis is the body's response to an allergenic factor. The first symptom caused by contact dermatitis is itching, followed by a rash or blisters, which can appear anywhere from the eyelids to the toes. The best way to treat contact dermatitis is to identify the underlying cause, although this is not always feasible.

Dyshidrotic Eczema This form of eczema is characterized by small, intensely itchy blisters that usually appear on the hands and/or feet. Dyshidrotic eczema is a result of the body's sensitivity to metals such as nickel or cobalt, medication, or body care products, smoking, or a skin infection like athlete's foot. Stress and weather changes can also trigger this particular form of eczema.

Hand Eczema Anything that irritates the skin, even something as harmless as water itself, can cause hand eczema. This type of eczema manifests with dryness and cracked skin, and can also present with blisters, scabs, pus, pain, burning sensation, itching, and deep, painful fissures. Effective treatment largely depends on the underlying cause of the hand eczema.

Neurodermatitis. Its causes seem to be associated with intense feelings of stress and irritation, and it is more likely to appear in patients suffering from atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, very dry skin, stasis dermatitis, or an internal condition that can lead to itching, such as kidney disease. It usually starts with itching, which then causes a rash, creating a vicious cycle of itching - rash - itching. Neurodermatitis is found on the hand, foot, back of the neck or head, or groin area.

Nummular or Discoid Eczema Like other forms of eczema, nummular eczema causes itching, as well as circular coin-shaped rashes typically on the hands, arms, and lower legs. Causes of discoid eczema include stress, severe dryness, skin trauma, humidity, heat, some skin infections, and excessive alcohol consumption.

Stasis Eczema A common type of eczema, found mainly in individuals with poor blood flow, usually in the lower legs. Symptoms include swelling, itching, irritation, and pain when standing. Stasis refers to the accumulation of fluid in individuals suffering from venous insufficiency. Treatment, as well as lifestyle improvements like walking and exercise, help manage this skin condition.

Facial Eczema Eczema can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, specifically on the eyelids, around the eyes, on the eyebrows, or on the chin. Facial eczema is characterized by itching, dry, and flaky skin. Eczema prevents the natural epidermal barrier from functioning and protecting the skin. Depending on the cause of the eczema, treatment may be topical or with oral medication.

"Weather can affect and worsen eczema."

Eczema - Atopic Dermatitis: Causes Several factors are involved in the manifestation of eczema. Firstly, the immune system overreacts to irritants or allergenic substances in the environment. Furthermore, your genes seem to dictate whether or not you will develop eczema. You are more likely to experience it if there is a family medical history of eczema or dermatitis. The environment also harbors many irritants for the skin, such as air pollutants, smoke exposure, harsh skin cleansing products, and woolen fabrics. Eczema flare-ups are triggered by various factors such as: Touching something you are allergic to. Fabrics (e.g., wool). Makeup or skincare products. Soaps and detergents. Dry weather. Smoke and air pollutants. Anxiety and stress.

Eczema - Atopic Dermatitis: Diagnosis The diagnosis of eczema or atopic dermatitis by the specialist dermatologist is crucial for selecting the appropriate treatment. A careful clinical examination and a detailed medical history form the basis for diagnosing the type of eczema. To confirm the diagnosis, allergic tests (e.g., in the case of contact dermatitis) or a skin biopsy may sometimes be necessary. A visit to the dermatologist is essential to confirm eczema or atopic dermatitis, as it resembles several conditions like psoriasis or fungal infections. Moreover, different types of eczematous skin conditions often resemble each other. Read also... Fungal infection Read also... Psoriasis

«Avoid bathing with cold or hot water and do not wear wool or synthetic clothes, as they can trigger disease flare-ups»

Eczema - Atopic Dermatitis: Treatment There is no definitive cure for eczema and atopic dermatitis. Therapeutic management for eczema or atopic dermatitis is individualized for each patient depending on its severity, and aims to relieve symptoms, heal the skin, and reduce flare-ups. The treatment recommended by the dermatologist usually includes: skin moisturizing products corticosteroid creams anti-inflammatory antihistamines, oral corticosteroids phototherapy to improve skin texture and appearance antibiotics for possible secondary infections dietary advice

«Identifying and avoiding the factor that causes eczema is a key component of treatment»

Management Tips Simple habits in daily routine can relieve eczema symptoms and prevent potential flare-ups. More specifically: Moisturize your skin after bathing. Choose fragrance-free skincare products. Test skincare products and cosmetics before using them. Take short baths or showers with warm water. Prefer loose cotton underwear that allows the skin to breathe.

References https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9998-eczema https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/ https://familydoctor.org/condition/eczema-and-atopic-dermatitis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32412211/#:~:text=Use%20of%20topical%20corticosteroids%20is,corticosteroids%20as%20first%2Dline%20treatment.

Written by Facemed Clinic Scientific Team on Jan 24, 2020 - Reviewed by Dr. Christoforos Loizidis updated Nov 7, 2024 Clinical Dermatology Psoriasis: Factors, Symptoms and Treatment Mycosis VIEW ALL Symptoms Itching

How does eczema - atopic dermatitis go away?

With the available therapeutic options, eczema - atopic dermatitis subsides. However, because it is a chronic disease, it can unexpectedly recur at any time.

Is eczema - atopic dermatitis contagious?

No, eczema - atopic dermatitis is not a contagious disease. Note, however, that one should not scratch the rashes as there is a risk of infection.

Is eczema - atopic dermatitis an autoimmune disease?

Eczema - atopic dermatitis can cause an overreaction of the immune system, however, it is not classified as an autoimmune disease.

Does atopic dermatitis increase the risk of eye conditions?

Atopic dermatitis appears to increase the risk of eye conditions such as conjunctivitis. However, early diagnosis leads to their effective treatment.