Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema in children, although it can affect people of any age. It is characterized by intense itching, skin irritation, and inflammatory lesions with variable appearance and distribution depending on age and severity. Atopic skin is very vulnerable and sensitive to any external factors. Furthermore, it is extremely dry and delicate, even in infants.

Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common skin conditions, especially in urban areas and developed countries. It affects approximately 20% of children and youths in teen age, and 1 to 3% of adults. Most people develop that skin disease before the age of five. However, many completely outgrow the condition, or have significant improvement as they get older.

In infants, the rash spreads to the neck, scalp, arms, feet, and legs. Large body areas might get affected as well.

Older children and adults often develop a rash that is usually localized to a single zone, or distributed across many specific areas – especially the front of the neck, and inside the bend of the elbows and knees.

Although the color, intensity, and allocation of the rash can vary, it is always itchy. In older children and adults, the main symptom is severe itching, which can lead one to uncontrollably scratch the skin, hence activating the itch-scratch cycle and further worsening the condition.

Еventually, the constant scratching and rubbing cause the skin to thicken – a condition called lichenification.

It is a complex disease, the root causes of which are still being explored. It is due to both genetic and environmental factors. It usually occurs in members of the same family, sometimes together with other diseases such as asthma and hay fever (allergic rhinitis).

Atopic dermatitis is not an allergy, but the presence of environmental allergens increases the chances of developing it – as well as the mentioned asthma and hay fever (these three are what doctors call “the atopic triad”).

Many factors could trigger flare-ups of atopic dermatitis. These include emotional stress, temperature or humidity changes, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria’s presence on the skin, certain particles in the air (such as dust mites and fungi), some skincare products (like inappropriate cosmetics, fragrances, aggressive soaps), also excessive sweating, and contact with various irritants (especially wool). In some infants, allergies to certain foods could cause atopic dermatitis too.

It is recommended to replace the plain soap with substitutes such as emollient oil or cleansing gel with a light formulation with no irritating ingredients in the composition. It helps to apply an emollient balm or lotion right after having a bath when the skin is still moist.

Bathing itself should not be overdone – it should take no longer than 10 to 15 minutes, with warm (not hot) water. Then the skin should be gently patted dry, with no rubbing.

Parents should trim their children’s nails well to minimize scratching injuries and thus reduce the risk of infections.

Although there is no cure for this disease, it can still be kept under control. One should keep the skin moist always, avoiding those known factors that worsen the condition. Topical medication treatment includes corticosteroids and immunomodulators explicitly prescribed by a board-certified dermatologist.

Atopic dermatitis is not contagious and cannot be spread to other person.

Atopic dermatitis is a multifactorial disease caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is known that parents with atopy or allergy have a 30 percent chance of bearing a child affected by atopic dermatitis.