Everything is important to know about atopic dermatitis in children

Atopic dermatitis is an allergic, chronic, and inflammatory skin disease affecting many children. It causes dryness and itchiness of the skin which often significantly affects the quality of life. What causes the situation to worsen and how to treat it? The answers before you

Dry weather exacerbates the problem. Baby girl with atopic dermatitis (Photo: shutterstock)

Baby girl with atopic dermatitis (Photo: ShutterStock)

About 10-20 percent of children suffer from atopic dermatitis, also known as skin asthma. It is an inflammatory disease, characterized by dry skin that causes itching.

How can the disease be diagnosed?
Notable symptoms include itching, dry skin, red lesions and sometimes discharge. These may appear mainly in the arms and legs, but similarly in every other area of ​​the body.

Why is this happening?
About one-third of children with the disease have a family background of atopic dermatitis or other allergic diseases, such as: asthma of the lung, allergic rhinitis and food intolerance. There are other factors that may affect your risk of atopic dermatitis: appearance of multiple staphylococcus bacteria, childhood cleanliness and hygiene, dry weather and more.

What makes the disease worse?
The disease increases in hot weather as well as in the winter season. This is because during these periods it is customary to use the air conditioner which causes skin dryness. Warm clothing from woolen fabrics and synthetic fabrics can also adversely affect skin condition. Also, factors such as grass, sand and dust can increase irritation and natural tendency and aggravate the itchiness.

Are there health implications?
In general, this is a lifestyle-related illness, which is a major nuisance for children and their families. Some children even suffer from sleep disorders, due to the itch that disturbs their sleep during the night. Beyond that, it should be taken into account that the itch itself can also lead to dermal infection, which can usually be treated through antibiotic treatment.

It is recommended to use basic creams that do not contain perfume. Girl with atopic dermatitis (Photo: shutterstock)

Girl with atopic dermatitis (Photo: ShutterStock)

What is the recommended treatment?
Because the itchy phenomenon is due to dryness of the skin, it is very important to take care of the problem areas regularly. It is recommended to use basic creams that do not contain perfume or other substances that may increase irritation. Also, be sure to wear full cotton clothing and avoid pressed or woolen fabrics.

Since increased bathing in water can cause skin drying, it is advisable to take a short and purposeful bath. When it comes to babies, specialty bath oils can be used according to the recommendation of the attending physician. After washing, it is recommended to use a moisturizer to prevent dry skin immediately.

What to do when standard treatment does not help?
In most cases, topical treatment will certainly help ease the debilitating itch phenomenon. In other cases, when there is no benefit in the condition, steroid-containing preparations, which are very effective in treating inflammation and itching, or local steroid-containing preparations can be used.

In particularly extreme situations, light therapy known as phototherapy may be very helpful. During treatment, the patient was exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Various biological treatments currently offered to patients may also improve the condition. It should be noted that this type of treatment is not suitable in every case.

Is it fleeting?
In about 50 percent of cases, the disease will pass until age 5. In 80-90 percent, it will pass only after age 10. However, it is not uncommon to find patients who continue to suffer from dry skin even in old age.

What about complementary medicine?
Although studies supporting this type of therapy are unknown in the context of atopic dermatitis, each parent may decide on the use of products or treatments to help improve the child's condition. As a rule, as long as complementary treatment is performed alongside the standard treatment and is harmless, it can certainly be used.

In conclusion, atopic dermatitis is a very common skin disease in children. It can harm the lifestyle and pose a significant nuisance to the children. The disease causes skin dryness leading to persistent itching. The treatment of the problem is usually focused on lubricating the skin and avoiding factors that may encourage skin irritation, such as grass, sand, certain foods, or wearing non-cotton clothing. In severe cases, the symptoms can be treated through phototherapy and even by innovative biological treatments.

Prof. Haim Reuveni is a dermatologist and sex specialist in pediatrics, director of pediatric dermatology at Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva

Helped prepare the article: Michal Halperin, zap doctors reporter