Written by: Natalie Grigorian
Atopic dermatitis (AD), also often known as eczema, is a chronic disease that causes dryness, redness, inflammation, and irritation of the skin. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, AD is a quite prevalent condition, that affects about 30% of America’s population, with a vast majority being children and adolescents. There are seven types of eczema and each of them has at least one cause. There is no set-in-stone main cause for any of them. However, some common causes include but are not limited to genetics, environment, stress, and other skin barrier issues.
AD is most common among children, with at least 1 in 10 children having eczema, as stated by Dr. Sarah Stein, Associate Professor and Director of Pediatric Dermatology for UChicago Medicine. Some common signs of AD include red to dark brown scaly rashes which can bleed and crust when scratched, darkening of the skin beneath the eyes, extra skin creases, and thickening or hardening of the skin.
People with AD are impacted in several inconvenient ways. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases states that some examples include being particularly susceptible to bacterial, viral, and fungal skin infections, asthma, allergies, sleep loss, and so many other struggles. AD currently does not have a known cure to entirely eliminate it. Fortunately, there are several ways to decrease its impact depending on what type of AD one has, as well as its severity. Of course, the best way to approach AD is to consult with a dermatologist. A dermatologist can help construct a routine for patients with AD to deal with their issues. Dermatologists can prescribe topical medicines including corticosteroids or medical-grade moisturizers. However, this is unfortunately not possible for everyone who is impacted by AD. Not having access to a dermatologist can be an obstacle, but is certainly not the end of the road. Thankfully, as the years have gone on, people have shared home remedies that can decrease the impacts of AD. The National Eczema Association reports on some of these remedies, which include acupuncture, cryotherapy, bleach baths, and medical-grade honey. People with AD may also look for products like shampoo or face wash that have the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance to be sure that the said product does not contain ingredients that can potentially trigger AD.
Works Cited
Branch, NIAMS Science Communications and Outreach. “Atopic Dermatitis.” National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, 10 Apr. 2017, https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/atopic-dermatitis.
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) | Niaid: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 6 June 2024, https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/eczema-atopic-dermatitis.
“Eczema in Babies and Children.” HealthyChildren.Org, https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/skin/Pages/Eczema.aspx. Accessed 26 July 2024.
“What Is Eczema?” National Eczema Association, https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/. Accessed 26 July 2024.
Excellent!