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ATOPIC DERMATITIS (Skin Allergy)

Atopic dermatitis is a long-term skin condition. In simple term it’s itchy skin. It is more common in babies and children, but can also occurs in adults. It usually first appears between ages 3 to 6 months. The word ‘atopy’ comes from the Greek word meaning ‘without place, unusual, described by Coca and Cooke in 1923.


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Atopic dermatitis- inflammation of the skin due to allergies.

Atopic- having allergic tendencies

Non atopic-not having allergic tendencies
Age of onset- 60% develops in 2 months to 1 year of life. 30% are seen for the first time by age 5 years and 10% develops between 6 months to 20 years of age.

Slightly more common in males then females
Etiology-
Clinical factors- like Xerosis means reduced water content of skin and decreased secretion of sebum and sweat. Dry and sensitivity means loss of epidermal barrier and irritation from wool clothes, soaps etc., stress, extreme weathers
Immunological factors
Genetic link (autosomal dominant) If one parent has then chances are 20% and if both have then chances are 50%

Clinical features:
Dry skin
Itching
Red and brownish gray patches, especially on the hands, feet, ankles, writs, neck, upper chest, eyelids, inside the bend of the elbows and knees and infants face and scalp
Thickened, cracked, scaly skin
Raw, sensitive, swollen skin from scratching

Diagnosis-
Its clinical but lab tests help to rule out allergies.
Allergy testing
CBC
Serum IgE

Management-
Goal of therapy is to control inflammation, pruritus and secondary infection
There is no 100% cure
Use emollient regimes as first line of treatment
Identification of triggering factors like irritants and allergens as second line of treatment
Treatment of flares is 3rd line of treatment

Treatment points-
Avoid aggravating factors
Avoid coarse or irritating clothing
Avoid both extreme of temperatures
Use less of soap and use gentle soaps
Bath  (shorter) and emollients (apply twice daily atleast)
Topical corticosteroids (advised by your doctor)
Relief of pruritus
Treatment of secondary infection
Treatment of refractory cases

Why has the prevalence increased?
We have exposed our skin to more soaps and surfactants such as bubble baths to wash babies
Soaps and surfactants increases skin pH
Increase activity of protease
Greater breakdown of skin barrier
Increase penetration of irritants and allergens

Regardless the classification it is thought that the primary problem is the skin barrier

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