User:Mr. Ibrahem/Atopic dermatitis
| Atopic dermatitis | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Atopic eczema, infantile eczema, prurigo Besnier, allergic eczema, neurodermatitis[1] |
 | |
| Atopic dermatitis of the inside crease of the elbow | |
| Specialty | Dermatology |
| Symptoms | Itchy, red, swollen, cracked skin[2] |
| Complications | Skin infections, hay fever, asthma[2] |
| Usual onset | Childhood[2][3] |
| Causes | Unknown[2][3] |
| Risk factors | Family history, living in a city, dry climate[2] |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms after ruling out other possible causes[2][3] |
| Differential diagnosis | Contact dermatitis, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis[3] |
| Treatment | Avoiding things that worsen the condition, daily bathing followed by moisturising cream, steroid creams for flares[3] |
| Frequency | ~20% at some time[2][4] |
Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as atopic eczema, is a long-term type of inflammation of the skin (dermatitis).[5] It results in itchy, red, swollen, and cracked skin.[2] Clear fluid may come from the affected areas, which often thickens over time.[2] While the condition may occur at any age, it typically starts in childhood, with changing severity over the years.[2][3] In children under one year of age, much of the body may be affected.[3] As children get older, the areas on the insides of the knees and elbows are most commonly affected.[3] In adults, the hands and feet are most commonly affected.[3] Scratching the affected areas worsens the symptoms, and those affected have an increased risk of skin infections.[2] Many people with atopic dermatitis develop hay fever or asthma.[2]
The cause is unknown but believed to involve genetics, immune system dysfunction, environmental exposures, and difficulties with the permeability of the skin.[2][3] If one identical twin is affected, there is an 85% chance the other also has the condition.[6] Those who live in cities and dry climates are more commonly affected.[2] Exposure to certain chemicals or frequent hand washing makes symptoms worse.[2] While emotional stress may make the symptoms worse, it is not a cause.[2] The disorder is not contagious.[2] The diagnosis is typically based on the signs and symptoms.[3] Other diseases that must be excluded before making a diagnosis include contact dermatitis, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis.[3]
Treatment involves avoiding things that make the condition worse, daily bathing with application of a moisturising cream afterwards, applying steroid creams when flares occur, and medications to help with itchiness.[3] Things that commonly make it worse include wool clothing, soaps, perfumes, chlorine, dust, and cigarette smoke.[2] Phototherapy may be useful in some people.[2] Steroid pills or creams based on calcineurin inhibitors may occasionally be used if other measures are not effective.[2][7] Antibiotics (either by mouth or topically) may be needed if a bacterial infection develops.[3] Dietary changes are only needed if food allergies are suspected.[2]
Atopic dermatitis affects about 20% of people at some point in their lives.[2][4] It is more common in younger children.[3] Males and females are equally affected.[2] Many people outgrow the condition.[3] Atopic dermatitis is sometimes called eczema, a term that also refers to a larger group of skin conditions.[2] Other names include "infantile eczema", "flexural eczema", "prurigo Besnier", "allergic eczema", and "neurodermatitis".[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Williams, Hywel C. (2000). The epidemiology of atopic dermatitis. New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 10. ISBN 9780521570756. Archived from the original on 2015-06-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Handout on Health: Atopic Dermatitis (A type of eczema)". National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. May 2013. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Tollefson MM, Bruckner AL (December 2014). "Atopic dermatitis: skin-directed management". Pediatrics. 134 (6): e1735–44. doi:10.1542/peds.2014-2812. PMID 25422009.
- ^ a b Thomsen SF (2014). "Atopic dermatitis: natural history, diagnosis, and treatment". ISRN Allergy. 2014: 354250. doi:10.1155/2014/354250. PMC 4004110. PMID 25006501.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Lim, Henry W. (2020). "409. Eczemas, photodermatoses, papulomatoses, papulosquamous (including fungal) diseases, and figurate erythema: Atopic dermatitis". In Goldman, Lee; Schafer, Andrew I. (eds.). Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Vol. 2 (26th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier. pp. 2612–2613. ISBN 978-0-323-53266-2. Archived from the original on 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
- ^ Williams, Hywel (2009). Evidence-Based Dermatology. John Wiley & Sons. p. 128. ISBN 9781444300178. Archived from the original on 2017-09-08.
- ^ Carr WW (August 2013). "Topical calcineurin inhibitors for atopic dermatitis: review and treatment recommendations". Paediatric Drugs. 15 (4): 303–10. doi:10.1007/s40272-013-0013-9. PMC 3715696. PMID 23549982.