Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting children and adults that can significantly affect physical and emotional well-being, according to specialists cited in a report on the condition. Dr. Wilfredo Cosme Blanco, an allergist and immunologist for children and adults, describes skin as a wall of bricks: in people with atopic dermatitis, spaces between the components let water escape and environmental elements enter more easily, which together with an immune-system imbalance drives inflammation and itching.
Dr. Luis J. Ortiz-Espinosa, a dermatologist, says signs include itching that is not easily relieved, dry skin and rashes on areas such as the elbows and knees and elsewhere on the body. The specialists stress atopic dermatitis is mainly a skin-barrier and inflammation problem, not an allergic reaction itself, though people with it may be more prone to allergic rhinitis, asthma or food allergies.
Lesions can look pink or reddish with scaling on light skin and darker or ashen on dark skin, which can lead to underestimating severity. Heat, humidity, sweat, extreme cold, humidity changes, certain allergens, environmental pollutants and fragranced products can worsen flare-ups. Daily care includes short lukewarm baths, mild fragrance- and dye-free soaps and moisturizer applied immediately after bathing.
Treatments range from moisturizers and topical anti-inflammatories, including corticosteroids, to biologics and oral JAK inhibitors for moderate or severe cases not controlled by initial measures.