Atopic dermatitis is a genetically transferred chronic skin condition, accompanied by severe itching and redness of the skin. The most often victims of this dermatitis are children (15-20%). However, this wide-spread condition also affects 1-2% of adults.

This condition is often referred to as eczema and atopic eczema. Even so, eczema is too broad of a term, which may refer to contact eczema, irritant eczema, allergic eczema, and so on. Atopic dermatitis, on the other hand, refers particularly to three conditions that one individual is prone to at the same time: allergies, asthma, and eczema.

Other conditions that may often accompany atopic dermatitis include: hay fever and asthma. If you are a newly-diagnosed sufferer, the presence of these related conditions will help to make a correct diagnosis.

This condition is of course not contagious – it runs in families, and is transferred only genetically. It occurs due to a specific correlation of various inherited factors (genetics) and environmental factors (e.g., weather, temperature, and various irritants). Infections and concurrent skin conditions may worsen this dermatitis.

Infants (up to 1 year old) are known to often develop atopic eczema in the form of dry, red, itchy skin. Infants often scratch their skin, and so there will also appear small scratches on the affected areas. The most often affected areas are the cheeks and body. The diaper area is generally clear due to moisture that is retained in the diapers.

Toddlers and preschool children have a thicker and a more localized atopic eczema. Since children scratch, the affected areas often start causing strong discomfort. The areas most often affected are the outer parts of the joints: the wrists, elbows, ankles, and knees. The other common location is the genital area.

With years, the rashes often become localized particularly on the bending surfaces of the joints. The effected areas generally become thick and dry due to rubbing and scratching.

School age children generally have atopic dermatitis localized on the bending surfaces of their joints, particularly on the knee and elbow bends. Other areas where the dermatitis tends to develop are: eyelids, scalp, earlobes, and neck. There also may appear itchy sores on the fingers, palms, and feet.

Atopic dermatitis is known to improve by the teen years, including totally clearing up. However, the barrier skin functions never restore completely.

Adults with eczema may have diffuse dry dermatitis. However, most often adults have localized dermatitis on the bending surfaces of their joints, nipples, hands, and eyelids (either some or all of these areas). Instead of blisters, adults generally have thick dry skin on the affected areas.

This condition often subsides with years. However, the course of the disease is impossible to predict with any certainty.

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