Hand atopic dermatitis is very common, both – in children and adults. Hands of any human are exposed to various irritants (e.g., metal, water, detergents, grass, etc.) much more than any other part of the body. Not only adults have atopic eczema on their hands, children also often develop itchy blisters on their fingers and palms.

The hands’ involvement often presents unpleasant and social challenges to people with atopic dermatitis. The foremost advice for the sufferer with arm atopic dermatitis is: try to stay away from any skin irritants, whenever you can.

In order to protect your hands, you need to wear gloves. If you have an allergy to latex, or if your skin gets worse when your hands sweat, you need to wear special thin cotton gloves underneath larger spacey rubber gloves.

What particular allergens may provoke hand atopic dermatitis? There are some common allergens that include: water, detergents, animal hair, wool, dust mites, insect stings, mold spores, latex, metal, and grass.

Moreover, some food allergens may also be responsible for your hand atopic dermatitis, or its frequent aggravations, and you might not even know it. The best way to find out the particular allergens that may be causing your dermatitis to regularly get worse, or to constantly itch, is by taking a skin test and/or blood test.

A skin test will help you to determine if there is any allergen antibodies present in your skin. A skin test is very specific and an easy to use method for determining particular allergens. This test is also often referred to as “prick test” and “puncture test”. Within this test, tiny amounts of a particular allergen (peanut extract, pollen, mite proteins, grass, etc.) are introduced (injected) under the skin (the forearms or the back), one by one. Each of the injections is marked on the skin, to be able to distinguish which one it was. Next, the doctor waits for about half an hour for any visible response of the skin. If there is a response, such as an inflammation, then you know that you have an allergy to that particular allergen.

A blood test is another way to check if you are susceptible to any allergen. In this case, a doctor performs tests on the blood of the patient to determine whether there are any specific antibodies in the blood.

In order to improve the condition of your hand atopic dermatitis, try to find out the allergens that are causing your dermatitis to get worse, and avoid them the best you can.

Face atopic dermatitis is a very common atopic dermatitis location, especially for infants. Atopic dermatitis in infants is often referred to as infantile eczema, and the most common locations of such rashes are the scalp and face (particularly the cheeks). This condition generally improves as the years go by. However, many adults also retain atopic eczema on their face, and the most common face atopic dermatitis locations for adults are: eyelids, around the eyes, and earlobes.

Atopic dermatitis on the face may often be confused with other skin conditions, such as: seborrheic dermatitis (dry and scaly rashes in babies, which causes cradle cap and/or oozing lesions on the face, head and in the deep skin folds – not linked to allergies), allergic contact dermatitis (an allergy to irritants, including jewelry, fragrances, etc), and others. Seborrheic dermatitis on the face looks different than face atopic dermatitis, as it consists of oily yellowish patches on the face, ears, scalp, and other skin areas.

What treatments are good for atopic dermatitis on the face? Mild topical steroids (e.g., OTC 1% Hydrocortisone cream) are considered to be a good treatment option for the areas with thin skin, such as face, genitalia, armpits, etc. It’s prudent not to use potent steroids on these areas of skin because thin skin well absorbs and responds well to even the least potent treatment.

If large areas of the face are covered with dermatitis, a doctor may also prescribe oral steroids (prednisone). However, the use of oral steroids also has potential side-effects, which include: thinning of the bones, weight gain, and immune system suppression. Even though oral steroids generally help to treat rashes very well, the dangerous side-effects make this type of treatment only good after less dangerous methods were tried. The course of oral steroid treatment is generally very short, such as 5 days. After that topical steroids can be used to maintain the achieved effects.

Another popular treatment which does not have the side-effects of topical steroid creams is Protopic. Protopic is a medicine that was approved by the FDA for the treatment of people older than 2 years of age. Since Protopic does not cause thinning of the skin and other side-effects typical of topical corticosteroids, it’s a good treatment choice for face atopic dermatitis.

Since the skin on the face (and especially on the eyelids) is the thinnest skin on the body, it’s prudent to use very low-potency medicines on these areas, which most likely will work just fine. However, if mild treatments are not working for you, you should first turn to your doctor for advice in order to avert the dangers of the more potent treatment choices.

Eczema atopic dermatitis is a chronic disorder, caused by hyperactive T cells of the immune system and an impaired skin barrier function. This condition is also known as eczema and atopic eczema.

The easiest way to try to explain what atopic dermatitis is is by comparing it to an allergy. In fact, eczema atopic dermatitis is often accompanied by various allergies, including asthma and hey-fever.

Food allergy is known to aggravate eczema in 35% of children. Adults, on the contrary, are not that prone to food allergies, but they are very susceptible to allergies provoked by dust, dust mites, and animal hair. In fact, allergies are found in 75% of patients, contributing to this dermatitis, among many other factors.

Atopic dermatitis looks different in different people, depending on their age, ethnicity, and many other factors. Some sufferers may go into a complete remission, while others may experience frequent flare ups with red skin, blisters, and oozing. If there is no flare up, their skin may look normal, or it may look thick and dry. Even the people who are in remission (complete improvement and disappearance of the visual manifestations of this disease) often have a dry skin that can be easily irritated.

Dry skin, harsh soaps, detergents, seasonal allergies, cold weather, and other factors are known to be able to bring out the skin manifestations again.

The first and foremost essential step to undertake is keeping your skin constantly moisturized. In fact, you might already know that infants rarely develop atopic dermatitis on their diaper area, since their skin in that area is constantly moisturized by the vapor accumulated in their diapers.

This dermatitis has many alternative names, including eczema and atopic dermatitis. However, eczema is a very general term that may refer to any type of skin inflammation and allergic rashes. Various types of eczema include: allergic, irritant, contact and nummular (coin-like) eczema. Atopic dermatitis generally is a more specific term to refer to three conditions that are hand-in-hand: allergies, asthma, and eczema (these components are not always present simultaneously, but the patient is prone to all three of these conditions).

Furthermore, the word dermatitis might also not be the best name for eczema atopic dermatitis, and most likely this name will change in the future. The word dermatitis means “inflammation of the skin”. However, atopic eczema is far from being just a skin inflammation. This skin inflammation is mediated by the genetically transmitted immune system alterations, paired with an altered skin structure. It’s probably better to call this disorder genetic immune dermatitis.

Stop atopic dermatitis itching – what can be done in order to stop the horrible itching that accompanies atopic dermatitis? In fact, there are quite a few methods that may help you to alleviate the itching. However, as with everything that has to do with this condition, it’s very individualized. You may hear other people swear that something helps them with their itching, and trying this method will only disappoint you due to the absence of the awaited result. It’s important though that you do not give up, and simply try every reasonable method, one after another.

Here are a few things that you may want to try (in case you did not try them yet):

Special Bedclothes

There are some special bedclothes currently on the market (including linens, pillowcases, etc.) that are made specifically for people with atopic dermatitis. These bedclothes are created especially to help to stop atopic dermatitis itching and inflammation.

These bedclothes are generally made of 100% cotton; they imitate many qualities of silk, and are often treated against bacteria, insuring that you will be provided with the best and the healthiest sleep.

Emollients

Emollients are the most common and the safest way to soothe the itching. You should try to use a moisturizer as often as you can. You can even take the container of cream to work, or anywhere else you go, and just apply it on the affected areas in the bathroom. It’s also very important to use an emollient after each shower and bath.

Oral Antihistamines

Oral antihistamines are yet another option to stop atopic dermatitis itching. Antihistamines help to decrease histamine, thus helping to eliminate the itching. Older antihistamine medicines used to have one very unpleasant side-effect – they made you feel sedated, and thus you could generally only take them at the bed time. Be sure to consult with a doctor if you want to use antihistamines on a child.

Steroid Creams

Topical steroids of varying strength are another common option for reducing the itch. You should note, however, that corticosteroids have some irreversible side-effects, including permanent skin thinning and stretch marks. Thus, it’s prudent to alternate between a topical steroid cream and another non-steroidal medicine. Be sure to consult with a doctor if you want to use steroids on a child.

Other treatments to stop atopic dermatitis itching include Protopic and Elidel. Additionally, antifungal methods may also help you if you have an associated fungal infection in the affected areas of the skin. It’s important that you consult with your doctor and try each method for yourself in order to find out if it will help you.

Atopic dermatitis diet may help you to improve your condition. It’s a fact that people with atopic dermatitis are often prone to food allergies, and food allergies worsen the course of their dermatitis. Furthermore, it’s important that a person with atopic eczema receives proper nutrition in order to better control their condition.

Many people report increased itching and redness after consuming the foodstuffs which they are allergic to (according to skin test results). The problem here is that a flare up does not always start immediately. There often is a latent period within which nothing happens, and the response happens much later. The response may be delayed for up to a few days. It’s hard to say anything about this matter for sure, since there are other triggers that may be responsible for a flare up, and not the food.

Food related allergies may not just affect the skin, but also the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.

The most common food allergens are: eggs, milk, seafood, peanuts, wheat, and soy. An atopic dermatitis diet (i.e., avoiding the wrong foods) often helps to improve the condition of the dermatitis.

It’s also important to note that the most often victims of such a food related reaction are children (10-20%). As years go by, people generally become less sensitive to such food related aggravations, and only about 10% of adults are estimated to experience the worsening of their atopic eczema due to food allergies.

However, it’s still a good idea to try to restrict the suspected foods. For example, you may stop the suspected foods altogether, and then introduce them one by one, and test each one of them for 1-2 weeks. If you cannot restrict all these foods at the same time, try doing the opposite: eliminate each one of them for 1-2 weeks and see if your condition gets better within that time.

It’s important to remember that if you stop eating all of these foods for a long period of time, you may not be receiving proper nutrition, which is also not good. This is especially important if it’s a child with atopic dermatitis, since children need proper nutrition in order to develop properly.

Are there any foods that you might want to add to your diet in order to improve your condition? Yes, there are such foods. These are the sources of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA – omega-6 fatty acid). The best sources of this acid are Evening Primrose oil and Borage oil. Deficiency of this essential fatty acid may have a very bad impact on atopic dermatitis, and restoring this acid, on the contrary, often leads to improvement (as suggested by some studies).

You may want to try an atopic dermatitis diet, and see for yourself if eliminating some foods and adding others will help your condition.

Atopic dermatitis and the sun – does the sun help, or does it make this condition worse? The fact is that the sun helps many skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and many others. Natural sunlight (as well as UVB lamps) has ultraviolet B rays in it. These rays are very beneficial to the people with atopic dermatitis, either if the rays originate from the sun or from a UVB lamp.

An important note here is that people with this atopic condition may be more prone to sunburns, especially if you are using Elidel, Protopic, or hormonal steroids. If you use these medications, it does not mean that you cannot reap the benefits of the ultraviolet B light; it simply means that you should be more cautious.

Atopic dermatitis and the sun – how does the sun help? The UVB light helps the skin to start producing vitamin D, which increases a special skin protein – Cathelicidin, in the skin of the atopic dermatitis patients. This protein is known to be able to protect the skin from bacteria, viruses and fungi. People with atopic eczema are known to have less of this vital protein in their skin. Lesser protection often results in the accumulation of bacteria, fungi and viruses on the skin, worsening the overall course of atopic dermatitis.

There also are oral supplements that help to increase the production of Cathelicidin protein in the skin. However, it’s better to check with your doctor, and it’s probably better to go with natural sun and UVB lamps than with oral vitamin D supplements.

Furthermore, note that UVB tanning beds are very different than the regular tanning salons which use UVA rays in their lamps. UVA is the ray that makes our skin become brown, but it does not do much for the vitamin D production by the body.

Moreover, you should be especially careful if the patient is a child. If you are looking into trying UVB treatments (whether natural sunlight or special medical UVB tanning beds) for a child, you need to first consult with your doctor. It’s important that the doctor approves your choice, as well as recommends an appropriate amount of time for the treatment, etc.

Further, note that if you are going to try the treatment with the ultraviolet B, you will need to stick to the prescribed regimen and keep clear from other sources in order to avoid overexposure. For example, if it’s a lamp with the UVB light, you will have to avoid the sun (wear protective clothing, use sunscreens, etc.), and vice versa.

Atopic dermatitis and the sun – the interrelation between the two is very positive, however, be cautious and do consult with your doctor before starting any UVB treatment.

Atopic eczema/dermatitis is a chronic immune skin condition that affects about 15-20% of children and 1-2% of adults around the globe. This dermatitis looks different on the skin of different people, and often depends on the age and the ethnicity of a particular individual. However, the common pattern of this dermatitis includes the following characteristics: pinkish or red itchy patches of varying thicknesses. The rashes may be located on the following areas of the body: bending surfaces of the joints, face, eyelids, ear lobes, scalp, arms and hands, feet and legs.

Atopic eczema/dermatitis most commonly appears in early childhood. The patches are generally dry, and they may also be pinkish, inflamed, and oozy. At an early age atopic eczema often affects large diffuse body surfaces, and generally spares the areas which retain moisture, such as deep skin folds and the diaper area. With age dermatitis becomes more and more localized, and generally covers the inside of the bending surfaces of the joints.

This dermatitis is very often associated with various allergies, the most common of which are hey fever and asthma. In many cases, this dermatitis runs in close relatives.

People with eczema are genetically predisposed to have impaired barrier function of the skin, as well as hyperactive T cells of the immune system. Thus, people with this dermatitis may become very susceptible in developing various allergies, which may be triggered by water, detergents, certain foods, and more. For instance, atopic eczema gets easily aggravated by soaps, and weather extremes (too cold, too hot, too dry, too humid, etc.). Since the barrier properties of the skin are impaired, the skin is prone to letting various bacteria in. Another frequent trigger of this dermatitis is emotional stress.

Atopic eczema often contributes to the development of contact dermatitis, especially if your lifestyle (domestic duties) and/or occupation (e.g., hairdressing, cleaning, farming, etc.) have to do with being exposed to various detergents, solvents, or merely water. If you know or suspect what could be the trigger of your atopic eczema/dermatitis, you should do your best to avoid those irritants.

Atopic dermatitis treatments generally aim at suppressing itch and inflammation. For instance, regular application of moisturizers is the best way to soothe the itch and alleviate inflammation. Another common treatment for this condition are topical corticosteroids, such as: Hydrocortisone (weak), Betnovate (potent), and Dermovate (super potent). Protopic and Elidel are another good treatment option, and it’s especially important that these creams are non-steroidal creams, and they do not have the side effects of the topical steroids (permanent stretch marks, skin thinning, etc). If there is any concurring infection in the affected areas, it requires treatment with antibiotics.

Atopic dermatitis children are the most commonly affected age group of all. 15-20% of children develop atopic dermatitis. If it’s an infant with atopic eczema, this condition may often resolve completely by the age of 2. If it’s a preschool or a school age child, this condition will also often resolve by the teens. In fact, only 1-2% of adults have atopic dermatitis.

Infantile atopic dermatitis often diffusely covers extensive areas of the body. Once a child learns to crawl, atopic dermatitis starts to localize on the areas that receive friction. Once the child learns to walk, the dermatitis starts to localize on the inner sides of the joint bends, as well as the face and the neck.

What treatments can be used for atopic dermatitis children? The foremost and the safest option are constantly moisturizing the skin of the child, especially after the child takes a shower or a bath.

If it’s a small child, you may also want to place cotton mittens on the hands of the child at bedtime, in order to avoid scratches.

Another good option to look into is special medical anti-bacterial treated bedclothes. These items are often made of 100% cotton, and they imitate silk properties, providing your child with a better sleep, and helping to eliminate the irritating friction between the skin of the child and the fabric.

There are some dietary recommendations that may also help you to improve the state of atopic dermatitis in a child. Most common food products that may cause a swelling and an aggravation of an itch in a child include: eggs, milk, soy products, wheat, and peanuts. In order not to cause any nutritional problems, you may want to try eliminating each of these products for a week or two, and see if the elimination of any of these products improves the condition of the dermatitis.

There also are some foods that may be worth adding to the child’s diet, which are the food sources of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA – an omega-6 fatty acid). The foods richest in this acid are Evening Primrose oil and Borage oil. However, you need to consult with a doctor prior to making any sufficient alterations to the child’s diet, in order to avoid any nutritional problems and any other possible health issues.

Prescription medications that may be used for the treatment of the atopic dermatitis children older than 2 years of age include: low-potency topical steroids (e.g., 1% Hydrocortisone cream), and Calcineurin inhibitors (Elidel and Protopic). However, you need to talk to a doctor prior to starting any medicated treatment on a child.

Leg atopic dermatitis is most common in infants, but it’s also often present in older children and adults. There are different types of atopic dermatitis on the legs, depending on age, occupation, and various other factors.

For instance, infants often develop diffuse dermatitis on their legs and knees, while preschool and school age children have their leg atopic dermatitis localized only on their legs, and sometimes feet.

Adults, such as people who work as farmers, may often develop contact dermatitis on their legs due to various allergens, including animal fur and grass. Another common type of leg atopic dermatitis is stasis eczema, which affects the lower legs, and is often related to varicose veins and other circulatory problems. This type of dermatitis may look brownish or reddish. Adults may also develop nummular (coin-like) atopic eczema on their lower legs, which often look like rounded patches that have crusts, scaling, and are extremely itchy. And yet another type of dermatitis that often affects the legs (feet in particular) is dyshidrotic eczema, which generally involves the hands and palms, but may also involve the feet and soles. This type of dermatitis is characterized by irritated skin and deep clear blisters that burn and itch.

What treatments can you use for atopic dermatitis on the legs and the soles? The problem is that the skin in these areas is very thick, which may render useless common atopic dermatitis treatments (Protopic and Elidel), since they work best on the thin areas of the skin. The same is true for the mild and medium topical steroids. However, more potent topical steroids are known to be very helpful for the people with various rashes on their legs, feet and soles.

Other common suggestions include: regular skin moisturizing, special anti-bacterial treated bed clothes, and trying to avoid any suspected skin allergens.

If it’s a very severe case of leg dermatitis, you may need a course of oral steroid treatment. Generally, it’s a 5-7 day course that will help to stop the persistent inflammatory cycle. Oral topical steroids are known to have dangerous side-effects (skin thinning, stretch marks, fragile skin, sleep disturbance, etc.), but they are also known to be very helpful and quite safe for short treatment courses.

Leg atopic dermatitis is a very bothersome, painful and itchy condition. However, proper self care, avoiding irritants and allergens, and proper treatments can really help to make the life of the sufferer better.

Atopic dermatitis recommended foods include Borage oil, Evening Primrose oil, and other food sources of the omega-6 fatty acid (Gamma Linolenic Acid, GLA). Omega-6 essential fatty acids and omega-3 essential fatty acids are two fats which the majority of the population does not get enough of in their diets.

Even though you need to try to increase the amounts of the omega-6 fatty acid in your diet, you need to also pair it with the omega-3 fatty acid, since if there is too much of the former and not enough of the latter, your body may still not be well balanced for decreasing the inflammatory skin processes.

There are many special food supplements that contain the proper amounts of both acids, and you may want to incorporate such a supplement into your diet.

Furthermore, omega 6 fatty acid is also known to be beneficial for the people with atopic dermatitis with its topical application. Topical application of any omega 6 acid source, such as borage oil or evening primrose oil may help you: to maintain the trans-epidermal barrier, to help the skin to stay moisturized, and to accelerate the healing of the affected skin areas.

Other atopic dermatitis recommended foods include: lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and other live micro-organisms that may help to restore the microbial balance in the intestines. These live micro-organisms (probiotics) also help to inhibit pathogens and toxins in the intestines, thus helping to alleviate various intestinal inflammatory conditions and atopic diseases.

Probiotics often come as special fortified foods and special dairy products. Moreover, they are available in the form of capsules, tablets, and powders containing freeze-dried probiotic bacteria. The most popular brands and producers include: Actimel/DanActive by Danone, GanedenBC30 by Ganeden Biotech, Align by Procter & Gamble, Lactobacillus fortis by Nestlé, Vifit by Valio, and others.

Not only are there atopic dermatitis recommended foods, but there also are many food products that are not recommended for a person with atopic dermatitis. However, it’s hard to say for sure which food allergy may be worsening the state of your condition.

One of the best ways to test whether you are allergic to any particular food is by undergoing a skin test. A skin test is when a doctor administers minuscule amounts of the most common allergens under your skin and tracks the skins reaction. Another good way to see whether any food may be worsening your condition is by eliminating the suspected food product for 1-2 weeks and tracking the reaction.