CONDITIONS
Dermatitis
What is dermatitis?
Atopic dermatitis is a life-long skin illness that causes dry, flaky patches. Atopic dermatitis is common in young children aged six months to three years.
What causes it?
Dry and hot climates play a role in the flare-up of atopic dermatitis. Soaps and hot water may also trigger the condition. Apart from external irritants, our genetics and weak immune system can also be a factor for the development of atopic dermatitis.
How do children get it?
Children have a greater chance of developing atopic dermatitis when they have someone in the family who has had it before or they suffer from allergies.
What are the symptoms?
- Dry and flaky skin
- Itchy skin
- Thick/pale skin
- Crusty, weepy raised bumps
- Inflamed red skin
- Dark skin around the eyes
What does a diagnosis entail?
Usually, atopic dermatitis is accompanied by hay fever, asthma and other nasal allergies. Your paediatrician checks for signs of an allergic reaction and conducts additional skin and blood tests if necessary.
How do you treat dermatitis?
Treatment depends on the symptoms, age of the child and severity of dermatitis.
Treatment to ease inflammation includes:
- Moisturising cream: frequent use decreases skin reaction up to 8 x per day in severe cases
- Corticosteroid creams
- Antibiotics (in case of an infection)
- Antihistamine (relieves symptoms and improves sleeping patterns)
- Phototherapy or light therapy
- Immunomodulatory medicine (Affects the immune system and is an alternative remedy when other therapies fail to work).
What is the result?
Unfortunately, atopic dermatitis is incurable, but symptoms of an allergic skin outbreak can be minimised drastically. Avoiding irritants prevent future skin outbreaks.
What does prevention entail?
Preventing atopic dermatitis includes avoiding triggers of an allergic skin reaction. Bathing using gentle soaps and moisturising lotions prevents skin outbreaks. Encourage children to take prescribed medication and keep their fingernails short, clean and neat to prevent infection.
Takeaway
Atopic dermatitis is a severe skin reaction that causes itchy, dry and inflamed skin. Symptoms of atopic dermatitis are rough and dry skin patches that weep fluid. Treatment for atopic dermatitis includes corticosteroid creams, antibiotics or light therapy.
Disclaimer
This information is for educative purposes only and is meant to be read by parents after their child has seen their medical practitioner.
WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS?
Itching
Red or dry patches of skin
Tiny raised bumps leaking fluid
For these warning signs, seek urgent medical attention.
DO NOT DELAY CARE
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What is a paediatrician?
A paediatrician is a doctor who has specialised in medical care for children from birth to their teenage years. Paediatricians diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions in children, ranging from allergies, infections and injuries to behavioural and learning problems.