All About Atopic Dermatitis

There is no doubt about it, suffering from atopic dermatitis can be irritating and maybe even a little painful, but with proper care and treatment, it can be managed and controlled. A lot of people have atopic dermatitis as it is the most common form of dermatitis, but most people do not know this rash by its formal name and often refer to it as eczema. But no matter what one calls it, this non-contagious skin condition is hereditary and it is not life threatening in any way shape or form. Most often, this condition is irritated by irritants such as allergens or food.

A good thing though is that the symptoms can decrease or even completely disappear over time as a person ages. But then again, on the flip side, the symptoms of atopic dermatitis can increase and get worse as it varies case by case. When young children face the symptoms, doctors usually diagnose atopic dermatitis correctly. But often times, in older children or adults, doctors may mistakenly think that the atopic dermatitis is psoriasis. Also, this skin condition does not just affect the skin of humans because some domesticated dogs are prone to this as well.

Preventing It From Coming Back

Anyone who suffers from atopic dermatitis will tell you that it is not fun and it can be embarrassing so they will try just about anything to stop it from coming back. While there is no cure for this skin condition, there are a few things that can be done in order to help keep the number of outbreaks down. Learning what a particular patient's trigger is can be important in controlling the situation because what may cause one person to break out in a rash may not cause a rash in someone else. Although not yet proven, a lot of people see that there are certain foods that cause the rash to appear such as nuts, milk, and wheat.

Also, a person's environment can play a big role in the outbreaks of atopic dermatitis. Dust is an allergen that people with atopic dermatitis should avoid along with smoke. Also, it has been seen that the dander from cats and dogs can trigger an outbreak of a rash. Some people even find that if they get too stressed out or angered, they will breakout in a rash. Also, extreme heat or temperature changes can cause a reaction of the atopic dermatitis. Pretty much, when trying to determine what will work for a particular person, one must sort of go through a trial and error period to see exactly what it is that causes the outbreaks in order to control them.

Atopic Dermatitis Steroid Withdrawal: Dealing With Side Effects

Steroids are commonly given to people who are suffering from dermatitis. The good thing about steroids is that they are fast acting so the swelling and the itching on the skin often subside within a short period of time. Unfortunately, like many types of drugs, steroids can have some serious side effects on the body. A lot of people suffer from atopic dermatitis steroid withdrawal when they are taken off the treatment. Atopic dermatitis steroid withdrawal can be quite debilitating especially among small children and old people. According to studies, about 10 to 12 percent of children who suffer from atopic dermatitis steroid withdrawal syndrome need to be hospitalized for several days to control their symptoms. Infants and very young children are especially susceptible to side effects.

The risk of atopic dermatitis steroid withdrawal is often exacerbated by many factors. Some of the factors that increase the risk of atopic dermatitis steroid withdrawal are potency of the steroid applied topically to the skin or taken in the form of oral medication, the amount of steroid used and the area of the skin where the steroid is topically applied. Studies show that steroids penetrate the skin faster when they are topically applied on the groin area and on the face. People who are suffering from dermatitis on the face and in their groin area should be very careful about using steroids to treat their skin if they are to avoid atopic dermatitis steroid withdrawal syndrome.

Alternative Treatment

The best way to avoid atopic dermatitis steroid withdrawal syndrome is to avoid using steroids as much as possible. Steroids should only be used to treat severe dermatitis. People should try to find alternative ways of treating dermatitis. There are plenty of ways to treat certain types of dermatitis. Some of these forms of treatments are very effective especially during the early stages of dermatitis.

Aside from seeking alternative treatment for dermatitis, a good diet can help fight skin diseases. Eating the right kind of food is very important to avoid skin inflammation and infections. Fresh fruits and vegetables can help build up the body's immune system. A strong and healthy immune system is very important to ward off diseases.

A person who is suffering from this type of disease should avoid food that may cause allergies and skin inflammation. Some of the foods that can cause allergies are eggs, seafood, fish, milk, chocolate and some types of fruits and nuts. To know more about alternative treatment for certain types of dermatitis, consult your doctor.