Introduction:
Patients with atopic eczema have itching. Instruments are available for measuring atopic eczema to control itching intensity in the patients affected with atopic eczema. Six instruments are available for itch intensity; three instruments are a peak 24-hour numeric rating scale (NRS) - itch intensity measured. These measuring methods are quick to perform and easy-to-use instruments in their clinics by selecting the best instrument that fits their needs.
What Is Atopic Dermatitis?
Atopic dermatitis is also called atopic eczema. It is the most common form of inflammatory disease that shows generalized itching, rashes, and skin dryness. A dermoscopy of dermatitis shows the distribution of dotted vessels, focal white scales, and the yellow sero crust. The yellow-colored clod sign is seen particularly on acute exudative dermatitis. Atopic skin disease most commonly occurs in wealthy countries. It specifically affects people with atopic eczema, causing clustering with hay fever, asthma, and food allergies in people. All races can be affected by atopic eczema, but only a few races are more susceptible to this disease. Most atopic dermatitis starts during infancy in up to 20 %, and about 80 % of people develop atopic eczema before six years of age. All ages can be affected by this atopic eczema. The complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors can be the main cause of atopic eczema. It occurs in infants or in children before six years of age and causes rashes, itching, and skin dryness.
What Are the Clinical Features Seen in Atopic Dermatitis?
Clinically atopic dermatitis can vary greatly and is characterized by remission and also relapse with acute flares on chronic dermatitis of the skin.
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Acute dermatitis is seen as redness on the skin (erythematous).
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Weeping or crusted (exudative).
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Blisters (vesicles or bullae).
Over some time, dermatitis may become chronic, and the skin becomes thickened and less red, and also scaly. Cracking of the skin can be seen as fissures.
What Is Infantile Atopic Dermatitis?
Shortly after the birth, atopic eczema may initially appear as infantile seborrheic dermatitis involving the scalp, armpit, and groin areas. This skin often feels rough and dry. With time, the face, especially the cheeks, and flexures, become involved. Infants cannot scratch, but they often rub the affected areas. For example, the back of the head may cause temporary hair loss. The back side of the hands gets affected due to the sucking. Dermatitis may not necessarily be confined to these sites and may be very extensive. The napkin area was typically spared due to moisture retention areas in the napkins as irritant contact with the napkin dermatitis.
What Is Toddler and School-Aged Atopic Dermatitis?
The children grow, and they develop dermatitis with crawling; mostly, dermatitis can be seen on the extensor aspects such as elbows, ankles, and knees. Distribution becomes flexural with walking, particularly that involves the antecubital area and popliteal fossae around the elbows and knee areas. Some foods can also be a cause of dermatitis around the mouth and the chin region. Chronic rubbing and scratching cause the skin to become dry and thickened, and occurring around the eye area can lead to damage to the eye. Atopic dermatitis is particularly seen in school-aged children and adolescents. They were often affected, although the barrier function of the skin was never completely normal.
What Is Adult Atopic Dermatitis?
Adult atopic dermatitis may take a variety of forms that may continue in the school-aged pattern or may become diffuse. Lichenification, nodular prurigo, and madarosis may follow the chronic rubbing causing papular and discoid patterns to develop. Atopic dermatitis may recur on the hands due to domestic and occupational work. Atopic dermatitis may also develop for the first time at the onset of adulthood. In women and some men, the involvement of the areolas and nipples may be the problematic areas. A fold of the skin under the lower eyelid caused due to chronic dermatitis seen on the eyelid.
What Are the Complications Seen in Atopic Dermatitis?
Complications of atopic dermatitis include the following topics such as,
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Complications of atopic dermatitis.
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Physiological effects were seen in atopic dermatitis.
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Contact dermatitis, occupational skin disease.
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Infection of Staphylococcus.
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Eczema herpetic, eczema.
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Eczema herpeticum, eczema coxsackie, and molluscum contagiosum.
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Erythroderma.
How Is Atopic Dermatitis Diagnosed?
This atopic dermatitis is usually diagnosed clinically, and investigations are not required. Patch testing is considered particularly if dermatitis becomes resistant to treatment. EASI (eczema area and severity index) and SCORAD (scoring atopic dermatitis) are the two types of scoring systems developed to analyze the severity of atopic eczema.
What Is the Differential Diagnosis of Atopic Dermatitis?
The list of differential diagnoses in atopic dermatitis is long. The short list of important and the common diagnosis to consider in children includes:
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Seborrhoeic dermatitis and psoriasis disease.
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Genetic disorders with scaly skin include inherited forms of ichthyosis, primary immunodeficiency diseases, and inherited metabolic disorders.
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Contact dermatitis.
What Are the Treatment Options for Atopic Dermatitis?
The treatment of atopic dermatitis includes the following:
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General Measures: Includes understanding the disease and avoiding skin irritants and foods. Food allergy testing is done if there is any concern for life-threatening allergic reactions. Physiological support is needed for both the sufferer and the carer.
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Topical Measures: Lotions, gels, foam, cream, and ointment are available in different forms used for the distribution of atopic dermatitis. Emollients and moisturizers are applied on the dry areas seen on the skin. Topical corticosteroids are also used. Wet wraps are also used for wrapping the areas of hot, red, and weepy dermatitis.
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Systemic Treatments: In systemic treatments, antihistamines, systemic steroids, and biological agents that block the specific inflammatory pathway are used.
Conclusion:
Atopic dermatitis is the worst between the ages of two and four years. Atopic dermatitis can reappear or be aggravated in adult life due to exposure to allergens or irritants that are related to caregiving, domestic or certain occupations.
