What is atopic dermatitis in infants and children?
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic disorder that appears from the first few months of life. Symptoms start to appear in infants between the age of four months and one year, or in older children between the ages of six and eight. It affects two to three children in ten, and occurs more frequently in those with a family history of allergic diseases such as asthma, eczema or rhinoconjunctivitis.
What are the causes of atopic dermatitis in infants and children?
The cause of Atopic Dermatitis is a strong genetic predisposition due to familiarity.
What does atopic dermatitis on infants and children look like?
Skin lesions may be exudating (moist), eczematous (red) or xerotic (dry), and can appear simultaneously or independent from each other in different stages.
The most affected areas of the body are:
- Neck folds
- Elbow folds
- Folds of the knee
The main symptom of atopic dermatitis is intense and persistent itching. This is true whether lesions are present on the skin or not, and can lead to bacterial infection. Itching also causes possible bacterial infections.
How to treat atopic dermatitis in infants and children
Infants and children with any stage of atopic dermatitis must use specific products to soothe the condition.
Treatment
Traditional body washes are to be avoided, and so too, is water which is a key aggravator of the condition. Dry cleaning with Potassium Permanganate is therefore recommended.
With regard to skin care, it is essential to consult a dermatologist who can prescribe specific treatments depending on the current stage of the dermatitis. To alleviate the symptoms, we suggest:
Mild dermatitis with redness and itching
Apply Soothing Cream in the evening. A cream with zinc oxide and magnesium silicate with astringent and anti-itching action. It also dries out moisture.
Dermatitis with dryness and itching without redness
Apply Dermictiol Cream in the evening by massage. It is a cream containing ichthyol sulphonate, a soothing and anti-itching agent of mineral origin.
Dermatitis with moisture
Apply PEG Ointment in the evening and morning to the areas to be treated until absorbed. This ointment is able to absorb moisture and promote desquamation.
Dermatitis with intense dryness, without redness or itching
Apply Emollient Ointment Extreme in the evening by massaging in vigorously until absorbed. This product has a strong moisturising action.
Once the dermatitis has healed, i.e. when redness, itching and dryness are no longer present, we recommend for washing the face and body Eudermic Cleansing Base, a fast-rinsing, non-foaming cleanser particularly suitable for atopic subjects. and for washing the hair Dermictiol Shampoo.
Common questions on atopic dermatitis in infants and children
Should the skin be moisturized?
No. While we may think that dry skin in infants and children will improve with the use of moisturizers, the opposite is true, as applying moisturizer or emollient creams draws water to the skin and increases irritation.
Similarly, wetting the skin also increases dryness and itching, because water dissolves and eliminates the natural moisturizers present on the skin. Furthermore, moisture created through washing can cause the overdevelopment of skin bacteria in skin folds, causing inflammation.
Is exposure to the sun beneficial?
The sun’s rays – not UV lamps – can significantly reduce all forms of atopic dermatitis. Exposure to the sun, gradual and not excessive, obviously without sunscreens, is recommended for all atopic subjects.
However, it is necessary to know that if the subject is being treated with cortisone or immunosuppressants or has been treated recently, he will not benefit from the sun’s rays.
Recommended products:
Further insights
