Atopic Dermatitis in Infants: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Atopic dermatitis is an "inflammation of the skin, increasingly frequent in infants and children, due to a combination of genetic and external factors. In addition to a constitutional predisposition, it would be caused by a series of contributing causes including cold weather, synthetic clothing or of wool, dust, saliva, drugs, pollution and irritating foods.

Also called atopic or constitutional eczema, atopic dermatitis generally manifests itself with the following symptoms: dry skin, redness, with possible swelling, blisters and blisters, persistent itching.

Generally in the first months of age, the rash first appears on the cheeks, forehead and scalp, and then often spreads to the upper and lower limbs and trunk. In most cases, this disease disappears spontaneously. going through various stages, until it heals completely. However, if it appeared early and is a familiarity, atopic dermatitis can persist even in adulthood.Usually, children who are prone to this skin inflammation also have a higher chance of developing respiratory allergies.

How is it treated?

In general, to treat atopic dermatitis we act on three fronts in parallel: in addition to the treatment with drugs, we proceed with the cleansing of the baby's skin using suitable and delicate products and with the reduction of exposure to the responsible allergens.

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In addition to drugs that act on the skin, so moisturizing creams and cortisone ointments with an anti-inflammatory effect, antihistamines are also associated to reduce itching and immunomodulators, drugs capable of acting on the immune system.

Some tips to treat or prevent atopic dermatitis

Although this disease often occurs for genetic reasons, there are some small precautions that it would be good to follow to try to avoid its occurrence or to alleviate its symptoms:

  • proper cleansing with the right products, delicate and non-aggressive, is the first step to protect the baby's skin
  • Avoid using detergents with a too low pH or that are excessively foamy, because these products attack the hydrolipidic film and make the skin drier, increasing itching if there are already ongoing skin inflammations. Better to choose oily and fragrance-free cleansers, perhaps even on the recommendation of a doctor or dermatologist
  • Avoid making your baby take too long baths: a quick and lukewarm shower is preferable
  • Avoid putting the baby's skin in contact with synthetic fabrics or wool: they could have an irritating effect. Better to choose the following fabrics: cotton, linen, silk and viscose
  • be careful not to expose the baby to temperatures that are too low or excessively hot
  • Make sure you don't let your baby live in contact with dust or other irritants that could trigger skin irritation
  • Keep the feeding situation monitored, especially foods at risk that could trigger allergic reactions

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