Atopic dermatitis/ Eczema is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the skin. It is not contagious, it cannot be passed from one person to another. The word “dermatitis” means inflammation of the skin. “Atopic” refers to a group of diseases in which there is often an inherited tendency to develop other allergic conditions, such as asthma and hay fever.
Bath:
- Avoid hot water bath, use warm water
- Avoid soaps
- Avoid prolonged wetting of skin, finish bath within 5 minutes and pat dry with a soft towel
- Avoid rubbing the skin with a towel
- Use moisturising cream immediately after the bath (on the moist skin )
- Moisturise at least three times a day
Clothing:
- Use loose cotton clothes and avoid wool, scratchy fabrics and light clothes
- In cold weather use many layers of clothes rather than wool
- Avoid perfumes/deodorants and cosmetics
Food:
- If any food item seems to worsen the skin condition, keep a food diary and discuss with your doctor regarding avoiding them
- Common allergens are eggs, milk, peanuts, wheat, soy, tree nuts, shellfish, and fish
- Hydrolysed formulas should not be offered to infants in preference to breast milk for the prevention of atopic eczema
- Do not use diets based on unmodified proteins of other species' milk (for example, goat's or sheep's milk) or partially hydrolysed formulas for the treatment of suspected cow's milk allergy
- Diets including soy protein can be offered to children aged over 6 months with specialist dietary advice
General instructions:
- Avoid scratching your body. If you feel like scratching apply moisturising cream and take antihistamines if needed
- Attempt to distract the child with activities to keep him or her from scratching
- Keep nails short
- Use cotton gloves if needed to stop scratching
- Use humidifiers in room especially air-conditioned rooms
- Avoid excessive sweating and exercise in hot/humid weather
- Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke
- Keep child away from dust/sand. (Avoid using sofas/carpets curtains etc. where dust accumulates) Identify and remove irritants and allergens
- Avoid pets /animals
- Recognize and limit emotional stress.
Sites of Atopic eczema according to the age.