By: Maayan S. Heller for Wounds1Babies with certain types of rashes appearing at 18 months old or younger may be more likely to develop a common and chronic skin condition.
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Easing the Discomfort of Atopic Dermatitis
Common medications prescribed for AD include:
Topical corticosteroids, like hydrocortisone, betamethasone and fluticasone propionate, are the most commonly used and most effective treatment.
Antihistamines, like diphenhydramine and hydroxyzine, are also frequently used to treat AD itch and to help with sleep when night itching is a problem.
Oral corticosteroids, like prednisone and prednisolone, are used in sever cases when the rash is covering extensive areas, or when there are complications.
In adults, sometimes cyclosporine or interferon are used if other treatment isn’t successful.
Some home treatments that have had success include:
Avoiding dry skin. AD is associated with very sensitive skin, so it’s important to maintain good skin care. Bathe in warm water for just three to five minutes.Use only nondrying soaps. Avoid shower gels or bath oils. Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing.
Avoid perfumes that can irritate a rash or even bring one on.
Watch the fabrics in your clothes, sheets and towels.
Avoid certain allergens that can exacerbate or cause a rash. These can include dust mites, pet dander or specific foods. Your doctor can tell you if your (or your child’s) AD is influenced by these or other allergens.
Control scratching! Keep your (or your child’s) nails short and filed smooth. In some cases, covering the affected area with bandages might help keep hands away.
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A study completed by researchers in Copenhagen, Denmark, and published in the Archives of Dermatology, showed that when specific conditions were consistent, babies who developed rashes on their arms and joints were more likely to develop atopic dermatitis by the time they were three years old.Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common form of eczema, a chronic skin disorder in which the skin of the hands, scalp, face, back of the neck and skin creases of the elbows and knees are irritated or inflamed. The rash is very itchy and can be extensive, or restricted to a few smaller areas. It usually causes deep itching followed by a red, raised rash, but in more severe cases the rash can develop clear blisters.
Atopic diseases are usually genetically inherited and research has found that an infant with one parent who has had AD has a 60 percent chance of getting it; if both parents have a history of AD, the child has an 80 percent chance of developing it. Atopic diseases have also been linked to allergy-related conditions, like asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever), so if family members have certain allergies, a child will be more likely to develop AD.
In the new study, 356 Caucasian babies in Copenhagen, whose mothers had a history of asthma, were examined. In nearly half, AD was diagnosed by the time they turned three.
The study specifically correlated arm and joint rashes in young babies with a likelihood of developing AD. Other rashes, like infants’ diaper rash and cheek irritations, could not be linked to a predisposition to AD. While the study report said that almost 80 percent of the kids with AD had experienced itchy rashes on their cheeks, it also shows that 40 percent of the kids who were not diagnosed also had such rashes.
“While the cheeks were the most commonly involved region in children who later developed AD… skin lesions on the cheek are not specific for atopic dermatitis,” the researchers wrote.
The researchers wrote that, “these observations may be useful for early prediction of AD,” but it is important to note that this was only a first study; more research needs to be done. Furthermore, the babies included in the study may have been at a higher risk level for developing AD as a result of their mothers’ history with the condition and with asthma.
AD is a very common condition all over the world. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it affects about 10 percent of infants and 3 percent of the total population in the U.S.
AD is most common in young people, from infants to young adults, but it can occur at any age. The American Academy of Dermatology’s Web site notes that though the condition often improves with adolescence, many people can be affected throughout their lives, only not to the same severe degree as in early childhood.
There isn’t a cure for AD, but it can be controlled with preventive measures and certain medications. Identifying – or predicting – AD might possibly help in improving these options for those suffering from this common skin affliction.
