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. This is 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 and massage well. It is a cream containing ichthyol sulphonate, a soothing and anti-itching agent of mineral origin.

Dermatitis with moisture

Massage PEG Balm into the affected areas until absorbed. Apply every morning and evening. It is a balm that can absorb moisture and promote desquamation.

Dermatitis with intense dryness, without redness or itching

Apply Extreme Emollient Ointment in the evening and massage well until absorbed.

Once the dermatitis has healed and there are no residual symptoms of redness, itching or dryness, use Eudermic Cleansing Base for cleansing the face and body. Eudermic Cleansing Base is a quick-rinsing, non-foaming cleanser that is ideally suited for infants and children with atopic dermatitis. For hair washing, use 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.

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