Facial Atopic Dermatitis: symptoms, causes and treatment
Facial Atopic Dermatitis, also known as Facial Atopic Eczema, is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory, skin disease. Itching is the main symptom with skin lesions ranging from mild erythema to erythroderma.
What are the main symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis?
The main symptom of facial atopic dermatitis or facial atopic eczema is definitely itching, which is intense and persistent, often present even in the absence of skin lesions. Itching also causes possible bacterial infections. Other symptoms that can manifest themselves in the process of this form of eczema are skin lesions that can be of various entities.
The most affected sites are the face around the mouth, cheeks and around the eyes with involvement of the eyelids, in this case it is defined as Eyelid Dermatitis.
At what age does Atopic Dermatitis occur?
Atopic dermatitis can affect individuals of any age, from children to adults.
Atopic dermatitis in infants and children
Infants and children are certainly the most affected. It manifests itself, mainly, around 2-4 months of age or between 6 and 8 years. The face is the part most affected in this age group.
Atopic dermatitis in adults
Although it is more common in children, atopic dermatitis also affects people in adulthood and can occur even in people over 60 years of age.
What is the difference between Eczema and Dermatitis?
There is no difference between eczema and dermatitis, they are, in fact, one and the same.
What causes Atopic Dermatitis?
The cause of Atopic Dermatitis is a strong genetic predisposition due to familiarity.
But there are many other factors:
- Change of season
- Damp environment
- Lack of exposure to the sun
- Contact with environmental dust
- Contact with animal dander
- Washing too frequently
- Physical fatigue
- Mental fatigue, emotional stress (Stress Dermatitis)
- Intercurrent illnesses, drug-use, etc.
Predisposition
People with facial atopic dermatitis are predisposed to other reactive forms such as pollinosis (atopic rhinitis) and atopic bronchial asthma. They can become sensitised to nickel. Acute adverse drug reactions may occur. They are prone to developing infectious, bacterial or viral skin diseases (herpes, warts or contagious mollusca).
What are the treatments for Facial Atopic Dermatitis?
There is no standard cure for Atopic Dermatitis or Atopic Eczema, so it is important to eliminate the concomitant factors, if possible, with preventive action. In short, to treat the dermatitis symptoms..
Treatment
Conventional washing must be strictly avoided because water is known to be the main enemy of the skin in cases of Atopic Dermatitis.
Which cream to use to soothe Atopic Dermatitis?
To alleviate the skin manifestations related to Atopic Dermatitis, we recommend specific treatments depending on the symptoms:
How long can atopic dermatitis last?
Given the many concomitant factors and the main genetic predisposition, it is extremely hard to determine the duration of the inflammation, so it is very important to eliminate, as far as possible, those behaviours that can cause the inflammation to worsen. Once the dermatitis has healed, i.e. when redness, itching and dryness are no longer present, Eudermic Cleansing Base, a fast-rinsing, non-foaming cleanser, is recommended for washing the face and body, and Dermictiol Shampoo for washing the hair.
SLIGHT REDNESS AND ITCHING
Apply Soothing Cream every evening. It is a cream with zinc oxide and magnesium silicate with astringent and anti-itching action, and is also able to absorb moisture. Ideal in frequent cases of mild reddening of the skin on the face.
DRYNESS AND ITCHING WITHOUT REDNESS
Apply Dermictiol Cream in the evening and massage well. Dermictiol Cream contains ichthyol sulfonate, an anti-inflammatory and anti-itching agent of mineral origin. Do not apply on eyelids and eye contour.
REDNESS, ITCHING, DAMPNESS AND LESIONS
Massage PEG Ointment into the affected areas until absorbed. Apply every morning and evening. It is an ointment that can absorb moisture, creating an environment favourable to the regrowth of healthy skin.
INTENSE DRYNESS WITHOUT REDNESS AND ITCHING
Apply Unguento Emolliente Estremo in the evening, massaging vigorously until fully-absorbed. This product has a strong moisturising action.
Important Tips
Should the skin be moisturized?
Absolutely not, the atopic subject has dry skin and therefore one is led to think that water or moisturizing creams improve dryness, but the exact opposite happens.
Wetting atopic skin increases dryness and also itching because water dissolves natural hydration factors, eliminating them. In the creases, the humidity created by washing causes the hyperdevelopment of skin bacteria with increased inflammation. Even applying emollient or moisturizing creams brings water to the skin and therefore causes an increase in inflammation
Is exposure to the sun beneficial?
To the sun yes, but not to UV lamps. The sun exercises an excellent reducing action on all forms of facial atopic dermatitis, also known as facial atopic eczema. 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.
