Agonizing itching and reddened areas of skin - atopic dermatitis is a burden for children and their parents. The disease requires careful care and a feel for the needs of young patients. Neurodermatitis is also known as atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis.
Find out more about the disease here, get basic care tips for children with this condition and find selected specialists for atopic dermatitis in children.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammation of the skin that causes dry, reddened patches. Causes include genetic predisposition, stress-inducing events and environmental factors.
The severe itching is particularly distressing for children. It often disturbs their sleep at night. The bends of the elbows and hollows of the knees are typical areas where the skin undergoes permanent changes over time due to atopic dermatitis. However, the face, neck, stomach and back also often have reddened flat areas, which in the worst case can cause long-term problems due to a bacterial superinfection.
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Both the disease and the scratching lead to a coarsening of the skin relief. If the use of cortisone-containing creams is necessary over a longer period of time, the skin thins in the affected areas. This so-called skin atrophy then persists for life.
Moist bandages, application of cooled creams and ointments and regular care make life easier for children with atopic dermatitis. Anti-inflammatory therapy includes not only the cortisone-containing products already mentioned with the side effects described, but also so-called calcineurin inhibitors. These are creams that use ingredients known from transplant medicine. These are also very suitable for suppressing inflammation in acute flare-ups without causing skin atrophy.
Regular and gentle skin care helps to alleviate the symptoms. For older children, showers should be preferred to extensive bathing in order to protect the skin. Short-cut fingernails prevent additional injuries and infections to the already damaged skin.
Cotton is usually best tolerated because it absorbs sweat, which is also very irritating. It also provides the best ventilation for the frequently overheated areas. Wool, on the other hand, increases itching. Silver-coated fabrics prevent bacterial superinfection.
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In some patients, inflammation of the skin is exacerbated by certain foods such as citrus fruits. If the disease often occurs in the first two years as cradle cap with infestation not only of the hairy head but also of the face, the milk or egg allergy that is more common at this age should be examined and ruled out by a doctor.
Special atopic dermatitis courses and training sessions help with the individual management of the condition. Knowing how to alleviate the symptoms themselves not only gives parents peace of mind, but also gives young patients more self-confidence and quality of life.
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