The atopic dermatite/The atopic dermatite of the child

The atopic dermatite/The atopic dermatite of the child
The atopic dermatite is a frequent disease since it touches approximately 15% of the infants and the young children. It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin which will improve spontaneously towards the age of 5-6 years. It must be regarded as the cutaneous slope of the atopic disease which also gathers asthma, the rhinitis and the allergic conjunctivitis.

The atopic dermatite is partly dependant on a surface anomaly of the skin (lack of céramides) which is with L `origin of its dryness and its great vulnerability with respect to the environment. Chronologically, the atopic dermatite is the first demonstration of entry in the atopic disease, because the first demonstrations appear classically during the first 3 months of life. Clinically, eczema atopic appears, on a bottom of very dry skin, by inflammatory pushes describing of the red plates evil delimited. Eczema classically affects the cheeks, the thighs, the arms and the abdomen of the infant. At a higher stage, the plates become vesiculate even croûteuses. Itchings are intense. Eczema atopic evolves/moves thus by thorough generally rythmées by the dental pushes and the infections rhino-pharyngées in the infant.

To the wire of the months, the plates of eczema will leave the “rebounded” parts of the body to locate itself on the level of the folds, that it is on the level of the folds of the elbows, of the legs or derrières the ears, this last localization being very completely characteristic of the atopic dermatite. Thus towards the age of 3-4 years, eczema will preferentially affect the folds, but also the hands and the face around the mouth and the level of the eyelids. The dryness of the skin remains constant. Towards the age of the 5-6 years, the great pushes of eczema will have disappeared, but the child will generally keep a very dry skin.

To hydrate the skin above all

The treatment of the atopic dermatite is a long-term treatment because the disease develops by pushes. The anomaly on the level of the surface layers of the skin makes essential the cutaneous hydration and this in way often pluriquotidienne. The natural sensitivity of the atopic skins requires the use of adapted products of hygiene not detergents and without soap. The wearing of cotton clothing is advised because little irritating and it is also recommended not to cover these children too much, because perspiration has a harmful effect on their skin.

These simple measurements of prevention make it possible not to worsen the inflammatory pushes which seem nevertheless inescapable and which will have to be suppressed by local anti-inflammatory drugs treatments. The use in this case of corticoids by local way remains the treatment of reference. Used in a judicious way, they render great services and make it possible to spend one difficult inflammatory period and to avoid a possible bacterial superinfection (with generally gilded staphilococca).