Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, hereditary disease. Its course is influenced by environmental pollution, food allergens and stress. Learn what to do to keep your atopic skin in good condition - also in fall and winter, when the disease usually gets worse.

After a few months of calm yourskinstarting to get in trouble? It becomes red, dry, itchy? Do you see any characteristic changes on your face, ear lobes, neck, elbows and under the knees? It makes itself felt againatopic dermatitis- a disease that returns like a boomerang justin autumn .

Why does atopic dermatitis exacerbate in autumn and winter?

Cold seasons do not benefit people with AD for many reasons. School and studies begin in the fall, one gets into the whirlwind of work and the stress that comes with it. As stated on the basis of many years of research - stressful situations worsen the condition of patients. In addition, at this time of the year we spend more time in closed, heated rooms - the air is therefore dry, which causes a significant dryness of the skin, which causes persistent itching. In addition, house dust mite allergens accumulate in the corners of the apartment, carpets, heavy curtains or upholstered furniture, which aggravate skin lesions. When you are not ventilating the apartment, they float in the air with the allergens of mold fungi. The latter are found, for example, in home-dried clothes, as well as in potted plants. In the autumn and winter period, we dress warmer and warmer, sometimes overheating the body, and sweating in allergy sufferers intensifies the itching of the skin. They also do not like "acrid" woolen clothes. Moreover, already in February, the period of pollination of trees (hazel, alder) begins, which may exacerbate the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

Where does atopic dermatitis come from?

Atopic dermatitis is a genetically determined allergic disease - it results from complex disorders of the immune system (including overproduction of immunoglobulin E, responsible for allergic reactions) and the nervous system, and above all, from the specific features of atopic skin (e.g. dryness, tendency to follicular keratosis, itching). If both parents are allergic, then the risk of AD in their child is 70%.

Important

When does the disease manifest itself?

The hereditary conditions of AD are also influenced by environmental factors - climate, environmental pollution, food allergens (e.g. eggs) and airborne allergens (e.g. mites, pollen, animal hair) and stress. They are responsible for the emergence of the disease and its subsequent relapses. Atopic dermatitis may appear around 3-6. month of life. It sometimes disappears after a few years, sometimes turns into a different type of allergy, e.g. food allergy (the so-called allergy march), but it also happens that it lasts a lifetime - alternating with periods of sleep and intensification of symptoms.

Take care of your skin with AZS

Only careful care and avoiding irritants improve the condition of the skin. So it's worth remembering a few important rules.

  • Buy preparations for people with atopy in pharmacies. Always choose only those that are intended for atopic skin (not, for example, hypoallergenic) - they were tested on a group of people suffering from allergies and did not cause irritation. There are many series of dermocosmetics available, incl. Atopra (Blau Farma), Atopin (Polfarmex), Emolium (Nepentes), Oilatum (Stiefel), Avène (Pierre Fabre), Lipikar (La Roche-Posay), Topialyse Sensitive (SVR). These products moisturize and lubricate the skin, soothe itching, and reduce roughness and redness. Use them at least twice a day.
  • When you come home cold, you dream about a hot bath. But do not do it, because long soaking in the bathtub dries out the skin and exacerbates the lesions. Take a short shower (but only once a day) and make sure the water is not too warm. After taking a shower, gently dry your skin (do not rub with a towel) and use a moisturizing preparation. Once it has absorbed, you can get dressed.
  • When you feel severe itching, use a moisturizing cream intended for atopic skin (you may feel stinging and stinging, because the irritated skin swells a bit under the influence of the cosmetic) or apply a cold compress, then the itching will ease. You can also take an over-the-counter antiallergic agent.
  • In order not to overheat the body, put on "onion". Wear smooth cotton clothes that do not store heat. Forget about woolen hats, scarves, sweaters or socks, because they hurt sensitive skin and aggravate itching.
  • Make sure that there are as few dust mites in the apartment as possible - change bedding every week, only wet cleaning. Air the apartment - preferably twice a day for about 20 minutes. It would be good if you left the house during this time. Airing is important because mites no longer reproduce at temperatures below 15 ° C. These tiny arachnids like moisture and warmth, so take care of the goodventilation in the house and temperature (especially in bedrooms) within 20 ° C. Do not use an air humidifier (mold and algae accumulate in it), but get an air purifier or ionizer - both devices clean the air, e.g. from dust and fungal spores.
  • For cold nights, you will need a special duvet as well as bedding and pillowcases for people with allergies. They allow air and sweat to pass through, trapping mites and mite faeces.
  • Eat sea fish (e.g. herring, halibut), pumpkin and sunflower seeds, evening primrose oil and olive oil because they contain unsaturated fatty acids that help to moisturize the skin from the inside.
  • Learn to relieve stress - you can, for example, practice dynamic sports (e.g. jogging, aerobics), learn relaxation techniques, pursue your hobby or go to the cinema. It all depends on your temperament.
  • If skin lesions exacerbate, seek help from a dermatologist. For the dermocosmetics you use, your doctor will select topical medicinal preparations, e.g. steroid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments, or with the addition of antibiotics or antifungal drugs. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, he or she will order general treatment, e.g. antihistamines, antibiotics or antifungal medications. In severe AD, it may be necessary to use cyclosporin A or steroids. In the moderate form, photochemotherapy (PUVA method) or irradiation with UVB 311 nm radiation is also possible.

Atopic dermatitis in children - diagnosis and treatment

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a lifelong disease. It most often occurs in newborns or between 6 and 7 years of age … Diagnostics is quite complex, especially for the smallest children. How is atopic dermatitis diagnosed? Is There An Effective Cure For Atopic Dermatitis? Listen to our expert - pediatrician Andrzej Mierzecki from the ENEL MED clinic.

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Category:

Dermatology