Atopic Eczema

What on earth is atopy?

In every Atopic Eczema there also exists atopy, the genetic drift to react exceptionally easily to many kinds of stimulus. Atopic diseases include atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis, allergic eye infection, food allergies and some astmas too.

Atopy and the skin

The Atopic skin is of deviant structure: the surface cell tissue on one hand lets the moisture out easily and lets many irritants into the skin on the other. The lipid structure of the skin also differs. But most of all the atopic eczema is an infectious disease. The locations of the eczema differ on age, on a young adult it oftentimes next to elbow flexures and/or hollow of the knees also annoys the face and upper body.

What makes it worse?

There are many factors that affect and cause Atopic Eczema. Atopic skin dries especially in the winter season and iches easily. The natural end effect to itch is scratching, which easily worsens the symptoms and itching, leading to a vicious circle. Excessively drying washes, rough cloth fibers, sweating etc. stimulus give pace to atopic eczema. Sometimes behind a tough atopic eczema you can find one or several allergies. Stress typically makes the symptoms worse. Atopic skin is also keen to succumb facing different bacteria, viruses, and fungal infections.

What should I do?

You can't really run away from your Atopic genes, but you can effectively treat atopic symptoms. Regular topical treatment with skin ointments and base creams is the cornerstone of the treatment. When needed, the treatment will be enforced with topical steroid ointments, with which the infection is to be lessened. Also towards the same goal one can have light treatments, mostly SUP, whom reduce the sensitivity towards ichyness and irritation. Sometimes one might need antibiotics or other oral medication. A good treatment relationship between you, doctor and the nurse reduces the incertainty concerning the difficult eczema and ensures seasonable treatment. One should exclude any possible allergies as negative factors to the eczema by tests.

Can one get by with an atopic skin?

Atopic skin often reminds us of its existence more or less constantly in the form of an itch or a dermatitis. Even so you can steer through pretty well. You can wash yourself as often it feels good for you, but a topical ointment is always a part the basic equipment of an atopic's bathroom, and is also wise to use it diligently. Even an atopic can do sports and physical exercise, although it is wise to rinse sweat off with a quick shower straightaway when the exercise is finished. Soft cotton and other delicate natural fibers are friends of an atopic skin.

Someone who's caring for their own skin daily may in some point feel lassitude over their situation, when the creams and ointments go flying into the waste basket and the skin is left on it's own. The support from those next of kin and other atopics will help in coping with the disease. The membership in the Atopic Eczema Association is a good link to fresh information and support from people who suffer alike.

Pekka Autio
dosent, dermatologist