Atopic dermatitis in children
A common skin disease in children is atopic dermatitis. This disease is chronic and depends on hereditary factors. It is also popularly called diathesis.
Contents
Causes of atopic dermatitis
The main cause of atopic dermatitis in children is allergic reaction for products. 
The disease can also develop when allergens are inhaled. In this case, the source is apartment dust, aerosol air fresheners, wool or insecticides. With more frequent contact with allergy triggers, the skin becomes less protected and is more easily irritated.
Redness and peeling can occur when the skin comes into contact with washing powders, which leave their mark on washed items. The reaction can also be to soap or a certain type of fabric.
Since irritated skin excites and worries the baby, he begins to scratch it. This can cause infections to get on it, and then inflammation occurs not only of an allergic nature, but also of a bacterial nature.
Symptoms of atopic dermatitis
The first signs of atopic dermatitis in a child may be diaper rash. Then redness appears in the buttocks and in the folds of the skin. The areas of the armpits and behind the ears also often turn red. The skin on the cheeks begins to peel and become rough. 
Another sign is the appearance of a milky crust on the surface of the head and eyebrows. Once irritation appears on the face, it spreads down the body.
Most often, such signs can be observed in children 2-3 months of age. By the end of 1 year, the disease may intensify. But the disease can also affect older children up to 4 years of age.
Stages of atopic dermatitis
There are 3 stages of atopic dermatitis depending on the age interval:
- In infancy. Development occurs from 3 to 5 months. A feature of dermatitis in infants is the presence of weeping sores, which are subsequently covered with crusts. This process is also accompanied by pimples and blisters. The disease is periodic and can worsen during teething, intestinal upset or during colds. Most often it flows into the next stage.
- In childhood. Manifests itself as chronic inflammation of the skin. The disease is observed on the elbows and in the folds under the knees. It may also affect the creases of the wrist. In addition to peeling, redness, and follicular acne, brown areas of inflammation are added.
- During adolescence. The peak of this disease occurs during puberty. At this stage there are no weeping sores. Rashes and dry skin remain. The affected area shifts to the face and neck. It may also affect the upper body and hands. Exacerbation occurs during exposure to irritating factors.
Atopic dermatitis develops in several stages:
- At the initial stage it is expressed by peeling and swelling of the cheeks. If you start the right treatment and follow a diet, you can quickly cure the disease, but if you do not approach it correctly, it will move to the next stage.
- The severe stage is characterized by periodic rashes on the skin. Micro-formations appear, which then take the form of scales and crusts.
- Remission stage. At this stage, symptoms decrease or may be absent altogether. Remission can last from 2-3 weeks to several years.
- The recovery stage is a period when there are no symptoms from 3 to 7 years.
Treatment of atopic dermatitis
To prevent the condition from worsening, you need to eliminate the source, that is, remove foods that cause allergies from your diet. If the allergen is unknown, then you need to stop giving your child foods containing honey, cocoa, chocolate, citrus fruits, nuts, strawberries and caviar. 
To accurately find out the causative agent of the allergy, you need to undergo an examination with an allergist. You will have to take a blood test and do skin tests.
Atopic dermatitis must be treated and not neglected, since in the absence of timely intervention, it can develop into more complex forms of allergies. For example, after a few years a child may develop asthma or allergic rhinitis.
Treatment of dermatitis involves the use of special ointments and creams that relieve itching and reduce inflammation, they also moisturize the skin and protect it.
After diagnosis, the doctor prescribes therapy. Drug treatment involves the use of the following medications:
- antihistamine drugs – eliminate itching;
- detoxification medications – cleanse the body from the inside;
- hyposensitizing agents - reduce the degree of sensitivity of the child to allergy triggers;
- anti-inflammatory drugs corticosteroids - used in acute stages or for chronic disease;
- antiseptics - ointments;
- a sedative group of drugs that have a calming effect on the baby;
- enzymes are used for disorders of the pancreas;
- eubiotics – designed to get rid of dysbacteriosis.
Ointments for atopic dermatitis
For atopic dermatitis, therapy is carried out both externally and internally. Various ointments are used for external skin treatment. Before starting treatment, you should definitely consult a dermatologist.
Before applying the ointment to all affected areas, you need to check the skin reaction. To do this, apply a small drop of ointment to the affected skin. Then you need to look at the reaction 20 minutes after application, after 2 hours and after 12 hours. If redness and inflammation in the test area decrease, you can apply the product to other areas.
The ointment is an effective treatment; it acts directly on the source of inflammation. Another advantage is ease of use and application. Also, non-hormonal agents in the form of ointments can be used to treat children under 1 year of age. 
For external treatment of dermatitis, ointments are divided into 3 types:
- Ointments that nourish and moisturize the skin. They can be used every day, and if the skin is very dry, even used twice a day.
- Medicines that reduce itching and relieve inflammation. Such ointments will help reduce discomfort, but they are recommended to be used only during acute periods of the disease. The maximum duration of use is 15 days.
- Bactericidal drugs are used when an infection gets on the skin.
There are also hormonal and non-hormonal ointments. Hormonal products are an effective method of therapy, but they should be used only if there is no positive result from conventional ointments. You should not start using such drugs without a doctor’s prescription, since if the wrong product is applied, pigmentation may appear on the skin. The consequences of prolonged self-application may be problems with the adrenal glands or skin atrophy. Hormonal ointments that effectively combat problem skin are Celestoderm, Flucinar, Advantan, and Hydrocortisone ointment.
Preparations without hormones are not as effective as hormonal ones, but they are gentler on the skin and are an excellent treatment for childhood dermatitis. Among the effective remedies are the following ointments: Radevit, Gistan, Thymogen, Zinc, Sulfur, Heparin and Ichthyol.
Traditional treatment of atopic dermatitis
Folk remedies can also be used in therapy. For mild stages of the disease, it is recommended to use medicinal decoctions of chamomile and string. They should be added to the baby's bath when bathing.
To calm the baby, you can bathe him with the addition of herbs such as valerian, hops, motherwort and oregano. 
How to prepare the decoction:
- take 2 tablespoons of medicinal herb;
- fill it with 250 ml of hot water;
- let the broth brew for 10 minutes;
- pour the product into the bath.
When starting self-medication using folk remedies, you need to be careful, since your baby may also have an allergic reaction to herbs.
Atopic dermatitis: photo
Depending on the stage of the disease, the affected areas look different. Each child may have an individual reaction to a particular allergen.
Prevention of atopic dermatitis
To prevent the disease from occurring in children, the following recommendations must be followed.
New foods should be gradually introduced into the baby’s diet. If after a week of eating there is no negative reaction, then you can begin to introduce the next product.
When feeding a baby with breast milk, restrictions are imposed on the mother. You should not eat salty, smoked or spicy foods. You also need to reduce the amount of sugar, honey and chocolate you eat. 
It is necessary to monitor the baby's sweating during active games and, if necessary, immediately change clothes so that skin irritation does not begin.
To wash children's clothes, it is better to use hypoallergenic washing powders and soap. You should also rinse your clothes several times.
To avoid diaper rash, you need to carefully monitor your baby’s hygiene and pay special attention to caring for his skin. You can use baths with medicinal herbs such as chamomile, string or oak bark. Potassium permanganate is also suitable, which will disinfect the skin and dry it.
The apartment or house where the child spends most of his time must have an optimal microclimate. Comfortable conditions for children are a temperature of 20-24 degrees and a humidity of about 50%.
