Atopic Eczema
Atopic eczema is a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by dryness of the skin, eczematous lesions and itching. The likelihood of suffering from the disease is linked to genetics but the definite cause of atopic eczema is not completely understood. It is often accompanied by other atopic disorders such as hay fever and allergic asthma.
As one of the most common diseases of childhood it affects one child in five. Typically the eczematous skin lesions occur initially at about four months. At that time the lesions are often exudative and usually located at the head and at the extensor sides of the arms and legs. After the first year of life the lesions become drier. Now the joint areas (e.g. elbow, neck, knee, wrists) but also the face, hands and feet are primarily affected. In the inflamed areas the skin can thicken (lichenification) due to the chronic course of the disease. From the third decade of life additional nodular lesions with severe itchiness may develop on the extensor sides of the extremities.
In one third of the children the disease disappears during infancy. In the remaining two thirds the symptoms persist with variable severity into adulthood. Occasionally the disease does not become noticeable until then.
While a complete cure of the disease is not possible yet effective therapy regimes leading to a healing of the skin lesions or a prevention of further outbreaks exist. Depending on the severity of the skin affection the physician will recommend different treatments regimes. However, therapies should include regular application of emollient skin care products especially those with urea (i). Due to keratolytic effect it improves the scaling of the skin. Futhermore, as a natural moisturising factor it provides the skin with a sufficient amount of moisture. Thus the application frequency of medically prescribed creams can sometimes be reduced. To prolong the symptom-free interval between the episodes skin care products should also be applied continuously when the skin does not show any irritation. For it is well known that dryness of the skin can provoke new skin lesions.
