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Suggest Treatment For Atopic Dermatitis

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Posted on Wed, 10 Dec 2014
Question: Sir,
My 6 Months 20 Days old baby boy has been diagnosed with ATOPIC DERMATITIS. What is it ? I am highly concerned about his health. Doctor says it will take 2 to 3 years to get cured. Is the treatment so long ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Kindly upload a few photographs

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for your query

Kindly upload a few representative photographs of the dermatitis so that I am able to guide you better

Atopic dermatitis is an Immune mediated disease. Patients have an underlying dry skin.
There is increased transepidermal water loss [TEWL] as a result of low water retentive capacity of the skin in atopic individuals and therefore skin becomes dry and eczema(rashes) prone, specially in dry, cold weather (in winters)

Atopic Dermatitis patients are prone to develop an eczema flare, in which the skin may develop dry, red, scaly, itchy areas/patches with or without oozing (Eczematous Dermatitis), which in turn may become secondarily infected as a result of scratching.
Oozing suggests that there is secondary bacterial infection.

In children, atopic dermatitis may involve the face as well as the trunk, extensor arms and legs.

Treatment depends on the severity of dermatitis and may be topical for mild disease and topical + oral for extensive disease

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (11 minutes later)
As desired by the Doctor, photograph is being attached.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (46 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Seborrheic rather than Atopic dermatitis

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Thank you for the photograph. I can see some mildly red and dry scaly patches on her face and also on upper extremities.

I will rather keep a most likely possibility of Seborrheic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is my second possibility, if at all. These are two different conditions.

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is fairly common in infants. There is an overgrowth of yeast.
In SD there may be adherent greasy scaling in the scalp as well; facial involvement is in the form of scaling patches. The scales are yellowish, greasy and there is also post inflammatory hypopigmentation.
Itching is absent or is mild in SD.

Atopic dermatitis(AD) on the other hand is an extremely itchy rash most often on the face on infants and have eczematous character (oozing and crusting) and grey white scaling rather than greasy scaling. There may be excoriations from scratching. Itching is prominent.

The treatment which has been prescribed contains a mild steroid + topical antifungal and would work fine for her.

Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Kakkar

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 9612 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Atopic Dermatitis

Brief Answer: Kindly upload a few photographs Detailed Answer: Hello. Thanks for your query Kindly upload a few representative photographs of the dermatitis so that I am able to guide you better Atopic dermatitis is an Immune mediated disease. Patients have an underlying dry skin. There is increased transepidermal water loss [TEWL] as a result of low water retentive capacity of the skin in atopic individuals and therefore skin becomes dry and eczema(rashes) prone, specially in dry, cold weather (in winters) Atopic Dermatitis patients are prone to develop an eczema flare, in which the skin may develop dry, red, scaly, itchy areas/patches with or without oozing (Eczematous Dermatitis), which in turn may become secondarily infected as a result of scratching. Oozing suggests that there is secondary bacterial infection. In children, atopic dermatitis may involve the face as well as the trunk, extensor arms and legs. Treatment depends on the severity of dermatitis and may be topical for mild disease and topical + oral for extensive disease Regards