Atopic dermatitis – what is it, symptoms, causes, treatment, overview of remedies for atopic skin

What is atopic dermatitis?

Atopic dermatitis – a multifactorial hereditary inflammatory skin disease characterized by itching, chronic relapsing course and age-related features of localization and morphology of lesions. In atopic dermatitis, the protective function of the epidermis (the top layer of the skin) is disrupted and the hydrolipid barrier (the protective layer of the skin) is damaged. 

Symptoms of atopic dermatitis in adults

Symptoms of atopic dermatitis include itching, flaking, dryness, and redness of the skin. Competent timely treatment and properly selected care will help minimize skin discomfort and prolong remission. Let’s take a closer look at what other symptoms can accompany atopic dermatitis:

• erythema, papules, swelling;
• the formation of erosive areas, weeping;
• pustular rash due to infection;
• lichenization (compaction, pigmentation disorders, pattern enhancement) of the skin;
• scratching due to itching;
• dryness, peeling, feeling of tightness, soreness;
• jams and cracks on the lips.

Reasons for the development of atopic dermatitis

The basis of the disease is a violation of the function of the epidermal barrier of the skin. Several reasons can lead to this:

• Hereditary factor: if one parent is sick, then the risk of atopic dermatitis increases to 60%, and if both, then up to 80%. Genetic defects play an important role, for example, disturbances in the gene for the structural protein of the skin – filaggrin. With changes in its gene, the formation of the hydrolipidic (protective) layer is also disrupted and the barrier functions of the skin are reduced, as a result of which the skin begins to intensively lose moisture. This results in dryness, flaking and thickening of the skin characteristic of this disease. For clarity, dermatologists compare the skin with a brick wall, where bricks are cells, and cement is skin lipids. With atopic dermatitis, the “cement” is broken, and the “wall” becomes fragile and permeable to external stimuli.
• The next equally important factor in the development of atopic dermatitis is a violation of the skin microbiome. We live in symbiosis with various micro-organisms, including our skin is covered with millions of bacteria that help us to protect against pathogenic bacteria. According to recent scientific studies, the microbial landscape of skin with atopic dermatitis is poorer than that of a healthy person.
• Stress also has a huge impact on the course of the disease. Often, patients with atopic dermatitis noticed a deterioration in the condition of the skin against the background of frequent emotional stress, chronic insomnia and fatigue.
• Climatic factors such as dry indoor air during the heating season, frost, low humidity, sudden temperature changes often cause atopic dermatitis to aggravate.
• Atopic dermatitis has long been considered an allergic skin reaction. relapses often occur when the skin comes into contact with external allergens, for example, woolen or synthetic things, plant pollen, house dust. Food allergens can also trigger an exacerbation of the disease.

Atopic dermatitis: stages of the disease and classification

To date, the following stages of atopic dermatitis are distinguished:

• The stage of pronounced clinical manifestations (exacerbation period) depends on the age of the patient and is accompanied by the following symptoms: erythema, skin rashes, multiple weeping, crusts, peeling and itching.
• The remission stage can be manifested by a noticeable improvement in the condition of the skin while maintaining dryness, thickening of the skin and peeling, or by the absence of all clinical symptoms of the disease.

According to the severity of dermatitis can also be classified into three groups:

• A mild course is manifested by limited localization of skin lesions (on the back, on the arms, in folds on the skin or at the bends of the elbows or knees), itching, periodic exacerbations of a seasonal nature (mainly in the cold season).
• The moderate form of the disease is characterized by a widespread manifestation of symptoms, frequent relapses.
• The severe form brings severe discomfort to atopic patients: lesions are diffuse (large-scale) in nature, exacerbations are long and difficult to treat, and remissions are short-lived.

Atopic dermatitis has a significant negative impact on the quality of life and socialization of all patients, especially in moderate and severe cases.

Treatment of atopic dermatitis

If you notice signs of atopic dermatitis in yourself, first of all you should contact a specialist to diagnose the disease. Only a doctor after an internal examination can make a final diagnosis and select drug therapy, external medicines will help stop the inflammatory process of the skin and minimize itching, dryness and flaking. The specialist can also recommend suitable daily care.

Review of La Roche-Posay cosmetics for atopic skin

In owners of atopic skin, the skin barrier is broken: lipid deficiency is observed, transepidermal water loss is increased (evaporation of water from the skin surface). Because of this, atopic people develop dryness and hypersensitivity of the skin, and it needs appropriate care.

Among La Roche-Posay’s ranges of products for the care of sensitive and atopic or allergic skin, some products of the Lipikar and Cicaplast ranges stand out:

Care for skin prone to irritation and itching LIPIKAR STICK AP+¹ has an immediate effect, helps to soothe the skin prone to atopy, eliminate peeling, reduces dryness, helping to reduce itching. The tool is convenient to take with you and use at any time convenient for you.

Soothing multi-restorative balm CICAPLAST BAUME B5² designed to restore and heal sensitive skin prone to atopy. The product has a rich nourishing texture that creates a protective barrier film on the surface of the skin that prevents bacteria from entering, protects and restores the skin. Leaves no residue, absorbs quickly.

Triple action lipid-replenishing balm for face and body LIPIKAR BALM BAUME AP+M³ quickly helps to restore comfort: instantly soothes, moisturizes dry skin for up to 48 hours *, visibly reduces itching and irritation, helps prolong the remission of skin prone to atopic dermatitis. The tool helps to regulate the microbiome of the skin, strengthen its natural protective functions.

Prevention of atopic dermatitis

• If you have atopic-prone skin, a basic skin care routine with emollients that soften and moisturize your skin can improve your quality of life. They may contain soothing, restorative and itching-reducing active ingredients.
• Keep a diet: exclude from the diet foods that can provoke an allergic reaction.
• Monitor your emotional background, try to minimize stress, get enough sleep.
• Maintain the optimum humidity in the room of 30-40%, use humidifiers.
• Water procedures should not be long, no more than 10 minutes, do not use hot water for washing and taking a shower. Use special cleansers that are soap-free and adapted to dry, atopic-prone skin.
• Choose clothes made from natural fabrics.

* Based on the results of instrumental tests involving 26 respondents.

1 Lipikar stick AP+ 2 Cicaplast balm B5 3 Lipikar Balm AP+M