Treating Atopic Dermatitis in babies and children
Atopic dermatitis is a relatively common childhood skin condition that first appears between ages 3 and 6 months.
Did you know that your baby’s skin is only one-fifth the thickness of adult skin, and it requires special attention? Your baby skin is more susceptible to chemical, physical, and microbiological stimuli, more prone to dehydration, more vulnerable to UV rays, and highly susceptible to extreme temperatures and temperature variations.
Skin disorders in children
There are several skin disorders in children, but the most common is Atopic Dermatitis.
Atopic Dermatitis affects between 10% and 20% of children worldwide. In one-third of these cases, the condition resolves during childhood, while in others, it can persist until adulthood.
Atopic Dermatitis is a non-contagious yet uncomfortable and occasionally painful illness that normally has two stages. An inactive phase in which the skin is extremely dry, irritated, and flaky and must be moisturised daily, and an active phase (or ‘flare-up’) in which the skin must be treated with topical drugs to reduce inflammation and itching.
What are the underlying causes and triggers?
It is suspected that Atopic Dermatitis is inherited. There is a proven association between Atopic Dermatitis, hay fever, and asthma, and data suggests that if one or both parents have these disorders, their children are more likely to get Atopic Dermatitis. According to research, children from industrialised countries who live in urban areas with higher levels of pollution, as well as those who live in cold climes, are more prone to have the illness.
When a child has Atopic Dermatitis, there are a variety of reasons why symptoms worsen or flare-ups develop. Sufferers are reported to be deficient in essential lipids as well as Natural Moisturising Factors (NMFs) such as urea and amino acids. As a result, their skin’s barrier function is compromised, moisture loss increases, and they are more prone to dryness. When the barrier function of the skin is disrupted, hazardous substances such as allergens and irritants can penetrate, and the skin becomes more readily infected.
Sufferers are also known to have an abnormal immune function (atopy), which makes their skin more reactive to the environment and prone to inflammation.
Problems frequently arise when a youngster touches an itch, disrupting their already weak skin barrier. This causes Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria to proliferate and infect the skin. The infection creates inflammation, which causes itching, which worsens the condition: this is known as the Atopic Skin Cycle.
What are the signs and symptoms in infants?
Atopic Dermatitis is uncommon in infants under the age of three months. Symptoms usually begin after a baby has been weaned: a rash appears quickly, causing the skin to become irritated and itching. During flare-ups, diseased skin may exude fluid. Babies commonly get Atopic Dermatitis on their face, particularly their cheeks, scalp (also known as cradle cap), knees, and elbows.
Babies with atopic skin in the nappy area are quite unusual. Although nappy rash may resemble Atopic Dermatitis, the environment is too damp for it to develop.
What are the signs and symptoms in older children?
Children who get the condition later in life (between the ages of 2 and puberty) typically begin with a dry, itchy, scaly rash on the body.
Skin is rough, thickened, and leathery. The creases of the elbows or knees, the neck, the wrists, the ankles, and/or the creases between the buttocks and the legs are commonly afflicted. Because symptoms frequently last longer than three months (the medical definition of a chronic condition), the skin in inflamed places can thicken. This is referred to as lichenification.
Skincare for babies and children
Young skin requires special attention:
- Use gentle cleansers: Alkaline soaps are harsh on the skin, removing lipids and drying it out.
- Bath time should be limited since hot water and extended baths eliminate lipids from the skin.
- Keeping young skin moisturised and healthy requires regular moisturisation with products that have been tested on and confirmed to be compatible with sensitive skin.
- Young skin requires extra protection from dangerous UV radiation. Children should wear protective clothing and sunscreen with a high UV protection factor when they are out in the sun (SPF).
