After the fall, many people will feel that the skin becomes particularly dry, itchy, and even a scratch a red spot, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Oriental Hospital dermatology Sun Zhanxue chief physician reminded: this may be suffering from atopic dermatitis. So, what is atopic dermatitis? How to determine whether you are atopic dermatitis? What are the small ways of external treatment? Listen to what the experts have to say.
Atopic dermatitis is characterized by three features
Atopic dermatitis, also known as atopic eczema, is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin disease commonly seen in dermatology, often accompanied by allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. Atopic dermatitis is not contagious, but has a genetic predisposition, so you should be vigilant when someone in your immediate family has atopic dermatitis.
To recognize atopic dermatitis, it is important to look for “intense itching”, “dryness” and “eczema-like lesions”.
Itching is the most common self-conscious symptom of atopic dermatitis and can be triggered by stimuli from excessive cold or heat, sweating, mood changes, contact with woolen fabrics, and paroxysms of intense itching at night, before going to sleep.
The skin is an important barrier separating the body from the outside world. Skin barrier dysfunction in patients with atopic dermatitis can lead to increased water loss, dry skin, and shedding of scales.
Atopic dermatitis can be divided into three phases according to age. In infancy (birth to 2 years old), lesions are common on the cheeks, forehead and scalp, and according to lesion characteristics, they are classified as oozing, dry and seborrheic; in childhood (2-12 years old), according to the performance of lesions, they are classified as eczematous (similar to chronic and subacute eczema in adults) and itchy (scattered itchy papules all over the body); and in adolescence and adulthood (12 years old and above), they are mostly confined dry Damage, erythema or papules, erythematous, with grayish scales and hyperpigmentation, mainly on the elbows, popliteal fossa, anterior and lateral neck.
How can atopic dermatitis be prevented?
After autumn, “an autumn rain is a cool”, the temperature and humidity in the environment are gradually declining, low temperature and low humidity, our skin barrier function will also decline, increasing the contact with environmental irritants and allergens, resulting in aggravation or recurrence of atopic dermatitis, so how to carry out daily care is very important:
① Avoid scalding. Suggested water temperature 32~37℃, time less than 10 minutes, use hypoallergenic and non-irritating skin cleansing products, once a day or every other day, avoid scratching, friction and other skin stimulating behaviors.
②Use a sufficient amount of emollient. Use 2 or more times a day, and use emollient immediately (within 2 minutes) after each bath.
③ Dressing: Wear clothes that need to be loose and avoid contact with woolen fabrics, bright colors, and clothes that contain fluorescent agents. Change and wash personal clothing frequently, and increase or decrease clothing flexibly according to temperature changes to prevent over-cold or over-heat stimulation.
④ Diet: Diet needs to be nutritious, avoid blind taboos, you can eat some light and rich in vitamins and plant protein foods, such as brown rice, buckwheat, chestnuts, carrots, peppers, apples and so on. Diet should be regular and avoid alcohol and spicy foods. Avoid clear allergic foods, and allergen testing can be performed when unsure of the type of food allergy.
⑤ Residence: Pay attention to maintaining environmental hygiene and ventilating the environment diligently; avoid using carpets and keeping pets, flowers and plants; keep the environment at a suitable temperature and humidity, and use humidifiers when the environment is dry.
⑥ Travel: Exercise, but avoid strenuous exercise that involves a lot of sweating; avoid sunburn when going out, use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, or choose physical sun protection such as umbrellas; avoid going to zoos, botanical gardens, and other places where animal dander and pollen congregate; if you are currently taking antihistamines that make you prone to drowsiness, you should avoid driving a car or operating machinery.
What can patients do about ongoing episodes of atopic dermatitis?
Take good care of your daily care, follow your doctor’s instructions for medication, have regular follow-ups, and keep your mood happy.
Topical glucocorticoids and calcium-modulated phosphatase inhibitors are the first-line treatment for atopic dermatitis, but many patients are reluctant to use them for fear of side effects. In fact, under the guidance of specialized doctors in regular hospitals and standardized use of drugs, side effects rarely occur, so we do not have to worry too much.
Many patients are unsure of how to use their medications when they get them and are confused about the “fingertip unit”. Fingertip units are used to measure the amount of medication to be applied, i.e., the amount of medication that can be squeezed from a standard-package tube (5 mm in diameter) to the length of an adult’s forefinger from the tip of the forefinger to the first interphalangeal joint, which is the amount of medication that can be applied to both palms of an adult’s hand (the person who is applying the medication).
Chinese medicine is a good choice for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, internal use can regulate the internal organs and qi, reduce recurrence, wet compresses, external application to control local symptoms, multi-pronged rapid control of the disease can also reduce the use of hormones and other drugs. Seek Chinese medicine treatment need to go to the regular hospital, the doctor will be based on the patient’s situation to develop the most suitable program.