Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a chronic skin disease that causes redness, inflammation, extreme itchiness, and irritation in the skin. Usually, infants and children get this disease, but it can affect people at any age. Many details about atopic dermatitis are known, such as the fact that it is not contagious or has no definitive cure. Here are some additional details about the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for this condition:

Symptoms of atopic dermatitis
Healthcare experts can detect atopic dermatitis in people by looking for specific typical indicators, such as:

Dry skin
Atopic dermatitis makes the skin lose its moisture-retaining capacity. As a result, people with this condition have dry, flaky, inflamed, and scaly skin that is frequently sore. Dry skin triggers some of the other symptoms of this condition too.

Itchiness
Flare-ups are another common feature of atopic dermatitis. During eczema flares, a person’s skin gets increasingly sore, scaly, and red. This results in severe, uncontrollable itching. The itching is caused due to the undesirable stimulation of nerve endings in the top layer of the skin. This stimulation is triggered by atopic dermatitis. Apart from itchiness, people with this condition also develop skin rashes.

Darkened skin around the eyes
Eczema is characterized by skin inflammation, which triggers melanocytes, the skin cells responsible for one’s skin color, to increase melanin production. As a result, individuals with atopic dermatitis have dark patches underneath their eyes and many other areas of the body.

Causes of atopic dermatitis
Specific factors from one’s daily life cause atopic dermatitis or aggravate its symptoms. Some such factors are:

Stress and anxiety
Stress, depression, and anxiety are directly linked with atopic dermatitis flare-ups. However, the symptoms get aggravated in people who commonly encounter stressful and anxiety-ridden episodes in their daily life.

Environmental factors
Exposure to pollutants, radiation, smoke, woolen fabrics, and allergy-inducing skincare products can contribute to developing eczema and other skin conditions in individuals. For people already living with the condition, exposure to such environmental agents can make their symptoms much worse.

Immune system issues
A hyperactive immune system can trigger eczema by overreacting to minor allergens or irritants in their immediate environment. The immune system may assume that such elements are foreign bacteria or viruses and activate the body’s defense system. This causes skin inflammation and, by extension, atopic dermatitis.

Treatment options for atopic dermatitis
Specific therapies and simple measures can help people manage atopic dermatitis symptoms and even reduce their severity. Some remedies include:

Using phototherapy
Healthcare experts use this remedy only when other treatment avenues, such as ointments and creams, are not reducing patient symptoms. Doctors use powerful ultraviolet A or B light waves in this therapy to treat symptoms in atopic dermatitis experiencers.

Showering daily
Poor hygiene is one of the leading causes of atopic dermatitis. People who do not bathe regularly have bacteria and pollutants on their skin. These elements can then go on to cause atopic dermatitis. However, showering daily with lukewarm water can help reduce the chances of developing the condition or the chances of flare-ups.

Using a non-soap cleanser
One must choose a cleanser free of dyes, spirits, or artificial fragrances to clean the skin. Such non-soap cleansers help people keep atopic dermatitis at bay.