Eczema is an itchy rash referred to as dermatitis, can affect adults and children equally, and always with the same startling symptoms. By definition, the term atopic would come to mean that the child has some kind of genetic sensitivity to getting things like eczema through to asthma and hay fever, and this applies as much to an adult as any particular child. In fact, a history of it within a parents’ family history will inevitably determine whether the child could have a greater chance at being afflicted with the conditions or not, and can be a first step in prevention of any kind.
Most children who happen to have eczema have more than likely acquired it from one or both of their parents, especially those with a history of strong allergies such as asthma and food allergies, and atopic child eczema is the main suspect when there is no other obvious cause for the rash. The root cause of atopic eczema is not wholly known, but it appears that an increased reactivity of the immune system, as well as affected children often having other allergic reactions. There are many factors that can make symptoms worse, including dietary elements, stress and chemical reactions, and most cases develop in children under the age of five years.
If statistics hold up, about one-in-six children in school are afflicted with some form of atopic eczema, and in an average of two out of three cases, by the teenage years the symptoms will either go away or become much less of a problem. There is no way of knowing which children will retain the eczema into adulthood, and a statistic of one out of a hundred adults have symptoms of atopic eczema. Not just dietary habits can effectively worsen the atopic eczema, but contact with chemicals such as those in certain perfumes, detergents and woolen clothing can irritate a child’s eczema.
Sometimes as many as one-in four children will develop atopic eczema, it can begin in the first year of life, but rarely before two months of age. As mentioned previously, children from families with atopic allergies can develop these conditions much more readily than expected, and the greater risk of atopic child eczema can also reveal that as many as fifty percent of these children so afflicted will have hay fever and/or asthma. These conditions can be more accurately identified and kept under control with the guidance of a licensed pediatrician or dermatologist, and they are the only ones who would be able to prescribe particular medications.
Some of these treatments may be purchased over-the-counter in milder forms, but most full-strength treatments need to be prescribed by a physician. A practiced doctor may also be able to diagnose any triggers that could actively irritate the eczema, and if left untreated, the problems could become infected or worse. Infections can be quite common, and the aim for a mild treatment is to keep the skin moist to lessen cracking, eczematous skin particularly affected by bacterial infection.