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Atopic skin: the best treatments to combat it
Itching, redness, and dryness are the most characteristic and annoying symptoms of atopic dermatitis. There is no cure for this disease, but these treatments will restore comfort to your skin and prevent new breakouts. Marketingmediaweb
Do you have very dry skin? Does it itch? Are you reactive?
Are you red or irritated? Do you sometimes have rashes? It is possible that you
suffer from atopic dermatitis, a skin disease that - according to the
Association of People Affected by Atopic Dermatitis (AADA) - affects 15% of the
population severely and 0.08% severely. Unfortunately, it is an increasingly
common ailment, especially in urban areas and in developed countries, which has
no cure and significantly affects the quality of life of those who suffer from
it.
It is a vicious cycle: you itch, you scratch, your skin
becomes red and a rash or eczema appears that again causes itching, you scratch
again ... And so on all the time. How can you stop this pesky wheel? It's
complicated, but it can be done. There are treatments that will not eliminate
the root of the problem, but they will restore comfort to your skin and prevent
the appearance of new breakouts.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE ATOPIC SKIN?
To remedy this ailment, the first thing you must do is
detect it. You have to differentiate if you are facing a reactive outbreak
caused by some external agent or if you really have atopic skin.
What exactly is this disorder? Also known as atopic
dermatitis, it is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by extreme dryness, redness, and itching, usually located in the folds of the skin (the inside of
the elbows, behind the knees, and the front of the neck).
This ailment is more frequent in children and usually
disappears or diminishes to a great extent in adulthood, although it can also
manifest at any age.
WHAT CAUSES ATOPIC DERMATITIS?
Atopic dermatitis is a multifactorial disease involving both
genetic and environmental factors. Atopic dermatitis is known to have a very
important hereditary component. If you have atopic skin, it is very possible
that your children have it too. The pattern is often repeated in different
members of the family. On the other hand, it is not triggered by an allergy to
a particular substance, but it increases the chances of developing asthma and
allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
WHAT TRIGGERS ATOPIC DERMATITIS
There are many situations that can weaken the skin barrier
and trigger an outbreak of atopic dermatitis: emotional stress, sudden changes
in temperature or humidity, the presence of certain bacteria, pollution, some
particles suspended in the air (mites, fungi, dander animals ...), some skincare products, sweat, irritating clothing ... In the case of infants, some
foods may also be related to the appearance of itching and discomfort
associated with this disorder.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SENSITIVE SKIN AND ATOPIC SKIN
You may think you have atopic dermatitis when you feel
irritation, itching, tightness ... But atopic skin is often mistaken for
sensitive or reactive skin. What differentiates them?
Thank you for watching
•Sensitive or reactive skin is one that, due to its own
characteristics, a drop in defenses or some external cause (sun, wind,
temperature changes ...) reacts with redness, itching, irritation or flaking.
•For its part, atopic skin also worsens with certain
external factors, but –in general- the reactions tend to be much stronger and
more unpleasant than in the previous case and, furthermore, their origin is
mainly genetic, not environmental.
IS ATOPIC SKIN CONTAGIOUS?
Atopic dermatitis is not contagious (no type of dermatitis
is), but it is very annoying and can greatly affect the quality of life of
those who suffer from it, even interfering with sleep and in the school or
work environment. In addition, the injuries are visible and can cause self-esteem
problems in people who suffer from it.
WHAT CLIMATE INFLUENCES ATOPIC SKIN?
Atopic skin usually improves in humid and sunny climates.
Moisture counteracts dry skin and the sun, taken in moderation and always with
adequate protection, relieves skin inflammation.
On the contrary, cold is usually a great enemy of atopic
dermatitis, whose symptoms tend to worsen with the arrival of low
temperatures. In winter the outbreaks are usually more frequent and more
intense.
HOW TO CARE FOR ATOPIC SKIN? TREATMENTS TO HEAL IT
Unfortunately, there is no definitive cure for atopic
dermatitis. The treatments that are currently used are aimed at reducing the
episodes and alleviating the annoying itching generated by the extreme dryness
of the skin. For this, it is necessary to try to replace the natural hydration
factors of the skin, avoiding the lack of moisture and the deterioration of its
barrier function. And how can it be achieved? What are the main allies of
atopic skin?
•Oily and fragrance-free moisturizers. Apply twice a day to
clean skin to nourish it and keep it moist. Fighting dry skin with some of the
best moisturizers for atopic skin is essential to restore comfort to atopic
skin.
•Thermal waters. They have an anti-inflammatory effect and
help to moisturize the skin, improving its appearance and reducing discomfort.
Balneotherapy has been used for centuries to treat skin, respiratory, or
rheumatological conditions.
•Phototherapy. Ultraviolet light therapies are also
effective in many atopic dermatitis processes.
•Probiotics Different scientific studies show that
complementary treatment with probiotics can also be effective in reducing the
intensity and duration of outbreaks.
•Corticosteroids. Finally, if the outbreak does not improve,
the doctor may choose to prescribe the patient oral antihistamines to relieve
the itching and some cream or corticosteroid drug to treat inflammation and
irritation of the skin.
CAN NUTRICOSMETICS IMPROVE ATOPIC SKIN?
There is not much scientific evidence that nutricosmetics
are effective in preventing or combating atopic dermatitis, but there are
patients who say they notice some improvement when taking omega 3 supplements
or probiotic supplements.
WHAT CREAMS ARE THE BEST FOR ATOPIC SKIN?
If you have atopic skin, you should carefully select the
moisturizers that you apply. You can not use just any, not even the seal of
"natural cosmetics" guarantees that atopic dermatitis will improve.
Take a good look at the ingredients and active principles
they contain before applying it and make sure that it is free of perfumes and
does not contain too many preservatives.
Those that contain ingredients such as petroleum jelly,
ceramides, shea butter, niacinamide, vegetable oils, calendula, chamomile
feverfew or hot springs, all of them with soothing properties, will come in
handy.
TIPS TO RELIEVE ATOPIC SKIN SYMPTOMS
Memorize these tips to live with atopic skin in the best
possible way:
•Do not scratch yourself. Even if the itchiness is very
annoying, try not to scratch yourself. The more you scratch, the more you
irritate your skin and the more itchy sensation will increase. Break this
vicious cycle.
•Don't neglect your hand hygiene. In addition to keeping
your hands clean, trim your nails well and file them to avoid damage from
scratching. You may control scratching during the day, but at night you can do
it without realizing it and cause wounds that can become infected.
•Keep rooms warm. Excessive heat and sweat can make atopic dermatitis
flare-ups worse. It is preferable that the rooms are cool and well ventilated.
•Take a quick shower. Quick showers with lukewarm water are
preferable to prolonged baths with very hot water. Make sure that the water in
the shower never exceeds 34ÂșC
•Don't use sponges. They accumulate a lot of bacteria and
can end up irritating your skin. Spread the bath gel or oil with your hands.
•Use mild, hydrating, non-alkaline, and oily formula soaps .
Bath oils are very kind to the skin and can be a good alternative.
•Pat yourself dry. Don't scrub yourself with the towel when
you get out of the shower. It is better that you roll in the towel without more
or that you do it with small touches so as not to irritate the skin.
•Put on comfortable clothes. Synthetics and wool may not be
the best bet, turn to cotton garments better. Cut as many labels as you can to
avoid rubbing.
•Wash new clothes before using them. Do it with
hypoallergenic detergents, do not add fabric softener and rinse the laundry
with plenty of water.
•Don't bundle up too much. You could sweat and it would make
your discomfort worse.
•Ventilate your home regularly to promote the healthiest
environment possible.
•Practice relaxing activities to keep stress away. A yoga
class, a mindfulness session, painting mandalas ... are activities that can
help you relax and forget about itching.
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