In total, there are about four million people with neurodermatitis in Germany – and the trend is rising. At school enrollment, about 10% of children have neurodermatitis. It is thus the most common inflammatory skin disease in childhood. Paradoxically, improved living conditions and increasing hygiene are possible causes for this increase. Interesting facts about the causes, course, diagnosis and proper treatment of atopic dermatitis can be found below.
Atopic dermatitis: an atopic disease.
Neurodermatitis is also known as atopic eczema, atopic dermatitis, or endogenous eczema. It is a disease of the so-called atopic group of forms.
This group of diseases also includes, for example, asthma, hay fever or an allergy to house dust mites. The term atopy describes a hereditary predisposition, which causes that in contact with allergenic substances an exaggerated defense reaction is shown and the mentioned diseases of the atopic form circle can be developed.
Symptoms and phases of atopic dermatitis
In the course of neurodermatitis, acute and chronic phases alternate and are characterized by different symptoms:
- In the acute phase, the relapse, redness, overheating and burning, sometimes associated with oozing of the skin, dominate.
- In the chronic phase (between the acute relapses), the skin is sometimes extremely dry and scaly. Often, sufferers complain of excruciating itching.
Neurodermatitis can occur all over the body. In childhood are initially mostly the extensor sides, later the bends of the joints (elbows, knees) and often the buttocks affected. In adults, the disease occurs in the flexures of the joints and especially on the face, neck, shoulders and chest.
Causes and triggers of atopic dermatitis.
The cause of atopic dermatitis is an excessive reaction of the body to natural environmental substances such as animal dander, mold, food, house dust or pollen. The predisposition to the development of skin changes is inherited, but the manifestation depends on a variety of factors.
Triggers may include the following factors:
- Various inhalation allergens (pollen, molds, dust mites, animal dander).
- Contact allergens such as nickel or fragrances.
- Irritants (detergents, disinfectants, wool, synthetics).
- Food (for example, eggs, dairy products, nuts, fish).
- Microorganisms on the skin (especially staphylococci, Candida, Pityrosporum ovale).
- Climatic factors (strong temperature fluctuations, dry heating air, cold winter air, sweating).
- Environmental toxins (cigarette smoke)
In many cases, moreover, psychological stress – from which even young children can suffer – can aggravate the disease.
Course of neurodermatitis
Atopic diseases usually appear as neurodermatitis in the first months or years of life. Although in many cases the symptoms recede on their own by the time the child starts school or by the end of puberty, and those affected can then live largely free of symptoms, a complete cure is still not possible.
The early onset of atopic dermatitis, for example, due to food allergies (for example, to chicken egg) can promote the development of potentially life-threatening asthma, unless the right measures are taken early on – in this case, through a chicken protein-free diet.
The problem of “floor switching” continues to be frequently underestimated. By this is meant that untreated atopic dermatitis can gradually progress to asthma:
- Skin (neurodermatitis)
- Nose (allergic rhinitis and hay fever, respectively).
- Lungs (allergic asthma)
While adults are rarely affected by food allergies, research shows that this is the case in almost a third of affected children. In the first place of the triggers are hen’s egg, cow’s milk, wheat and soy. Reactions often subside by school age.
