In this post, I will be detailing the signs and symptoms of eczema, specifically atopic dermatitis. What is atopic dermatitis? It is one of several eczema conditions and is chronic and therefore more challenging to manage. After reading this article, it is my hope you will have a greater awareness of the eczema/atopic dermatitis. Also, make sure to complete the survey at the end of the article and then enter to win one of 10 $100 visa cards!
For today’s discussion, on eczema/atopic dermatitis, I am sponsored by Med-IQ. Med-IQ is an accredited medical education company that provides an exceptional educational experience for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.
What is Atopic Dermatitis (AD)?
Eczema is the general name for a group of dermatologic conditions that includes contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and others. More than 31 million Americans have some form of eczema. Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema with around 16.5 million adults in the US experiencing it–6.6 million adults report moderate-to-severe symptoms.
Here’s some AD hallmarks:
- It’s chronic and can come and go for years
- Can overlap with other forms of eczema
- Many who have the condition have very dry and infection-prone skin
- Often begins in childhood, and may or may not taper off with age
- Occurs often in conjunction with asthma and hay fever
- Affects all races
- Occurs any time during the year, particularly the winter
What are the symptoms and signs of Atopic Dermatitis?
- Itching! More than 85% of AD patients exhibit this symptom
- Sore or painful skin
- Poor sleep caused by itching
- Rashes anywhere on the body
- Rashes that ooze and bleed often leading to infection
- Dry and discolored skin
- Lichenification, skin can thicken and harden from repeated scratching
A Patient’s Mom Shares His Story
My blogger friend Maureen F., from Wisconsin Mommy, shares some details of her son struggles with eczema. You will note the similarity in her son Josh’s story to the signs and symptoms related above.
Josh was diagnosed with eczema officially when he was about 15 months old. He had what I thought was a rash all over his face and upper torso. I took him to the pediatrician and it was identified as eczema. He typically broke out with a pretty severe case on his face between Halloween and Christmas every year while he was a toddler. I remember this specifically because it was always around when he would go get Christmas photos taken. He would have outbreaks on his legs and arms throughout the year, but the change to cold weather and turning on the indoor heat always seemed to coincide with the face outbreak.
As Josh got older, we discovered that he had some other conditions that do often appear with eczema (his doctor referred to them as “the triangle”). He has some food allergies, asthma and seasonal allergies as well. While the outbreaks on his face seemed to stop after he reached preschool age, the ones on his legs and wrists worsened. He would scratch in his sleep and wake up to bloody sheets.
It didn’t really limit him too much when he was younger. He went through a period where he was self-conscious about wearing shorts because of the way his legs looked, but he is pretty self-confident and got over that.
Eczema Awareness Month
Did you know that October is Eczema Awareness Month? If you are experiencing these signs and symptoms I encourage you to make an appointment with your physician to seek answers and treatment.
To further help you, coupled with this article, I will publish a second article that further explores treatments for eczema and atopic dermatitis. Specifically, I hope to focus on easing the burden of moderate-to-severe eczema/atopic dermatitis. The transition to cooler months is often a trigger for AD, so the more awareness you have, the more you can help your loved ones with this condition and encourage them to schedule medical care.
Get more information:
- National Eczema Association: NationalEczema.org
- Specifically, Atopic Dermatitis: https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/types-of-eczema/atopic-dermatitis/
Take a Survey, enter for a chance to win $100 (10 Winners)
Med-IQ is conducting an anonymous survey and would appreciate your input. The survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. Survey responses are shared only in aggregate. Your responses to these survey questions will provide Med-IQ with important information about your experiences with atopic dermatitis, which will help us develop future educational initiatives.
Once you’ve completed the survey, you will have the option of providing your email address to be entered into a drawing administered by SOMA Strategies to win 1 of 10 $100 VISA gift cards. If you choose to enter, your email address will be used only to randomly draw the winners and notify them of their prize.
All readers (whether you suffer from eczema/atopic dermatitis or not) can complete the survey, then enter to win one of 10 $100 Visa Gift Cards! (Ends October 15)
Enter Here!
Links to external sites are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. They are not
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Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
I was compensated by Med-IQ through an educational grant from Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to write about the signs, symptoms, and treatments available for eczema/atopic dermatitis. All opinions are my own.
This is a good topic especially on sensitive skin. Good luck on the giveaway!
My niece has eczema and it’s really awful. I will be sharing this with my sister!
My cousin and her daughter both suffer with eczema, but I think they found something recently that has helped them a lot.
Hey, I just tried to take the survey. I clicked no I don’t have it or a child & you get booted out immediately saying you are not eligible to take it.
@Barb G this has been fixed. When you reply NO now, you are given the option to enter. Please do so!
Your directions are not true. I responded that I had not yet been diagnosed and it said I could not continue with the survey to enter the giveaway. ????
***All readers (whether you suffer from eczema/atopic dermatitis or not) can complete the survey, then enter to win one of 10 $100 Visa Gift Cards! (Ends October 15)
Just wanted to let you know, thanks
Heather, I will check this out for you. Let me get back to you on Monday. Many thanks for the notification. They told me anyone could enter. THanks so very much Shelley, the Chief Blonde.
Heather, this has been fixed. When you reply “NO” now, you are given the option to enter. Please do so!
This is very informative! My friend suffered with eczema for years, and it’s terrible
My daughter has a topic dermatitis and it really bothers her certain months of the year. Thanks for sharing this information.
That dermetitus is serious stuff, I have had many problems with it.
I didn’t know October is eczema awareness month. Thank you for sharing such an informative post.
This is a very helpful article! Thank you so much for sharing this!
This was really interesting! I definitely notice my skin itches more when my allergies/hayfever flare up. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing this story an telling us about this topic. I know that a lot of people suffer from atopic dermatitis. We have some cases in our family, too!
I have never heard of this before, so glad you shared information for everyone! it’s important to bring awareness to atopic dermatits to everyone so that we may have something new to look into if our doc hadn’t already figured out what the problem is.
Sounds like a common problem, good to be aware of this.
Both Eczema/Atopic Dermatitis usually are confirmed at a very young age. Yes, babies, toddlers, teenagers and sometimes young adults. Both are painful & sore, itchy, rash like, skin oozes or bleeds from scratching, lack sleep due itching & scratching and skin can be awfully red, thick & bumpy. Those that suffer from Eczema and, or Atopic Dermatitis live in chronic pain, sadness, shame, misery loneliness, depression and embarrassed. I think I have Eczema on my arms & hands.
The article was interesting, informative & educational!
My niece’s mom has this. She has trouble sleeping because of it.
I didn’t know much about atopic dermatitis but my daughter has eczema. This is very interesting!
As someone who suffers from atopic dermatitis this is good info. I never know when something is going to set it off. For the longest time I had a bad rash on my fingers on my right hand and finally linked it to shaking people hands at church. Once I stopped shaking hands it cleared up.
This is an interesting read, I have to admit I knew nothing about atopic dermatits so thank you I now understand it a bit more and it must be horrid to see your child suffer with it.
It’s excellent information for anybody who cares about health. It doesn’t matter whether you have it or not. It is powerful to be aware of it and take notice when and if it occurs in your life or in the lives of those you care about.