Is Atopic Dermatitis Fatal?
Atopic dermatitis is not life-threatening. This common skin condition results in unpleasant symptoms, especially intense itching. If you don’t treat atopic dermatitis, it may be impossible for you to stay away from scratching the persistent itch. Over time, constant scratching can result in skin infections or give your skin a leathery look. However, atopic dermatitis is not fatal. Your dermatologist can suggest treatments for your atopic dermatitis to assist you in living a more comfortable life. With proper diagnosis and the right treatment routine, you should be able to manage the disease. However, it isn’t uncommon for individuals suffering from atopic dermatitis to end up with an infection at some point. If this happens, it is essential to see your doctor right away to treat the condition and prevent further complications.
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How Deadly is Exfoliative Dermatitis
Impacts of Exfoliative and Seborrheic Dermatitis
The outlook for exfoliative dermatitis varies for every individual. Allergic reactions to drugs are the easiest to treat. The human skin usually clears up after not more than several weeks after stopping the allergy-causing medicine, together with receiving appropriate treatment. Managing conditions for example psoriasis and cancer can speed healing too.Individuals with no known cause for the disease may have flare-ups throughout their lives. Individuals with a history of exfoliative dermatitis may have long-lasting variations in the tone of the affected skin. They may also undergo nail changes or hair loss. Seborrheic dermatitis may fade without treatment, or you may require many repeated treatments before the symptoms start to fade. And they may return later. Washing daily using mild soap and shampoo can assist in reducing dead skin buildup and oiliness. Other names for seborrheic dermatitis are dandruff, seborrheic psoriasis, and eczema. You need to consult your dermatologist in case:
- You’re so uncomfortable that you’re having sleepless nights or getting distracted from your daily regime
- Your illness is causing anxiety and embarrassment
- You suspect you have a skin infection
- You’ve tried doing it yourself without any change
There’s no cure for Dermatitis herpetiformis; however, medications can assist in healing your rash. Your dermatologist may prescribe dapsone, which you take orally. It gets rid of your bumps and itching within 1 to 3 days. Your dermatologist may also suggest a topical corticosteroid cream to aid with itching.If the outcome shows that you have celiac disease, your dermatologist will recommend you cut gluten out of your diet entirely. Iodine, a common component in salt, can make symptoms worse in other instances. So you may also want to stay away from that. A gluten-free diet is essential, but it’s only a percentage of the solution. In many instances, you’ll also need to swallow proper pills to get full relief.
Psychosocial effects of atopic dermatitis
How Does Atopic Dermatitis Affect Us Emotionally
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Any chronic illness can have a significant impact on the individual in question, and this is especially so for childhood eczema, and also on the lives of their families. Most individuals with this condition continue to lead healthy lives, but for a few, the disease can be a source of substantial psychosocial distress.
Atopic Dermatitis in Children
Infants usually suffer insomnia which is difficult for parents or guardians and may result in behavioral problems in the child. Older children may become shy and withdrawn because of the stigma that comes with a visible skin condition. Activities like sport, swimming, and school camps may have to be restricted, which further separates the child. Long absences from school may be due to both diseases itself and from the social avoidance that occurs in some children.
Atopic Dermatitis in Adults
Grownups are also likely to suffer from both shyness and withdrawal due to the appearance of eczema. Work may be difficult, and other individuals with a severe condition will have to change jobs to cope with their illness.
Retarded growth as a result of atopic dermatitis
Severe eczema is likely to slow down the growth rate in children. It is most often due to the disease rather than its treatment. Corticosteroids, particularly oral corticosteroids, can also result in short term growth retardation, so use of these drugs should be closely monitored.
Bacterial infections in atopic dermatitis
Bacterial skin infection is widespread in atopic dermatitis. It is usually with staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria (see staphylococcal skin infections and streptococcal skin infections). Contamination is in part due to breaks in the skin from the dry, split skin surface and from scratching the itchy parts. Individuals suffering from atopic dermatitis also seem to have a minimized ability to fight against these common bacteria on the skin. For that reason, those suffering from atopic dermatitis frequently also suffer from impetigo, boils, and folliculitis. It begins a vicious cycle; an infection results in eczema to worsen and become more resistant to the usual treatment with topical steroids and emollients. Antibiotics are often required to eliminate the contamination before the doctor manages the condition.Rarely, a bacterial infection can be unusually severe, involving much of the skin surface. It can lead to blood poisoning (septicemia) and require hospital admission. Toddlers are especially at risk of severe skin contaminations.
Staphylococcal Contamination in atopic dermatitis
Viral contamination in atopic dermatitis
Viral diseases, in particular, herpes simplex virus (the virus that results in cold sores and genital herpes), is more prevalent in patients that suffer from atopic dermatitis. A herpes simplex disease can spread rapidly in the presence of eczema and result in severe contamination, which is known as eczema herpeticum. It may present as a generalized illness with fever, malaise, and a widespread crusted, blistering rash. It can also be more localized, often confined to regions with active eczema. A history of a recent cold sore in the affected individual or a close contact is useful in making the diagnosis before swipe results available. Due to the severity of the condition, treatment with oral antiviral products like valaciclovir or aciclovir is often in motion before any swipe results are available.
Molluscum contagiosum is a Common Viral Skin Condition Among Kids With Atopic Dermatitis
Molluscum contagiosum is another common viral skin condition, most often affecting kids. It may be more common among individuals with atopic dermatitis. Molluscum infection often increases eczema symptoms, usually worst around the parts concerned with molluscum. Molluscum lesions often resolve more slowly among individuals with atopic dermatitis and eczema may keep on being more active until the molluscum finally disappears. You can fasten the resolution by moderate traumatizing of one or two molluscum lesions at a time to generate an inflammatory response. It can be done by quick pinching with clean tweezers of one or two marks every night for a few nights. It is usually better tolerated if done while the child is asleep.
Erythrodermic atopic dermatitis
What is Erythrodermic atopic dermatitis?
Erythroderma is a generalized skin redness. It is a very severe skin disease that can be deadly. It is as a result of many diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, other inflammatory skin conditions, malignancies, and drugs.Erythrodermic eczema usually develops in patients with worsening or unstable condition. Treatment of erythroderma is the same in spite of the many root causes. Inpatient hospital treatment is typically required to cool your skin and back up the hydration and temperature management of the person in question. Skin infection is also common within the environment of erythrodermic eczema, and intravenous antibiotics are the standard remedy for some time. Treatment for this erythrodermic eczema may include:
- Hospitalization for supportive care including temperature regulation and intravenous fluids
- Topical steroids
- Cooling wet dressings and bland emollients
- Bed rest
- Antibiotics
- Treatment of complications (for example diuretics for inflammation, nutritional support for weight loss)
- Treatment using topical steroids, wet wraps, emollients, and bed rest results in rapid improvement in the majority of affected individuals. Early treatment leads to a better outcome.
Complications of erythroderma include:
- Protein loss and malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Hypothermia
- Heart failure
- Death
- Edema (swelling)
- Infection
- Erythroderma
- Erythrodermic atopic dermatitis
Eye abnormalities associated with atopic dermatitis
Five Ocular Manifestation of Atopic Dermatitis
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Many eye changes are evident in correlation to atopic dermatitis.
Dennie-Morgan fold Due To Chronic Eyelid Dermatitis
A Dennie-Morgan fold is a skin fold beneath the lower eyelid. As a result of chronic eyelid dermatitis, it is often seen in atopic dermatitis but may also be understood independent of atopic dermatitis and is of no importance to the overall health of the individual.
Conjunctival Irritation in Atopic Dermatitis
Conjunctival irritation is common as well. It may be as a result of an allergic reaction, similar to an irritant response, or hayfever.
Keratoconus Correlates With Atopic Dermatitis
Keratoconus (conical-shaped eyeball) is an uncommon complication which correlates with atopic dermatitis. It is as a result of degeneration and weakening of the cornea (the front part of the human eye) which results in pushing the front of the eye outwards due to the average pressure within the eyeball. It can lead to marked visual disturbances, and contact lenses are the partial solution. The onset of keratoconus is after childhood and progression are usually self-limited.
Cataracts As a Result of Severe Atopic Dermatitis
Cataracts may also develop with correlation to severe atopic dermatitis, usually between 15 to 25 years old. They are mostly bilateral and may have a characteristic look on eye examination which assists in distinguishing them from other cataract causes.
Retinal detachment Can be an Indication of Atopic Dermatitis
Retinal detachment is when a section of the inner eye lining slips off the underlying structures. It is a rare complication seen in association with atopic dermatitis.
