Chronic atopic dermatitis is not a concern for many patients. According to dermatologists, this pathology is relatively benign and rarely threatens to health. However, if there is no treatment, the disease can persist in a long time, affecting significantly appearance, psychology and quality of life.
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Is chronic atopic dermatitis dangerous?
Atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by a persistent and recurrent characteristic. The disease is more common in children, teenagers and tends to get better on its own in adulthood. The mechanism of disease is related to the local body under the influence of endogenous and exogenous factors.
Atopic eczema develops through 2 main stages, acute and chronic. In the acute phase, the disease is characterized by blisters, itchy skin, red inflammation, oozing, and slippery sores. After a while the disease moves to a chronic stage with manifestations such as dry, flaky, itchy skin and a tendency to keratosis, infiltrates.
The damage to the skin caused by this pathology can vary with the stage of development. However, in both stages, the disease causes itching and discomfort. So, although it is a skin disease, atopic dermatitis has a lot to do with appearance, psychology and quality of life.
Chronic atopic dermatitis is a fairly common, fairly benign, and no threat to health. However, without timely examination and treatment, the disease can cause some serious effects such as:
1. Superinfection atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis damage is essentially a response of the immune system to endogenous and exogenous factors. Therefore, skin lesions do not have the presence of fungi, viruses or bacteria. However, if cared for properly (often scratching, rubbing, overusing corticosteroids, …), skin damage can be superinfected (mainly due to staphylococci – Staphylococcus aureus).
Superinfection atopic dermatitis is characterized by itchy skin, hot swelling, and inflammation that is redder than usual. The damaged skin appears small or large pustules, oozing and causing skin ulcers.
Usually, superinfection can go away with antiseptics and antibacterial drugs. However, without timely intervention, the infectious agent can penetrate deeper skin tissues and cause complications such as boils, cellulitis or even sepsis.
2. Neurodermatitis
Neurodermatitis (lichenification) is one of the typical forms of chronic atopic dermatitis. Likenization is a condition in which the skin becomes dark, dark, thick, and itchy. Around the damaged skin area appears many small flat papules with the size from 1 – 3mm, the skin has small flakes.
Neurodermatitis is a consequence of long-lasting chronic atopic dermatitis. Skin damage is actually the body’s response to physical forces (due to frequent scratching on the damaged skin).
Neurodermatitis often causes itching deep inside the skin, which causes more discomfort than the itching of atopic dermatitis. Furthermore, the skin tends to be heavily infiltrated, has clear boundaries with the surrounding skin and has a significant effect on appearance.
3. Increased risk of atopic diseases
Atopic dermatitis is one of the health problems with a mechanism related to atopic factors. Studies show that people with this pathology have a high affinity for IgE (antibodies). So when exposed to allergens, irritants, the body continuously releases IgE antibodies into the bloodstream and provokes skin damage outbreaks.
If atopic dermatitis recurs continuously, the IgE level in the blood will increase significantly and increase the risk of other atopic diseases such as hay fever, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. Therefore, people with atopic inflammation are often accompanied by other allergic mechanisms.
4. Affect quality of life
Atopic dermatitis is a benign skin lesion that does not pose a health risk. However, skin damage caused by this pathology is persistent, prone to recurrence and chronic progression. Therefore, the disease significantly affects the patient’s appearance – especially when atopic dermatitis occurs in the face and open skin areas.
If you rub and scratch regularly, your skin can darken and leave scarring, negatively affecting skin aesthetics and appearance. Not only affecting the aesthetic factors, but also damage caused by atopic dermatitis also causes persistent itching from the acute stage to the chronic stage. Itchiness can affect school and work performance and disrupt sleep.
Many people have a reaction to scratching and rubbing to reduce itching in the damaged skin. However, the mechanical action continues to stimulate the skin to release IgE and histamine and cause more intense itching, creating a vicious cycle of disease. This condition not only causes discomfort and irritability, but also makes the patient’s psychology become overly stressful and anxious.
How to treat chronic atopic dermatitis?
Neither acute or chronic atopic dermatitis has a cure. In some cases, the disease can go away on its own after adulthood. However, the disease can also progress persistently and recur throughout life.
Although it cannot be completely treated, atopic dermatitis is a relatively benign disease with little danger to health and well-being. Therefore, you can intervene with the right treatments and care to improve skin damage, reduce itching and limit the frequency of disease recurrence.
Treatments and care for chronic atopic dermatitis include:
1. Get medical treatment as directed
Currently, the medical methods applied to treat chronic atopic dermatitis only support symptom control and prevent complications of the disease. Therefore, these methods are often indicated when absolutely necessary. Overuse of medical measures can cause side effects and many risky situations.
Medical treatments are used to treat chronic atopic dermatitis, including:
- Topical medications: Depending on the skin damage, the doctor may prescribe topical corticosteroids, salicylic acids, immunosuppressive topical drugs (Pimecrolimus, Tacrolimus, …), antibiotic topical drugs, …
- Oral medications: Including H1 antihistamines, antibiotics (in case of superinfection) and some additional oral supplements (Zinc, vitamin C, vitamins of group B).
- Phototherapy: Light therapy uses artificial UVA and UVB rays that shine directly on the damaged skin to reduce inflammation, redness, scaly, keratosis and itching. This therapy can be combined with drugs to deliver drugs deep into the cells of the skin to increase the effectiveness of treatment.
2. Proper care
Atopic dermatitis tends to flare up or recur frequently when exposed to allergens or irritants. In addition, skin damage can also be caused by endogenous factors such as stress, digestive disorders, respiratory tract infections, skin infections, …
So besides the treatments you shoulFihd combine with the right care regimen:
- Absolutely do not rub on the damaged skin. To reduce itchiness, you should use medicine according to the instructions or apply some home remedies such as cold compresses, soak in warm water, …
- Avoid exogenous factors that stimulate skin damage outbreaks such as friction, pollen, soap, irritants, dog hair, … late at night, at the same time, to completely treat hormonal disorders, skin infections and respiratory infections.
- Dry skin is typical of people with atopic dermatitis. This condition occurs because the skin barrier is impaired, allowing the allergen to penetrate and provoking an immune response. Therefore, to prevent and control skin damage, skin should be moisturized 2-4 times / day with a benign and safe formula.
- Chronic atopic dermatitis can flare up if you have a food allergy. Therefore, absolutely do not use foods with a history of allergy or foods with a high potential for allergies such as seafood, sesame, peanuts, alcohol, …
- Immunodeficiency is a favorable factor for atopic dermatitis to develop and spread rapidly. So in addition to skin care measures, you should exercise, rest and eat in moderation to improve your fitness and resistance.
The article answers the question “Is chronic atopic dermatitis dangerous?” and to mention some of the treatments for this pathology. If you have questions about how to treat and prevent the disease, you should contact a specialist for advice and helpful advice.
