The intersection of atopic dermatitis, under-diagnosis and confusion with other diseases

An intense and almost intolerable itch seems to be the most accurate and recurrent description of patients who suffer and suffer from atopic dermatitis (AD) . In turn, the unique description seems to be part of a common skin disorder, which complicates all of this because it departs from an accurate and early diagnosis.

Sometimes patients are confused with AD – and worse. is that they are treated with diseases such as prurigo, psoriasis, scabies or with drug reactions .

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic immune mediated disease that is systemic, incurable and visible on the skin with the cumulative potential for significant debilitating effects on patients' quality of life .

"The AD has multiple faces, depending on the age of the patient, but its main symptom is pruritus accompanied by extremely dry and reactive skin," says Dr. Cristina Pascutto, a dermatologist and currently President of the Argentine Society of Dermatology (SAD).

For the same inflammatory process of the skin, 7 out of 10 patients also have other diseases (comorbidities) such as asthma, rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis, rhinitis Chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps and food allergies.

For 6 of 10 adults with moderate to severe variant, itching is intense or intolerable.

There is consensus and support between two Argentine scientific societies to raise public awareness of this skin condition. In this regard, the Argentine Association of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (AAAeIC) and the Argentine Society of Dermatology (DAS) have combined their knowledge and information as part of the Day World Day of Atopic Dermatitis commemorated today. November

AD is usually considered an infantile condition because it affects between 5% and 20% of children, 10% or more of them. 40% has the severe form. In any case, in 3 out of 10 cases, it persists after puberty and, in fact, some patients even have the first symptoms that only affect adults.

"Some people scratch their sleep or try to fall asleep … for parents who see their child suffer or for a man or a woman to see their partner in this situation, however, the one who suffers the most is the one who lives all his life through itching, rashes, redness and pain, "he said. Gabriel Gattolin, president of the Argentine Association of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (AAAeIC) .

"When a patient comes to the clinic for the first time, he is asked if he has exhibited any form of respiratory tract are also studied on family history, in addition to confirm, of course, the Existence of skin lesions or extremely dry skin, "said Pascutto specialist.

Gattolin recognized or "the pruritus experienced by the patient is the primary reason for seeking consultation, however, redness, swollen, cracked, thick, suppurated skin is a complex picture, often severe and difficult to treat. "

In this state, there is what is called a cycle between itching and scraping, which generates even more itching. As a first step, the cells of the immune system send signals to ignite the surface of the skin, which causes itching. barrier of the skin surface, allowing the entry of viruses, bacteria and allergens. It reactivates the cells of the immune system, which send signals that produce more itching, redness and rashes.

Certain factors contribute to outbreaks and should be avoided: -Estrés
-food allergens (egg, milk, wheat, soybean, peanuts, other)
-Aerallergens (mites), weeds, animal epithelia, mushrooms, other)
– Skin cleansing agents, woolen or manmade garments
– Hot Water
– Jabules and aggressive detergents of poor quality
– Temperature with extreme temperatures, humidity or excessive drought
– Infections of the skin by certain microorganisms

How to treat it , how to treat it

The SAD noted that the most important recommendation is its in skin care and dry skin control, by restoring the barrier cutaneous thanks to the use of hygiene products and emollients adapted and specific to this type of skin, to avoid this way, scratching, exacerbation of lesions and superinfections.

This is a multifactorial disease in which the treatment should aim to improve the skin barrier (skin integrity), avoiding dehydration and treatment of inflammation.

Compounds and foods containing oats also help because it is a natural anti-inflammatory for the skin. Ultraviolet rays work together, so it is recommended to expose to the sun, but before 10 hours or after 18 hours, because the most abrasive rays can dehydrate the skin and be counterproductive.

"The development of new drugs to inhibit the processes that trigger inflammation, with a good safety profile, opens a promising image for the near future," added dermatologist Pascutto.

Some figures that they shared with Infobae SAD and AAAeIC are used to evaluate the severity of this condition and its direct impact on the daily life of this inflammatory skin disease.

Itching occurs day and night, so 8 out of 10 patients Moderate to severe atopic dermatitis suffer from sleep disorders and more than half reported itching interrupted their sleep from 5 to 7 nights a week.

Those who suffer [194590] 04] Moderate to severe absentees tripled the rest of the population. On average, adolescents lose 26 days of clbades per year for this disease, at 3.5 days per episode. During an epidemic of exacerbation, half (50%) of adolescents reported having guarantees not to be seen in public and 36% lost confidence in themselves.