Clinic of Dermatology

Atopic dermatitis (Disseminated neurodermitis)

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a pruritic skin disease. It is frequently associated with other allergic diseases such as asthma, hives or food allergies, which can begin at the same time or later in life.

How does AD develop?

Nowadays the cause is only partly clarified. Genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. The disease course is affected by different factors: changed skin structure with increased dryness, the seasons, allergies, infections or psychological stress.

How frequent is AD?

Sensitivity and allergic conditions are frequently associated with the disease. Affected people can develop urticaria or asthma later. They also need to treat the excessive skin dryness.

Is AD with good prognosis?

AD is a chronic disease and today it is not treatable. The disease course and the number of flares are individual. Prognosis can not be made by dermatologist. In many cases of infant AD, the symptoms usually disappear spontaneously before the school age. Today there are effective therapeutical modalities improving the symptoms. It is important to know that AD is not contagious.

Patients with AD suffer from three main symptoms:

• severe itching, especially at night;
• dry and sensitive skin;
• recurring erythema, desquamation and weeping.

The disease has a relapsing-remitting course. Itching can be severe and often the skin is more affected by the scratching, so that a persistent vicious circle can develop.

How does AD look?

The typical skin changes are redness, desquamation, weeping or thickening of the skin. These changes are observed on the face and in the folds of the arms and legs.

Diagnosis

The proper diagnosis can be made only by a specialist: dermatologist, allergologists, and pediatrician, after detailed discussion and physical examination, skin allergy test or blood test.

The treatment of the AD needs time and patience. An individual treatment plan can be made up together with both the physician and the patient.

Therapy

Nowadays a large amount of medications are available for the skin care and therapy: corticosteroids, antibiotics, antipruritic agents and modern drugs like the so-called calcineurin-inhibitors or immune modulators.

Photo-therapy with ultraviolet light is recommended (UV-A).

In the Department of Dermatology the causes of the AD can be investigated actively and the staff is also constantly involved in studies with new treatment concepts. Thus the modern therapeutical modalities are available to the patients.

Our clinic has large experience in the treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis.