☯ What is “atopic”?
Atopic dermatitis called infantile eczema and allergic eczema is the most common allergic symptom among infants. Because the symptoms aggravate and improve repeatedly by the complex reasons like the season and temperature, atopic dermatitis is well-known as a refractory disease in a short period of time. Also, atopic dermatitis is accompanied with dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic eye inflammation and other symptoms on skin and eyes.
☯Symptoms of atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is classified into three stages; early childhood, childhood and adulthood.
- Early childhood (2 months~2 years) –
In the early stage, atopic dermatitis appears on the forehead, cheeks and scalp, or even all over the body. In the late babyhood, symptoms usually occur on back of the knees and ear lobe and the itch are not that severe.
- Childhood (2years~10years) -
In this age, symptom on the face is better. On the contrast, dermatitis on the back of the knee and the front elbow are getting worse. The major symptom is dryness and it is worse in the winter season. Lips are dry and cracked or the upper or lower part of earflap is torn. Moreover, the subacute symptom is accompanied by white dry patch on the skin or on the hip where the part of toilet seat. The disease is a dry so patients are not sleep because of itch. The skin could be rough and hard if patients keep scratching.
- Adulthood –
The main symptoms are itching, rash on the face, hands, neck and parts of the body where are touching.
☯Cause of atopic dermatitis
The causes of atopic dermatitis have not been medically verified yet. The symptoms of atopic dermatitis also have been elusive. More than 50 percent of atopic dermatitis are caused by a genetic predisposition and accompanied by an immunologic abnormality. The surrounding environmental substances are the allergen that causes and aggravates an atopic dermatitis, for instance, dry skin, skin inflammation caused by germs and virus, sweating and fever, psychological tension, stimulation by allergic matters and so on. Korean medicine doctors say atopic dermatitis occurs after one to three months of birth. In addition, obese child are more likely to develop an atopic dermatitis. It spreads whole skin from both cheeks. The cause of acute atopic dermatitis is mostly moist and heat and the reason of chronic atopic dermatitis is lack of blood.
☯ Precautions in daily life
1. Since dust mites, mold and animal hair could irritate the skin, therefore, patients should keep
the rooms and surroundings clean and remove the stimulant.
2. Control the temperature and the humidity. The most adequate temperature for indoor activity is
68℉ (20℃) and 50 to 60 percent of humidity.
3. Taking a bath in water whose temperature ranges between 95℉ (35℃) to 96.8℉ (36℃) helps patients.
After bathing, rub aroma oil over the body before being dry.
4. Baby with suspected atopy had better eat a baby food after six months of birth.
5. If skin is contaminated, it is itchy a lot. So patient needs to take a shower with a soft towel and bath soap continuously.
6. In the severe case, try to avoid a severe exposure to ultraviolet light. Carry a parasol or wear a hat when going outside.
7. Do not do sea bathing and be cautious at swimming pool.
☯ Good food for atopic dermatitis
Job's tears, millet, brown rice, burdock, cucumber, water parsley, seaweed, laver, sweet potato, potato, chestnut, shiitake mushroom, jujube, grape, bean, bean paste, green tea, mineral water, purified water, raw vegetables, fruit juice, white fish, shellfish etc.
☯Bad food for atopic dermatitis
Instant foods (candy, sweets, ice cream, chocolate, hamburger, pizza, ramen), spicy and salty foods, pork, chicken, external blue colored fish (mackerel), squid, shrimp, flour-based foods, soft drink, margarine, mayonnaise, butter, cheese, coffee, cocoa, milk and dairy goods, egg, vegetable oil etc.
☯ Treatment for atopic dermatitis
Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital offers medical treatment for treating atopic dermatitis.
-Herbal medicine-
Herbal medicine helps not only to treat the symptoms but also to prevent infection and allergic diseases like flu and rhinitis by improving immunity.
-Aroma therapy-
Aroma therapy works in activating of immune cells to fight against sick cells by using aroma oil such as clary sage, tea-tree, fennel, thyme, chamomile, lavender. It also keeps moisture from evaporating, keeps the surface of the skin moist and maintains moisturizing effect.
° Aroma oil: Use aroma oil on dry spots and do not use on the face.
° Aroma cream: Use aroma cream on the inflammation and dry parts of the body.
° Ointment: Use ointment if there is the infection symptom.
-Bath therapy-
It’s more effective to bath in the herbal medicine-infused water.