Atopic eczema

Atopic Eczema

Atopic Eczema (pronunciation: /əˈtɒpɪk ˈɛksɪmə/), also known as Atopic Dermatitis (pronunciation: /əˈtɒpɪk dɜːrməˈtaɪtɪs/), is a type of inflammation of the skin. The term "atopic" refers to a collection of diseases involving the immune system, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, and hay fever. "Dermatitis" is an inflammation of the skin.

Etymology

The term "atopic" is derived from the Greek "atopos" meaning out of place, unusual. "Eczema" comes from the Greek "ekzein" meaning to boil out; it was historically used to refer to a range of skin conditions.

Symptoms

Atopic eczema is characterized by itchy, red, swollen, and cracked skin. Clear fluid may come from the affected areas, which often thickens over time. While it can occur at any age, it most often starts in childhood.

Causes

The cause of atopic eczema is a combination of genetic, immune system and environmental factors. It often runs in families with a history of other allergies or asthma. Certain substances or conditions called trigger factors can cause it to become worse.

Treatment

While there is no cure for atopic eczema, treatments can help to manage the symptoms. These include over-the-counter remedies, prescription topical medications, phototherapy, immunosuppressants, and biologic drugs.

Related Terms

• Dermatitis
• Inflammation
• Immune system
• Asthma
• Hay fever
• Allergies

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Atopic eczema
• Wikipedia's article - Atopic eczema

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski