Fifteen to twenty million people in this country have symptoms of atopic dermatitis and these cases make up up to 20% of the cases that end up at the dermatologists office. Many people who have atopic dermatitis developed it early in life, and mostly before the age of five. Both females and males have equal chance of developing this itchy rash and are more than likely living in low humidity areas where there is less moisture in the air.

Atopic dermatitis can start off as a chronic condition even for infants. There are typically unpredictable cycles of this rash condition with it sometimes going into remission for periods of time while progressing at other times. With luck, many youngsters outgrow their atopic dermatitis
condtion.

There seems to be a relation to both genetic and environmental factors when it comes to atopic dermatitis. Findings show that those with hay fever or asthma or have incidences of it in the family are more susceptible to forming atopic dermatitis. Some researchers suggest there may be abnormalities in certain cells in bone marrow which deal with immunological response. Luckily, atopic dermatitis is not contagious.

When skin is in normal condition, the outer layer called the epidermis holds dead and dry skin cells which provide a protective barrier against outside irritants as well as keep the skin hydrated. When you have atopic dermatitis, moisture is lost through the epidermal layer causing cracking and dry skin. Protection of the skin is decreased, leaving you susceptible to all kinds of other skin conditions like fungal infections, warts, bacterial infections and even the herpes virus that causes cold sores.

Even babies can get eczema. However, eczema can also suddenly appear in an adult. Fortunately, it is a skin condition that is not contagious. Although it appears that there is no cure according to conventional western medicine, there are many alternative ways to deal with the problem.

Start to monitor your diet. Find out if you have food related allergies. An effective treatment to your eczema may be as simple as avoiding a food that sets off itching in your skin. Common food allergens include milk, shellfish and preservatives.

Allergens can also come from the environment. There may be a host of things that can irritate your skin. Take note of the detergents you wash with, cleansers for the home, body soap and lotions. Gasoline and solvents used in household repairs and such can be particularly harsh. In addition, simple hand washing can also cause skin irritation. Consider wearing gloves when you must work with water such as washing dishes or even washing your baby. You also need to ensure that these plastic or vinyl gloves are long enough so that water does not splash inside them trapping moisture which can trigger eczema. For prolonged glove use, wear cotton gloves under the plastic or vinyl gloves.

The best material over your body is cotton. It is natural, breathable and soft whereas synthetic materials or even wool may irritate the skin.

Limit the length and frequency of your baths. You want to avoid your skin drying out. Always pat yourself dry with a soft towel as rubbing can cause problems. The application of moisturizer immediately after a bath or shower will help seal moisture from the bath to your skin.

When it comes to moisturizers, the more expensive ones are not always better. Avoid lotions with perfumes or additives.

The best is to avoid scratching the affected areas. If you break the skin, this could court a secondary bacterial infection in addition to the eczema.