My one-year-old daughter has atopic skin. What treatment do you recommend?
The main alteration in atopic dermatitis focuses on the composition and amount of the skin’s natural oil (sebum). This occurs in smaller quantities and does not allow adequate hydration to be maintained in the epidermis. The aim of any treatment of atopic dermatitis is to cure the eczema flare-up and to do everything possible to improve the quantity and quality of hydration of the skin barrier.
The treatment will therefore have two main aspects: the one aimed at treating acute flare-ups, and the maintenance one. The first aims to improve or cure the exacerbated eczema, which is usually overinfected by bacteria. In this case, it is common to resort to magisterial formulas that combine anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and moisturizing elements, to improve compliance with the treatment and the comfort of performing it. It is common that, if the itching is intense, it is recommended to take an oral antihistamine.
As for maintenance treatment, its objective is to improve the quality of the skin to reduce the frequency and intensity of atopy outbreaks. It is essential to have certain constant care of the skin, both in the bath and in its hydration, which you can read in detail in this document. In short, it is about trying not to remove the skin’s natural oil with soaps or gels, and restoring it by applying emollient (moisturizing) preparations regularly.
The fundamental element in the treatment of atopic dermatitis is consistency. It is better to take care of the skin and apply non-specific emollients on a daily basis than to use expensive preparations sporadically.
To assess what is the best type of treatment, and whether it is necessary to treat the acute outbreak, it is necessary for a dermatologist to assess your particular case.