Eczema/Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is the most common inflammatory skin condition in the world and it is thought to affect up of 20% of children under the age of one.
The development of eczema/atopic dermatitis is a complex interplay between genetic, environmental and immune factors creating what is commonly termed a ‘barrier dysfunction’. This means the skin – the biggest organ in the body and our number one immune barrier, is not operating properly. Often people think that the immune system is underactive in eczema, but in fact it is ‘overactive’. The skin becomes hypersensitive and starts reacting to things in the environment that people don’t usually react to.
There are a number of treatments for atopic dermatitis and fortunately most children do grow out of their eczema.