Atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease that attacks the skin. It is more commonly known as eczema or atopic eczema. “Dermatitis” literally means an inflammation of the skin. Atopic dermatitis is usually found in patients who have an “atopic tendency.” These just mean that they are at high risk of acquiring atopic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, hay fever, and asthma because they have inherited it from their parents or other family members.
This is not contagious, which means that the disease cannot be passed from one person to another. It is not known how the disease spreads, but doctors are currently looking at hereditary and environmental reasons. It is also a malfunction of a body’s immune system when there is an absence of a protein called cytokine and a host of other cytokines that will lead to inflammation of the skin.
Atopic dermatitis makes the skin unbearably itchy. Scratching will lead to swelling, cracking and scabbing. The most common symptoms are dry, itchy skin that results in rashes on the face, hands, feet, and other joints. These symptoms appear mainly in children and their conditions will improve or disappear as they grow older. Sometimes, however, it will not improve or your condition will have sudden flare-ups. Sometimes it will develop into asthma or hay fever.
The precise diagnosis of it is not so easy. The doctor will probably ask if a parent or other family member has had the disease before (or even hay fever and asthma). They will also ask if the patient has been exposed to possible irritants such as smoke, dust, or even soaps and detergents. However, there is no current test that can really tell if someone is suffering from this. The doctor will need to see the patient several times to watch for and rule out other diseases.
Once the diagnosis has been made, treatment can take months or, in cases where the disease began in childhood, even years. Treatment requires reducing exposure to irritants. These include having to avoid certain places like the beach or smoky areas in general.
Another possible treatment is the regular application of moisturizers to the skin and the possible use of topical steroids to relieve itching caused by the disease. These need to be done with utmost care as they can lead to further allergic skin reactions on the patient.
Other doctors have also found that flaxseed oil is important in curing atopic dermatitis.
Flaxseed oil is found in a slender plant called the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum) that has a history of healing wonders. Flaxseed oil is obtained by pressing flaxseeds to produce a therapeutic oil rich in EFAs (essential fatty acids). AGEs are valuable because the body needs them to function, but cannot make them on its own. An EFA found in flaxseed oil is an omega-3 fatty acid that helps reduce the risk of heart disease and other diseases.
Flaxseed oil also possesses EFA which gives it its skin healing power. The red, itchy patches on the skin that result often respond to EPT from flaxseed oil. These EFAs have anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing actions that will help the patient to recover from atopic dermatitis or at least relieve the itching.