Atopic dermatitis typically has a variety of reasons. The atopic predisposition is, on one hand, hereditary, and on the other hand, there are many different triggers. Often, several triggers in combination contribute to a flare-up event.
In general, you should first address your questions to your treating pediatrician. If they feel unable to answer the questions adequately, they will refer you to a pediatric allergist or dermatologist.
In general, information pages from government institutions or university hospitals are recommended. Self-help forums such as those on Facebook should be approached with caution. Unfortunately, in such forums, it’s often challenging to distinguish between poor medical information and reliable medical advice.
The following external websites are highly recommended in addition to the Nia app:
daab.de/kids-teens/neurodermitis/ (external)
gesund.bund.de/neurodermitis#definition (external)
gesundheitsinformation.de/neurodermitis.2257.de.html (external)
allergieinformationsdienst.de/krankheitsbilder/neurodermitis/therapie.html (external)
kinderaerzte-im-netz.de/krankheiten/neurodermitis-atopisches-ekzem/was-ist-eine-neurodermitis/ (external)
dha-neurodermitis.de/neurodermitis.html (external)
awmf.org/leitlinien/detail/ll/013-027.html (external)
Of course, open questions should always be discussed first with a specialist or a specialized doctor.
Dupilumab is a new antibody that inhibits specific inflammatory messengers in atopic dermatitis. It is already approved for individuals aged 6 and older with severe atopic dermatitis. If atopic dermatitis is not manageable with local therapy, Dupilumab may be considered in consultation with the treating doctor.
There is a common belief that frequent moisturizing spoils the skin and disrupts its natural lipid barrier. This definitely does not apply to atopic dermatitis as in affected individuals the moisture and lipid regulation mechanism in the skin is disrupted. That is why frequent moisturizing, even when the acute inflammation is over, is one of the most important measures to prevent a new flare-up.
There is often the prejudice that “it helped at first and then not anymore.” This applies to both basic therapy and cortisone. The natural course of atopic dermatitis is fluctuating, akin to a roller coaster ride. There are naturally periods of relative calm and equally, there are very acute phases. This natural variability often complicates the assessment of treatment methods and contributes to the uncertainty experienced by those affected. This leads to a lack of confidence in certain treatments and certain doctors, and hence, people often seek new therapies and therapists.
