Atopic dermatitis or eczema is an itchy, dry, inflammation of the skin. It is the commonest type of skin disease in children. It is not an infectious disease. The child with atopic dermatitis has sensitive skin which is irritated easily.

Atopic eczema is a genetic disorder associated with a sensitive skin. The condition is often associated with a family history of eczema, asthma or hay fever. There are many external factors which may aggravate the eczema.

Aggravating factors include:

• Sudden changes of room temperature, strenuous exercise and hot, humid weather.
• Synthetic or woollen clothings. Children should be dressed in cotton.
• Emotional upsets
• Frequent use of soaps, bubble bath, hot water. Use mild soaps or soap substitutes like emulsifying ointment. The temperature of the bath water should be cool.
• Cigarette smoke. In an enclosed room, smokes and fumes will irritate the skin. It is best to ban smoking within the house.
• Dogs and cats danders. All furry pets will aggravate eczema. Avoid keeping cats and dogs in the house.
• Irritant foods and saliva. Acidic juice in citrus fruits eg. oranges and vegetables eg. tomatoes can cause eczema around the mouth. This is often made worse by lip licking and dribbling.

Most patients present with eczema (redness, scaling and swelling) on the face, limbs and trunk. The flexures may be more severely affected. The condition is very itchy.