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Living With Atopic Dermatitis
People living with atopic dermatitis can work with their doctors to treat their symptoms and manage flareups. It is important to avoid skin irritants, such as itchy clothing or sudden changes in temperature, and to follow your treatment plan. If you are living with atopic dermatitis, it's also important to keep the skin properly moisturized so that itching is minimized.
Atopic dermatitis cannot be cured. However, people who are living with atopic dermatitis can work with their doctors to treat their symptoms.
If you have atopic dermatitis, it's important to stop scratching the rash. Scratching will make the already inflamed skin worse, leading to an even more severe itch and rash. To help control this cycle, you need to take good care of your skin by:
- Keeping the skin moist and lubricated
- Avoiding things that cause skin irritation
- Using any medications prescribed by their doctor.
It is important to keep the skin moist, because skin that is moist is less sensitive to irritants and also responds better to treatment medications. People who are living with atopic dermatitis should:
- Be sure to use a doctor-recommended moisturizer several times a day
- Be sure to use warm (not hot) water while bathing
- Bathe only for a few minutes.
People who are living with atopic dermatitis should also avoid skin irritants, which include:
- Many soaps, perfumes, and lotions
- Sudden changes in temperature
- Very dry locations
- Scratchy clothes or blankets
- Sunburn
- Excessive sweating or damp conditions
- Emotional stress.
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD