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Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis
Common symptoms of atopic dermatitis include dry, itchy skin; small, rough bumps on the face, upper arms, and thighs; and a red, scaly rash. Itching can make symptoms worse, especially at night, when conscious itching cannot be controlled. Possible symptoms of atopic dermatitis are also found in people who do not have the condition or who have other types of skin disorders.
The most common symptoms of atopic dermatitis are dry, itchy skin and rashes on the face, inside the elbows, behind the knees, and on the hands and feet.
Scratching and rubbing in response to itching will:
- Irritate the skin
- Increase inflammation
- Increase itchiness.
Itching is a particular problem during sleep, when conscious control of scratching is lost.
Skin that is affected by atopic dermatitis may appear:
- Red and scaly
- Thick and leathery
- Covered in small, raised bumps
- To leak fluid
- Crusty and infected.
Other symptoms of atopic dermatitis include:
- An extra fold of skin that develops under the eye
- Inflammation of the skin on and around the lips
- Increased number of skin creases on the palms
- Eyelids that have become darker in color from inflammation or hay fever
- Dry, rectangular scales on the skin
- Small, rough bumps, generally on the face, upper arms, and thighs
- Thick, leathery skin resulting from constant scratching and rubbing
- Small, raised bumps that may open when scratched and become crusty and infected
- Hives (red, raised bumps) that may occur after exposure to an allergen, at the beginning of flareups, or after exercise or a hot bath.
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD