Atopic Eczema
ATOPIC ECZEMA
DEFINITION
Eczema or atopic dermatitis (from Greek: ἔκζεμα ēkzema) is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin). It is a common skin condition which afflicts 10-20% of children and 1-3% of adults worldwide, and two in every 10 individuals in Malaysia.
The word eczema is derived from Greek words, that mean "to boil over". The terms “eczema” and “dermatitis” are used interchangeably in many languages; by some authors, “dermatitis” is used for the more acute condition, whereas more chronic lesions are classified as “eczema”. The word “eczema” is refers to a group of conditions that show a similar pattern of changes in the skin, giving rise to specific changes on the surface
Meanwhile, the word “atopy” can be defined as a group of conditions in which the immune sysytem reacts to allergens in the enviroment by producing raised levels of immunoglobulin type E (IgE) which in turns leads to the changes in the skin. Generally, atopic eczema is a chronic skin disease marked by thickened, scaly, inflamed, and itchy rashes often seen in individuals with familial history of allergic conditions, such as hay fever or asthma
CAUSES
It is generally agreed that the tendency to atopy is genetically inherited. People with eczematous dermatitis have a variety of abnormal immunologic findings which are probably related to more than one genetic defect. For example, such individuals tend to have elevated IgE antibody (immunoglobulin E) levels and have difficulty in fighting off certain viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.
Like most other noninfectious diseases, atopic skin disease can be triggered by environmental factors. * One of the hallmarks of atopic dermatitis is excessive skin dryness, which seems to be due a lack of certain skin proteins. Any factor that promotes dryness is likely to exacerbate atopic dermatitis. * Common triggers of atopic dermatitis include the following: * Harsh soaps and
DEFINITION
Eczema or atopic dermatitis (from Greek: ἔκζεμα ēkzema) is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin). It is a common skin condition which afflicts 10-20% of children and 1-3% of adults worldwide, and two in every 10 individuals in Malaysia.
The word eczema is derived from Greek words, that mean "to boil over". The terms “eczema” and “dermatitis” are used interchangeably in many languages; by some authors, “dermatitis” is used for the more acute condition, whereas more chronic lesions are classified as “eczema”. The word “eczema” is refers to a group of conditions that show a similar pattern of changes in the skin, giving rise to specific changes on the surface
Meanwhile, the word “atopy” can be defined as a group of conditions in which the immune sysytem reacts to allergens in the enviroment by producing raised levels of immunoglobulin type E (IgE) which in turns leads to the changes in the skin. Generally, atopic eczema is a chronic skin disease marked by thickened, scaly, inflamed, and itchy rashes often seen in individuals with familial history of allergic conditions, such as hay fever or asthma
CAUSES
It is generally agreed that the tendency to atopy is genetically inherited. People with eczematous dermatitis have a variety of abnormal immunologic findings which are probably related to more than one genetic defect. For example, such individuals tend to have elevated IgE antibody (immunoglobulin E) levels and have difficulty in fighting off certain viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.
Like most other noninfectious diseases, atopic skin disease can be triggered by environmental factors. * One of the hallmarks of atopic dermatitis is excessive skin dryness, which seems to be due a lack of certain skin proteins. Any factor that promotes dryness is likely to exacerbate atopic dermatitis. * Common triggers of atopic dermatitis include the following: * Harsh soaps and
Bibliography: Mitchell, T., & Hepplewhite, A. (2007). Eczema – at your fingertips. London. Class Publishing Ltd. Fox-Spencer. R., Mitchell, T. (2006). Eczema. Oxfordshire. CFS Medical Communications Ltd. Yusoff, A. (2012). Ekzema jejas kualiti hidup. Mingguan Malaysia. p. 21-23 Sulaiman, K Koh Abdullah, RA. (2011). Pengurusan ekzema atopik. Mingguan Malaysia. p. 21-23 Sharples, T Wikipedia. (n.d). Eczema. Retrieved June 16, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eczema WebMD Emedicinehealth (n.d). Eczema (atopic dermatitis). Retrieved June 16, 2012, from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/eczema/article_em.htm#Eczema%20Overview Medicinenet Mayo Clinic. (n.d). Atopic dermatitis. Retrieved June 16, 2012, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/eczema/DS00986 PubMed Health