Management of Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: The Role of Emollient Therapy

Autor: M. Catherine Mack Correa, Judith Nebus
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2012
Předmět:
Zdroj: Dermatology Research and Practice, Vol 2012 (2012)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1687-6105
1687-6113
DOI: 10.1155/2012/836931
Popis: Atopic dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin disorder that afflicts a growing number of young children. Genetic, immune, and environmental factors interact in a complex fashion to contribute to disease expression. The compromised stratum corneum found in atopic dermatitis leads to skin barrier dysfunction, which results in aggravation of symptoms by aeroallergens, microbes, and other insults. Infants—whose immune system and epidermal barrier are still developing—display a higher frequency of atopic dermatitis. Management of patients with atopic dermatitis includes maintaining optimal skin care, avoiding allergic triggers, and routinely using emollients to maintain a hydrated stratum corneum and to improve barrier function. Flares of atopic dermatitis are often managed with courses of topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors. This paper discusses the role of emollients in the management of atopic dermatitis, with particular emphasis on infants and young children.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals