Is It Dry Skin or Atopic Dermatitis?

For years, George Kramb, who’s 29 and lives in San Diego, CA, thought he had a extreme case of dry pores and skin.

“I had dry skin basically my whole life. It was always flaky, irritated, and even got to the point of cracking,” he says. Sometimes, within the winter, his fingers had been so cracked and dry that he couldn’t open his palms.

Kramb tried over-the-counter ointments like Aquaphor, Cetaphil, and Gold Bond. “I used practically every single lotion and ointment that CVS sells, and nothing worked. It would offer temporary relief but didn’t address the underlying problem,” he says.

What Kramb didn’t know was that he didn’t simply have dry pores and skin. He had atopic dermatitis. “It wasn’t until I was a teenager and saw a dermatologist that I got a proper diagnosis,” he says.

What Is Atopic Dermatitis?

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a pores and skin situation the place itchy rashes come and go. It’s often related to some sort of allergy.

“Unlike dry skin, AD is a chronic inflammatory disease,” says Annabelle Garcia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and proprietor of Sonterra Dermatology in San Antonio, TX. “Symptoms often appear as a rash on your skin. In its moderate-to-severe form, AD can cause constant itching, which can lead to cracking and bleeding of the skin.”

Common AD pores and skin signs embody:

• Dry, discolored pores and skin
• Itching
• Painful or sore pores and skin
• Rashes that will ooze fluid or bleed from scratching
• Sleep issues from itching
• Thick, hardened pores and skin from scratching

Experts don’t know precisely what causes AD, however it could be associated to your genes and setting. If you or your loved ones members have bronchial asthma or allergic reactions, you’re extra more likely to get AD.

“Atopic dermatitis typically begins in childhood but can appear at any age,” Garcia says. For some individuals, it tapers off once they grow old. Others have it their complete life. AD might get higher at instances after which flare up at different instances.

How Is AD Different From Dry Skin?

AD is greater than dry pores and skin. “While both dry skin and AD can make your skin flaky, AD can also include red or dark rashes and persistent itch that can lead to oozing and bleeding skin lesions,” Garcia says.

If you might have AD, you might have an itch-scratch cycle. Your rash is itchy, so that you rub or scratch your pores and skin. That causes extra irritation and itching, so the cycle of itching and scratching retains going.

With AD, a continual situation drives your signs, Garcia says.

Getting the Right Diagnosis

Atopic dermatitis will be troublesome to diagnose, Garcia says. Your rash might appear to be psoriasis or poison ivy. If you might have darkish pores and skin, it could be much less noticeable, and it could take longer to get the best prognosis.

If you might have an itchy rash, see your physician. “It’s important to know if you’re living with AD so you can take the necessary steps to control your skin health and find a proper treatment,” Garcia says. Topical lotions might assist with dry pores and skin signs, however you may want a stronger remedy to focus on the trigger.

Kramb had a sense his dry pores and skin could possibly be AD as a result of some flare-ups had been extreme. “My theory was confirmed when I met with the dermatologist, they prescribed my first steroid ointment, and it did wonders,” he says.

Treating AD

Finding a remedy that works for you is a course of. If one doesn’t work, your physician might advocate one other.

It took Kramb some time to seek out the right combination. He tried a spread of over-the-counter and prescription therapies, however they didn’t assist. Later, he discovered that steroid ointments and lotions work greatest.

Kramb says studying that his dry pores and skin was atopic dermatitis impressed him to assist others. He created PatientPartner, which helps individuals who have related well being circumstances join to allow them to be taught from one another.

“A lot of people are nervous and scared to share their health conditions with others,” Kramb says. “I wanted to create a safe place for them to share with one another so they can learn and build a community.”