Atopic Dermatitis

For Members:

What is atopic dermatitis?

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a condition that makes your skin red and itchy. It’s common in children but can occur at any age. Atopic dermatitis is long lasting (chronic) and tends to flare periodically. It may be accompanied by asthma or hay fever.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) signs and symptoms vary widely from person to person and include:

• Dry skin
• Itching, which may be severe, especially at night
• Red to brownish-gray patches, especially on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, inside the bend of the elbows and knees, and in infants, the face and scalp
• Small, raised bumps, which may leak fluid and crust over when scratched
• Thickened, cracked, scaly skin
• Raw, sensitive, swollen skin from scratching

The primary risk factor for atopic dermatitis is having a personal or family history of eczema, allergies, hay fever or asthma.

Prevention

The following tips may help prevent bouts of dermatitis (flares) and minimize the drying effects of bathing:

• Moisturize your skin at least twice a day.
• Try to identify and avoid triggers that worsen the condition.
• Take shorter baths or showers.
• Take a bleach bath.
• Use only gentle soaps.
• Dry yourself carefully.

When to see a doctor?

You need to see a doctor if you experience the below:

• uncomfortable that the condition is affecting sleep and daily activities
• See a skin infection — look for red streaks, pus, yellow scabs

For Healthcare Providers:

• Moderate to severe atopic dermatitis is a chronic a heterogeneous inflammatory skin disease linked to IL-13
• Improvement in atopic dermatitis lesions can be visible after a variable period of treatment with injectable biologic medications such as Adtralza or Dupixent.
• Pre-approval is required for treatment with any of the FDA approved biologic medications.
• Atopic dermatitis form is required for pre-approval, click here to download the form.

Please use the below ICD codes:

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5582672/

https://www.worldallergy.org/UserFiles/file/WAOAtopicDermatitisInfographic2018.pdf

https://dermnetnz.org/topics/guidelines-for-the-diagnosis-and-assessment-of-eczema

https://dermnetnz.org/topics/eczema-pathology

https://dermnetnz.org/topics/easi-score

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1049085-workup