- What is atopic skin?
- How to recognize atopic skin?
- Can we avoid this?
- What are the consequences if my child scratches?
- Why use DERMABébé to relieve and treat atopic skin?
What is atopic skin?
Atopic skin is an abnormality of the skin barrier which is characterized by the triggering of an inappropriate immune reaction. This is due to a personal and/or family predisposition of genetic origin. Environmental allergens (pollens, dust, animal hair, soaps, etc.), normally well tolerated, will then be able to “penetrate” more deeply and stimulate the immune defense system. This very reactive system will overreact to what it considers to be an attack. It will therefore cause the clinical signs of atopy: itching, inflammation and oozing.
The different stages of the appearance of flare-ups
Phase I: Penetration of allergens due to dysfunction of the skin barrier
Phase II: Triggering of an inappropriate inflammatory reaction.
and Phase III: Appearance of lesions: redness, roughness, oozing, crusts.
Discover our products for atopic skin
How to recognize atopic skin?
The location of the lesions is very specific and depends on age. In infants, the damage mainly concerns the face. These are the rounded parts of the face that are affected such as the forehead, cheeks, chin, sparing the center of the face and the nose in particular . The outer side of the arms and thighs are frequently affected. Sometimes, some infants have more diffuse damage that affects almost the entire body surface.
There are three types of atopic lesions which will coexist due to the progression of the disease alternating between flare-ups and remissions:
- Flare-ups most often start as a simple red, itchy skin. The itch is sometimes difficult to recognize in very young children. But be aware that it is often the cause of sleep problems. The appearance of small, numerous and palpable elevations, responsible for roughness of the skin
- An oozing phase may follow this redness. The elevations transform into vesicles, tiny bubbles of liquid that are barely visible, then rupture and release a translucent liquid on the surface of the skin: this is oozing.
- A crusting phase then occurs during which crusts form on the vesicles which ruptured during the oozing phase.
Can we avoid this?
No, unfortunately... Filaggrin, a protein, does not play its role well. This protein is believed to hold keratin fibers (found on the surface of the skin) tight. This helps form a protective barrier on the surface of the skin, and prevents external substances (such as allergens) from entering. Here this barrier has “holes” and therefore allows bad substances to penetrate.
This is a common disease. It is estimated that 10 to 15% of infants have so-called atopic skin. However, there are no very precise figures for the number of patients suffering from atopy in France. In certain regions of Europe, up to 30% of infants (between one month and two years) are affected by this disease . These figures are constantly increasing. Differences exist between different countries depending on socio-economic level. Indeed, the frequency of the disease increases with the improvement in the standard of living.
In very young children, the association of digestive signs such as diarrhea or regurgitation with atopic dermatitis should raise the possibility of a food allergy. In this case, the doctor can seek the advice of a pediatrician to carry out exploration and specific treatment.
What are the consequences if my child scratches?
Apart from this permanent feeling of discomfort for him, the chronic nature of the lesions and the scratching is responsible for a thickening of the skin and the crusting phase which could leave scars.
More serious scratching lesions can be responsible for secondary bacterial infection, most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a germ which usually lives on the skin. This infection is rare even if the atopic skin is often colonized by this microbe. It is in the case of pustular lesions and yellowish crusts that we should consider this complication.
Why use DERMABébé to relieve and treat atopic skin?
The DERMABébé range dedicated to dry, sensitive skin with atopic tendency
DERMABébé is the only ORGANIC range treating dry skin with atopic tendency. Téane Laboratories have carried out several years of Research and Development and have filed a patent on an active ingredient: Cassia Alata. Studies have shown that Cassia Alata extract has an effect on the clinical signs of atopy. Indeed, it acts on the restoration of the skin barrier by inhibiting the mutation of the gene coding for filaggrin, and therefore providing a skin barrier. By being solid, it prevents external attackers from penetrating.
Emollient Cream to relieve and treat atopic skin
Emollient Cream is essential to treat and prevent the appearance of clinical signs of atopy. This cream contains the patented Cassia Alata extract. It will restore and strengthen baby's skin barrier. To apply Morning and Evening from birth. This cream is certified ORGANIC by ECOCERT .
