Atopic dermatitis, a chronic skin condition, isn’t contagious, meaning it can’t be transmitted from person to person. The term “dermatitis” denotes inflammation of the skin, while “atopic” refers to a predisposition to develop other allergic conditions like asthma and hay fever.
In individuals with atopic dermatitis, the skin becomes intensely itchy, leading to scratching, redness, swelling, and oozing of clear fluid, followed by crusting and scaling. The condition typically fluctuates between periods of exacerbation (worsening symptoms) and remission (improvement or clearance of symptoms).
While some children may see improvement or resolution of their atopic dermatitis as they age, others continue to experience significant problems into adulthood, though their skin may remain dry and easily irritated. Atopic dermatitis is often colloquially referred to as “eczema,” which is a broad term encompassing various types of skin inflammation. Among these, atopic dermatitis is the most common, sharing similar symptoms with other forms of eczema.