Health At this time of year, many people’s skin begins to shrink unbearably – a common ailment that affects both children and adults.

When the thermometer readings sink to the frost side and the heating of the indoor air really starts, itching starts.

The phenomenon is familiar to many: Winter air dries the skin, exposes the rash and exacerbates its symptoms.

Someone gets symptoms from soap, detergents or hand sanitizer, someone gets rough wool. For some, the rash comes from sweating, the incubating moisture caused by winter shoes, or sheer stress.

There was a reason for that any, itching should not be underestimated. On the contrary, it should be boldly brought up. “Itching can really interfere with life,” says Dermatologist at Oulu University Hospital Suvi-Päivikki Sinikumpu.

The itching may be due to an atopic rash. According to Sinikumpu, in order to control it, the basic condition of the skin should be taken care of constantly.

Itching also occurs regularly at the Sinikumpu reception when she encounters patients with atopic dermatitis, who are often children. Symptoms may burden the entire family.

“Itching is the most horrible symptom. Toddlers wake up to it at night, which is why both children and their parents are constantly tired. Itching also interferes with schoolchildren’s concentration in teaching, ”says Sinikumpu.

She wants to tease her parents to take care of their children’s skin on a regular basis. “If the rash is getting worse, you should treat it as soon as possible according to your doctor’s instructions.”

Kutinan discipline is also reported in a recent survey of parents of children with atopic dermatitis.

Itching was considered the worst effect of the disease. This opinion was shared by 40% of respondents. Thirty-seven percent of respondents felt tired of persistent oiling of the skin.

More than half of the parents of children with severe disease estimate that continued itching has a negative effect on their child’s development. One in three families felt that atopic dermatitis dominated family life.

The survey was conducted by the pharmaceutical company Sanofi in cooperation with the Allergy Skin and Asthma Association last May-June. The survey was answered by parents of almost 1,500 children with rash in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

In Finland, 466 parents with at least one child aged 6-18 responded to the survey.

About the survey it turned out that parents of children aged 14 to 18 in particular were concerned about the impact of atopic dermatitis on their children’s well-being.

Sinikumpu also hears the concerns of teenagers. “The rash on the face is a shame. Some would not want to go to school at all then. ”

A dermatologist does not prohibit a teenager with a rash from applying makeup, for example. “However, it’s important to remember to remove makeup in the evenings. For atopics, where the skin is often dry, a good way is to wash your face with a base cream, for example, ”he says.

Atopic It is estimated that 10–20 per cent of Finnish children suffer from rash.

“The incidence of the disease has been on the rise in recent years, although there has been some stabilization in the Nordic countries,” says Sinikumpu.

The most common atopic rash is in children, but the tendency to do so is permanent and lasts a lifetime. The course of the disease is typically wavy: The rash can suddenly become severe without any apparent cause.

In babies, the rash manifests as viscous patches on the cheeks, scalp, body and limbs, for example. Baby rash has been called milkweed. At the age of play, the rash is easily applied to the knees and elbows, wrists and ankles, which is often referred to as a rash.

At school age, rashes also usually occur in the buttocks and buttocks, as well as in the hands and feet.

In adolescence, the rash often subsides, but it may return later. In adults, the symptoms focus on the neck, neck, upper body and face.

Atopic the cause of the rash is manifold. According to Sinikumpu, the disease is caused by damage to the skin’s barrier and by genetic and environmental factors.

Sinikumpu describes the damage to the skin’s barrier by comparing human skin to a brick wall: “A person with an atopic dermatitis has a different protective wall than someone who does not have the damage.”

In the wall, the mortar between the bricks binds the bricks together. An intact wall protects against external stimuli.

“Atopics have less of these brick wall mortars like cholesterol and fats. This makes it easier for the skin to pass through water and chemicals, which can lead to an inflammatory condition under the skin, ”he describes.

In part in humans, the abnormality of the building protein – its brick wall mortar – is due to a genetic defect, but environmental factors also play a role in the development of atopic dermatitis.

For example, allergies and atopic dermatitis are much less common in Russian Karelia than in Finland.

Urban children live in an environment with far fewer factors challenging the body’s defense system than those living close to nature. Atopic dermatitis then has room to develop.

It is estimated that children who do not have contact with nature have a higher risk of developing allergies and atopic dermatitis than children who roam the forests, roam the soil and deal with animals, for example, ”explains Sinikumpu.

New drugs have been developed for atopic dermatitis, but so far no definitive cure for the disease has been achieved. However, symptoms can be controlled. The rash can remain almost asymptomatic for long periods of time.

Sinikumpu gives five tips for treating atopic dermatitis and caring for your skin:

1. Keep your skin in good condition by greasing it regularly. In winter, it is worth adding basic grease. The skin likes creams without fragrances. You can find the right one by trying it out. For those prone to atopic dermatitis, medium-fat creams often seem to work better than very greasy or gel-like creams. If your skin is itchy and inflamed, you should use a mild cortisone cream in addition to the base cream, such as those available from a pharmacy without a prescription.

2. Particular attention should be paid to the skin of young children. The same treatments apply to children’s skin as to adults. Mild cortisone creams in addition to base creams are often enough to keep a child’s rash away.

3. An easy way to moisturize the skin and take care of oiling is the so-called cream wash. This means, for example, that a base cream is used instead of soap in the shower.

4. The use of make-up is permitted even when there is a rash on the face. However, be sure to remove the makeup carefully, for example using a base cream.

5. If the rash does not improve with self-medication and the itching interferes with life, see a doctor. Your doctor may prescribe other treatments for more difficult rashes, such as prescription ointments.