George Kramb, who’s 29 and lives in San Diego, California, thought for years that he had a severe case of dry pores and skin.

“I truly had dry pores and skin all my life. It was at all times flaky, irritated and even cracked, he says. Typically, in winter, his fingers have been so cracked and dry that he couldn’t open his palms.

Kramb tried over-the-counter ointments corresponding to Aquaphor, Cetaphil and Gold Bond. “I've used just about each lotion and ointment that CVS sells, and nothing labored. It will present short-term reduction, however didn’t remedy the underlying drawback,” 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 till I used to be a youngster and noticed a dermatologist that I received a correct prognosis,” he says.

What’s atopic dermatitis?

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

“Not like dry pores and skin, AD is a persistent inflammatory illness,” says Annabelle Garcia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and proprietor of Sonterra Dermatology in San Antonio, Texas. “Signs usually seem as a rash in your pores and skin. In its reasonable to extreme kind, AD may cause fixed itching, which may result in cracking and bleeding of the pores and skin.

Frequent AD pores and skin signs embody:

• Dry, discolored pores and skin
• Itch
• Sore or sore pores and skin
• Pores and skin rash that will ooze or bleed from scratching
• Sleep issues as a consequence of itching
• Thick, hardened pores and skin as a consequence of scratches

Specialists don't know precisely what causes AD, however it might be associated to your genes and setting. In case you or your loved ones members have bronchial asthma or allergic reactions, you usually tend to develop AD.

“Atopic dermatitis normally begins in childhood, however can happen at any age,” says Garcia. In some folks it decreases as they become old. Others have all of it their lives. AD can typically get higher and flare up at different instances.

How is AD completely different from dry pores and skin?

AD is greater than dry pores and skin. “Whereas each dry pores and skin and AD could make your pores and skin flaky, AD also can embody purple or darkish rashes and protracted itching that may result in oozing and bleeding pores and skin lesions,” says Garcia.

When you’ve got AD, you’ll have an itch-scratch cycle. Your rash is itchy, so that you rub or scratch your pores and skin. This causes extra irritation and itching, which continues the cycle of itching and scratching.

With AD, a persistent situation causes your signs, Garcia says.

Getting the suitable prognosis

Atopic dermatitis will be troublesome to diagnose, Garcia says. Your rash might seem like psoriasis or poison ivy. When you’ve got darkish pores and skin, this can be much less noticeable and it might take longer for the proper prognosis to be made.

When you’ve got an itchy rash, see your physician. “It's essential to know when you’ve got AD so you may take the required steps to handle your pores and skin well being and discover good remedy,” says Garcia. Topical lotions will help with signs of dry pores and skin, however it’s possible you’ll want a stronger remedy to focus on the trigger.

Kramb felt like his dry pores and skin is likely to be AD as a result of among the flare-ups have been extreme. “My concept was confirmed after I met the dermatologist, they prescribed my first steroid ointment, and it labored wonders,” he says.

Treating AD

Discovering a remedy that works for you is a course of. If one doesn't work, your physician might suggest one other.

It took Kramb some time to seek out the right combination. He tried a sequence of over-the-counter and prescription drugs, however they didn't assist. He later found that steroid ointments and lotions work greatest.

Kramb says the truth that his dry pores and skin was atopic dermatitis impressed him to assist others. He created PatientPartner, which helps folks with comparable well being issues join to allow them to study from one another.

“Many individuals are nervous and afraid to share their well being issues with others,” says Kramb. “I needed to create a protected place the place they might share, study and construct group.”