Eczema likely to be a lifelong illness, study finds – State Column

New research reveals that eczema is likely to be a lifelong illness.

Dr. David J. Margolis of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues investigated the natural history of eczema utilizing self-reported data from a group of more than 7,000 children taking part in the Pediatric Eczema Elective Registry (PEER) study to determine the prevalence of symptoms over time. The average age of atopic dermatitis (AD) onset was 1.7 years.

The researchers found that at every age (two to 26 years) more than 80 percent of the study participants had eczema symptoms or were taking medication for the condition. In addition, 64 percent of study participants never self-reported a six-month period when their skin was symptom free while they were not taking topical medications. It was not until age 20 that half of patients had at least one six-month period free of symptoms and treatment.

“In conclusion, symptoms associated with AD seem to persist well into the second decade of a child’s life and likely longer,” the researchers wrote. “Based on our findings, it is probable that AD does not fully resolve in most children with mild to moderate symptoms.”

“Physicians who treat children with mild to moderate AD should tell children and their caregivers that AD is a lifelong illness with periods of waxing and waning skin problems,” they added.

According to WebMD, eczema impacts approximately 10 percent to 20 percent of infants and approximately three percent of adults and children in the United States. WebMD adds that the majority of people can successfully control their condition with proper medical treatment and by staying away from irritants. Fortunately, the condition is not contagious.

The Mayo Clinic says that treatments for AD are intended to reduce inflammation, alleviate itching and avert future flare-ups.