An expert answers common misconceptions about atopic dermatitis!

Giampiero Girolomoni is a Professor of Dermatology at the University of Verona, Italy. He has decades of experience in the treatment of chronic inflammatory skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis and eczema. 

Professor Girolomoni has helped develop the Vik Atopic Dermatitis application and in this article he dispels the myths about this pathology.

Is atopic dermatitis contagious?

No, atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory and non-infectious disease, which means that it is not transmitted from one person to another.

Are there any foods that should be avoided in the case of atopic dermatitis?

No, this is a myth. There are generally no foods that aggravate atopic dermatitis, unless the patient has a food intolerance or allergy. These food intolerance phenomena are extremely rare in adults and somewhat more common in children.

To reduce the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, do you have to eat gluten-free?

No. In theory, there is no correlation between celiac disease, gluten enteropathy and atopic dermatitis. However, if a patient with atopic dermatitis has a hypersensitivity to gluten, and only if a gluten intolerance or hypersensitivity has been demonstrated, it is advisable to remove gluten from the diet as this may increase the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

When my symptoms disappear, can I stop seeing my doctor and taking my medication/cream?

Of course you can! The length of time and the way in which you take the treatment depends on the characteristics of the disease. In some cases, if the symptoms are properly treated, they remain in remission for a long time. The patient then follows the treatment and only returns to the doctor when necessary.

In other cases, continued treatment is not required. Months or even years may go by without the need for further treatment.

With atopic dermatitis you can't go swimming?

This is totally false. The question of the use of chlorine in swimming pools is an old debate. If a patient, whatever his age, likes going to the pool, there is no contraindication. Although chlorine can cause skin irritation, it acts as a disinfectant, killing bacteria that can aggravate dermatitis. The important thing is to take a few precautions after swimming, such as taking a good shower with non-chlorinated water and moisturising the skin. With these measures, swimming can be beneficial and not a problem for the health of the skin.

With atopic dermatitis I can't sunbathe?

This is also not true. When a patient has acute lesions with a lot of redness and sweating, and the itching is very intense, he or she should obviously not go out in the sun. The patient already knows this because sun exposure aggravates the itching, increases sweating and inflammation of the skin. On the other hand, when the lesions are minimal or have largely regressed, the sun can have a beneficial effect on the skin, exerting an anti-inflammatory effect. It is therefore important to only expose yourself to the sun when the disease is not in a flare-up phase.

If I have atopic dermatitis, should I not wash every day?

No. It is important to wash regularly, but this does not mean that you can take a bath or shower every day. It is advisable to avoid bathing for too long and to use warm water rather than hot water. In addition, it is advisable to use mild cleansers specially designed for atopic skin and to moisturise the skin immediately after washing.

If you suffer from atopic dermatitis and it bothers you and interferes with your daily life, it is important to consult a healthcare professional for appropriate treatment. There is no need to fear treatment, as it is designed to be effective and safe. Getting help from professionals can help patients suffering from this condition to find the most suitable therapy for them.