What Does Atopic Dermatitis Have To Do With Asthma And Allergies?

— -- Question: What does atopic dermatitis have to do with asthma and allergies?

Answer: Atopic dermatitis, also called eczema by many people, is an allergic skin disease. It is often caused by your body's immune system and how it reacts to things that cause allergies such as foods, pollens and other substances.

Atopic dermatitis is often the first step in what we call the allergic march or the atopic march. This is when a young child or infant will have eczema. Later in life they will often go on to develop asthma or allergies or hay fever.

Having eczema or atopic dermatitis early in life does not necessarily guarantee that you're going to have asthma or allergies later in life. In fact, treatment of children early has not been able to prevent asthma or allergies.

Eczema and atopic dermatitis are simply allergic diseases that are part of the general make-up of an allergic person.

Next: How Do We Find Out If Food Allergies Are Causing My Child's Atopic Dermatitis?

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