Maybe you’ve been there. You’re looking at your doctor like he or she just sprung two heads. The diagnosis is atopic dermatitis. What exactly is atopic dermatitis? To most of us, this skin condition is known as eczema. A lot of people have it and eczema treatments are an essential part of feeling relief. There are several different varieties, but each one has some things in common.

• childhood onset
• severe itching
• painful rash

The majority of people who live with eczema everyday have had their symptoms from a young age. Infants as young as six weeks old have been reported to experience the symptoms of eczema. At such a young age, it is often a challenge for parents and doctors to safely treat it. The idea is to relieve the itching and pain without causing damage to the delicate newborn skin. Eczema skin in infants includes a red rash, inflamed lesions, and causes the little one to become understandably cranky due to the intense itching. The symptoms are likely to fade over time, only to flair up again without any warning.

The one thing all eczema sufferers of any age agree on, is that the itching that accompanies this common skin condition is horrendous. Atopic eczema itching keeps the patient up at night, makes everyday tasks difficult, and can drive a person crazy, almost literally. The itching is believed to be the result of an allergic reaction and is one of the most irritating symptoms of eczema. Using a good eczema cream can help with the itching if you can keep it on the affected areas. Since atopic dermatitis likes to show up on the hands and feet, this can be a challenge.

Like the itching, the painful rash that goes along with eczema is an obstacle all on its own. The simple tasks of everyday life become painful and difficult especially when the rash appears on the hands. The rash also can be a source of embarrassment for the patient when others notice and ask insensitive questions or make inappropriate comments. Anytime the eczema rash appears in public areas, like the face or hands, the fear of notice is intense. The emotional affect alone is enough to have any eczema sufferer wishing for a permanent eczema cure.