Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis

ATOPIC dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory condition with periods when it will flare. A large number of children are affected by this condition and its treatment generally causes significant anxiety for parents.

Pharmacists, as primary care providers, are in a prime position to support both parents and physicians as trusted and easily accessible members of the health care team in the management of AD with pharmacist-led educational sessions being beneficial for parents.

Eczema treatments fall into two categories, preventative and relieving. Preventative treatments are every day treatments and lifestyle changes including the avoidance of triggers. Regardless of the presence or absence of eczema, preventative treatments are ongoing. Relieving treatments should be started as soon as there is a flare, such as increasing erythema and itch, and stopped when the symptoms are controlled. In severe cases, the flaring treatment may include the use of a topical steroid. Some tips to share with parents:

• Effective emollient regimens are the mainstay of atopic dermatitis management.

• Emollients with soothing properties are the preferred option.

• Effective and regular use of emollients has been found to decrease the need for topical corticosteroids.

• Adequate rehydration preserves the stratum corneum barrier, minimising the direct effects of irritants and allergens on the skin and maximising the effect of topically applied therapies.

The Little Bodies Eczema management range includes a preventer, a reliever and a wash and shampoo.