Guidelines on the Management of Atopic Dermatitis ... - Dermatology

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Patient education in atopic dermatitis
Education of patients with atopic dermatitis is an essential and unavoidable component of
management. 1 Where the disease involves young children, education of parents is
mandatory. Without adequate attention to education, all therapies are futile and the patient is
doomed to an impaired quality of life. Practitioners treating individuals with atopic dermatitis
must be aware that the disease is one of the most important medical conditions to affect
quality of life. 2 Quality of life impairment usually involves the entire family. 3 Whilst much of
the educational principles centre on an adequate explanation of the therapies and their
appropriate application and timing, there are a number of messages that must be mentioned
independently. 4
These include:
An explanation of the disease process, its aetiology and its pathology.
Avoidance of generic (cigarette smoke, irritants) and individual specific (allergens)
trigger factors.
Attention to skin hygiene and care.
Attention to itch prevention (avoiding hot bedrooms, cutting of nails, avoidance of
woollen and other rough, scratchy clothing, avoidance of overdressing, avoidance of
soaps and adequate moisturisation).
An explanation of the chronic and relapsing nature of the disease.
An explanation that all therapies are able only to treat the condition but not cure it.
A discussion about the scientific basis of alternative therapies (homeopathy,
reflexology, naturopathy, acupuncture and herbal therapy). Such discussion should