Living with atopic dermatitis (AD) can have many challenges, particularly if you do not feel like your/your child’s AD is controlled. The first challenge of living with uncontrolled AD is that you might not even realise that it is, especially if you have had to experience living with AD for many years. In fact, you might even be surprised by what is classed as uncontrolled AD.

Why not take a look at our handy checklist below and see if any of these uncontrolled points are relevant to you?

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Uncontrolled Checklist

  1. You/your child experience flare ups once or twice a month even though you appropriately use the medication prescribed by your/their GP1
  2. You/your child regularly use/s topical corticosteroid creams/ointments more than once or twice a day2
  3. You/your child experiences some unexpected side effects from using the medication prescribed1
  4. You/your child suffers with problems socialising or possible psychological issues, including difficulty sleeping due to eczema1

Do you think any of the four points above sound like they could relate to you or your child? If the answer is yes, your/their AD might not be adequately controlled. If this is the case, you might consider going back to see your healthcare professional to discuss what the next steps might be for you/your child.

If you do decide to speak to your healthcare professional, why not take the DLQI questionnaire to give your healthcare professional a better understanding of how you are currently feeling. To complete the questionnaire, Click here.

Whilst AD is an interchangeable journey, with good and bad skin days, you/your child doesn’t have to live with uncontrolled AD. Recognising what is classed as uncontrolled is one of the first steps in being able to take back control of AD. For top tips, including those to help improve sleep, visit our ‘life hacks’ page under Living with AD.

The ABCs of atopic dermatitis

Do you have a history of itchy skin plus at least three of the following?

If your answer is yes, then atopic dermatitis (AD) may be a condition you may want to speak to your doctor about.3*

A

Asthma – Do you have asthma or did you have it as a child?

AD is commonly associated with allergic conditions such as asthma. In fact, approximately 50% of people with AD will also develop asthma.4

B

Baby – Did your skin problems begin before the age of two years?

AD occurs most often in infants and children, but can present or flare up at any age.5 In fact, 45% of people living with AD are diagnosed by 6 months of age, and approximately 85% are diagnosed by the age of 5.4

C

Creases – Is your skin condition most prominent within the skin creases?

AD will often affect the parts of the body that we’re able to flex or bend (also referred to as the flexural areas). These include the front of elbows, behind the knees, front of ankles and around the neck.3

D

Dry skin – Have you had dry skin for more than 12 months?

In addition to intense and persistent itchy skin, a history of dry skin is a very common symptom of AD.3

E

Exercise – Does your skin feel itchy when you sweat?

In people with AD, heat and sweating are thought to irritate the skin and make it itchy.6

F

Feeling frosty – Does your skin get worse in winter?

AD can often flare up in winter due to a combination of cold air and indoor heating systems, both of which cause and exacerbate dry skin.7

G

Grandparents, parents and siblings – Does anyone in your family have eczema, hay fever or asthma?

A family history of allergies remains the strongest risk factor of AD. If one or both parents have AD or an allergic condition, the child is more likely to develop AD.7

H

Hay fever – Do you have hay fever or did you have it as a child?

AD is commonly associated with allergies such as hay fever (also referred to as allergic rhinitis).6 In fact, two thirds of people with AD will also develop hay fever.4

I

Irritation – Is your skin irritated by wool?

Wool fibres are frequently used in clothing, however for those with AD, they can be irritants when in direct contact with the skin.6

Read more
Download the ABCs of atopic dermatitis pdficon

* The health information provided above is for general educational purposes only. Your doctor is the single best source of information regarding your health. Please speak to your doctor if you have any questions about your health or treatment.

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Managing work with atopic dermatitis

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Medical support

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Atopic Dermatitis Control Test
(ADCT) questionnaire

Learn more
References
  1. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Severe eczema. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/eczema-atopic/management/severe-eczema (Accessed March 2024).
  2. Frequency of application of topical corticosteroids for atopic eczema. NICE Technology appraisal guidance [TA81] https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta81/chapter/1-Guidance par 1 (Accessed March 2024).
  3. The U.K. Working Party’s Diagnostic Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis. III. Independent hospital validation. Br J Dermatol. 1994;131(3):406-16.
  4. Spergel JM, Paller AS. Atopic dermatitis and the atopic march. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003;112:118-127.
  5. NHS Choices. Atopic Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis). Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atopic-eczema/ (Accessed March 2024).
  6. The U.K. Working Party’s Diagnostic Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis. I. Derivation of a minimum set of discriminators for atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 1994;131(3):383–96.
  7. NHS Choices. Atopic Eczema (Causes). Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atopic-eczema/causes/ (Accessed March 2024).

MAT-XU-2400603 (v1.0) | March 2024

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