FEBRUARY 23, 2022
FEBRUARY 23, 2022
Have you heard of Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema?
Facts about Atopic Dermatitis
As a parent, your child’s well-being is important. However, if your children often develop redness or itchy inflamed skin, he or she may be suffering from atopic dermatitis/ eczema.
Did you know that eczema can be inherited?
Don’t fret. Dr Fiona Chang, from AsiaMedic CHI (Complete Healthcare International) clinic, will provide you with all the information you need to know about this condition.
What is Atopic Dermatitis?
You might know it as “dermatitis” or “eczema”. They are frequently used interchangeably.
It is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by itch and often develops in early childhood.
The main symptoms of eczema are rash and itchy patches commonly on the elbows, hands, inside of the elbows and back of the knees but may also appear on any part of the body.
Why does my child develop Atopic Dermatitis?
The causes of atopic dermatitis are multifactorial including but not limited to skin barrier abnormalities, dysregulated immune system, and altered skin resident flora.
Certain risk factors predispose a child to develop atopic dermatitis:
Is there a cure for Atopic Dermatitis?
There is currently no cure for Atopic Dermatitis, but many patients outgrow it.
In certain cases, the skin barrier matures and integrity improves with increasing age. The condition might then improve over time.
However, some patients might still suffer from atopic dermatitis that persists into adolescence and adulthood.
This is usually due to overactivation of the immune system after multiple episodes of flares. The skin may then be discoloured or thickened due to chronic inflammation.
Is it an allergy?
Allergy means overactivation of the immune system. Atopic dermatitis is more complicated than merely overactive immunity.
It starts first with skin barrier abnormalities.
The skin barrier refers to the outermost layer of the epidermis, which helps protect your skin from harsh elements and holds in moisture. If the skin barrier has been tampered with, for example due to dryness or a genetic problem, it creates an access for environmental irritants, allergens and microbes to enter freely.
Defective barrier allows external stimulants to enter and trigger an immune response.
This will cause itchiness and redness. Repeated stimulation will then over-activate the immune system, driving our body into hypersensitivity with worsening skin rash.
Should an allergy test be carried out?
Since allergy plays a role in certain groups of patients with atopic dermatitis, clinicians might offer skin or blood allergy tests.
These results will then be interpreted by the treating physician before a diagnosis of allergy is made.
Is it an allergy?
Allergy means overactivation of the immune system. Atopic dermatitis is more complicated than merely overactive immunity.
It starts first with skin barrier abnormalities.
The skin barrier refers to the outermost layer of the epidermis, which helps protect your skin from harsh elements and holds in moisture. If the skin barrier has been tampered with, for example due to dryness or a genetic problem, it creates an access for environmental irritants, allergens and microbes to enter freely.
Defective barrier allows external stimulants to enter and trigger an immune response.
This will cause itchiness and redness. Repeated stimulation will then over-activate the immune system, driving our body into hypersensitivity with worsening skin rash.
Should an allergy test be carried out?
Since allergy plays a role in certain groups of patients with atopic dermatitis, clinicians might offer skin or blood allergy tests.
These results will then be interpreted by the treating physician before a diagnosis of allergy is made.
Tips to manage Atopic Dermatitis
Management of atopic dermatitis includes:
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Introduction
Resident Physician Dr Elizabeth Heah graduated from the University of Manchester in 2018. She has since been practicing in Singapore, with experience from Singapore restructured hospitals in the departments of General Surgery, Internal Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is passionate about preventative medicine and adopts a holistic approach to healthcare. Outside of medicine she enjoys practicing yoga, interior design and pottery. |
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Introduction
Consultant Radiologist He was awarded the Singapore Armed Forces Medical Scholarship in 2001 to study Medicine at the National University of Singapore and attained his MBBS in 2006. Dr Low then trained and obtained his post-graduate qualifications in Diagnostic Radiology FRCR (UK) and MMed (Spore) in 2012. In 2016, he was awarded the Health Manpower Development Program (HMDP) fellowship by the Singapore Armed Forces to train in Musculoskeletal and Interventional Radiology at Vancouver General Hospital and the University of British Columbia in Canada. Under the mentorship of Prof Peter Munk, Prof Bruce Forster and Prof Hugue Ouellette, the fellowship centred on advanced musculoskeletal imaging, sports imaging and musculoskeletal interventions. Upon his return to Singapore and during his tenure as Consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, he started several interventional programmes for tumour ablations (for both palliative and benign), vertebroplasties, hydrodilatation clinics for adhesive capsulitis and other musculoskeletal ultrasound-guided procedures. |
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Introduction
Consultant Radiologist Clinical Interest & Subspecialty: Neuroradiology (Brain, Head & Neck, Spine) and Neurointervention Dr Santhosh Raj is a Consultant Radiologist with 20 years of experience in radiology. He graduated from Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2002 and obtained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (U.K.) in 2008. Upon completing the Advanced Specialist Training (AST) in Singapore in 2013, he joined the Neuroradiology subspecialty team at Singapore General Hospital. In 2015, he completed his training in Neurointervention at the National Institute of Clinical Neurosciences in Budapest, Hungary, through the SingHealth Health Manpower Development Program (HMDP) fellowship. In addition to his routine work, Dr Santhosh also reports MRI Brain Volumetry scans that are used to assess structural brain degeneration, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). He also reports Ultra Low-Dose (Submilisievert) CT Lung, which allows lung screening at doses lower than routine lung screening CT scans. Other innovative imaging scans that he developed in the past include Intracranial Vessel Wall Imaging (3T MRI), an optimized CT Arterio-Venography (CTAV) of the brain, and an optimized Multiphasic CT Angiography of the Neck and Brain (acute stroke management). His past appointments include Deputy Director of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (SGH), and Director of Radiology Training (SGH). He was also Clinical Lecturer at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS), and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Duke NUS. Dr Santhosh is particularly interested in imaging informatics and artificial intelligence (AI). He is passionate about teaching and developing innovative imaging scans. He also loves to walk and spend quality time with his family. |