Allergic skin conditions can manifest themselves in various forms and are caused by a variety of causes. The main allergic diseases that are monitored within the skin allergy clinic are:

Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

It is a very common chronic inflammatory skin disease. Its onset occurs in the first 6 months of life in 50% of children and by 12 months in 90% of children. In children it occurs in 10%-20% and in adults in 1%-3%, a frequency that has tripled in the last 30 years in developed countries. Atopic dermatitis has a good prognosis: 50% of children will not have atopic dermatitis at the age of 2 years and the rate reaches 85% at the age of 5 years. This good prognosis may be due to the warm climate of Greece, but it has a significant impact on the quality of life of the child and his/her family. Most importantly, it can be the beginning of the atopic course (food allergy, allergic rhinitis, asthma). Atopic dermatitis is characterized by itching, accompanied by dry skin and red/blotchy lesions.

The skin is the largest organ of the body and is its barrier to the outside world. Atopic dermatitis is characterized by a disruption of this epidermal barrier and the skin becomes vulnerable to various environmental irritants. The lack of an intact barrier makes the skin a gateway to allergens, i.e. proteins that can cause sensitization and allergy. The more diligent and meticulous the skin care with moisturizing products on a daily basis and with anti-inflammatory treatment whenever there is an outbreak, the lower the chances of developing a food or respiratory allergy in the future. In other words, a child's "allergic future" depends largely on skin care in infancy and childhood.

Urticaria and angioedema

Urticaria is characterised by red, itchy and swollen areas of the skin that can vary in size and appear anywhere on the body. Acute urticaria is most common, where the cause is identifiable and is often due to viruses, drugs, food or latex. In children, acute urticaria is usually the result of a viral infection. Natural urticaria results from an exogenous source: from rubbing the skin (dermographism), from cold (cold urticaria) or heat (cholinergic urticaria), from physical exertion, from pressure (pressure urticaria) or from direct exposure to sunlight (extremely rare, solar urticaria).

Angioedema, a swelling in the deeper layers of the skin, sometimes occurs alongside urticaria. It usually occurs in soft tissues such as the eyelids, mouth or genitals. Urticaria and angioedema may occur simultaneously or separately in the body.

Αλλεργική δερματίτιδα εξ επαφής

When certain substances come into contact with the skin they can cause a rash called contact dermatitis. Some of these reactions are the result of an allergic reaction (related to the immune system), but many are the result of a non-allergic or irritant reaction.

Factors that often cause symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis include nickel, perfumes, dyes, natural rubber (latex) products and cosmetics. Some ingredients in medicines that are applied to the skin can also cause an allergic reaction, such as neomycin found in antibiotic ointments.