What conditions are associated with atopic dermatitis?

Atopic dermatitis is an allergic condition that can lead to other conditions including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

Transcript

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Hi, Dr. Woolery-Lloyd. I have atopic dermatitis. Does that put me at risk for other medical conditions?

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Hi. That's a great question. Thank you so much for asking. To put it simply, yes, Atopic Dermatitis, or AD,

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is associated with other conditions. AD is an allergic condition. And with one allergic condition, your likelihood

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of developing another is increased. A common one is asthma which affects the airways in your lungs and makes it difficult to breathe.

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Another allergic condition that tends to be associated with atopic dermatitis is food allergies.

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An allergic reaction to food can affect the entire body. Symptoms can include breaking out in hives

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or you can even have stomach-related symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea and cramps. But atopic dermatitis isn't just associated

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with other allergic conditions. It can affect the brain, as some research suggests that people with AD tend to have higher rates of mental health

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conditions like depression and anxiety. It's important to point out, though, that there's still a lot we don't

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know about how exactly AD and these conditions are related. Indirectly, atopic dermatitis can cause temporary hair loss.

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AD can cause an overwhelming urge to scratch, and excessive scratching on the scalp can lead to hair loss.

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A study also showed that those with AD are at an increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis,

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an inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the joints, though it can affect other parts of the body as well.

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This same study also showed that those with AD are at an increased risk for inflammatory bowel disease,

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like Crohn's disease which affects the digestive tract, and ulcerative colitis which affects the colon.

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Of course, we're still learning about AD and how it relates to other disorders. If you have AD talk to your dermatologist to learn more

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and develop a plan that works for you. [MUSIC PLAYING]