“I always say to patients who have atopic dermatitis, the most important thing is what we call ‘dry skin care,’” says Marisa Garshick, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical Center and dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City. “And so that means really making sure that you’re doing things to prevent skin from becoming dry.” Problem is, that can be tricky for some people with the condition, since there are many possible triggers of dry, painful skin. (AD is a skin condition in which an overactive immune system causes dry skin that becomes inflamed and aggravated.) People with a mild form of AD may be able to keep their symptoms in check with lifestyle habits, such as moisturizing regularly and avoiding hot showers. People with moderate or severe AD may need to add treatments, such as topical or biologic medications, to their regimen. Are you doing all you can to manage your AD? Take the assessment to find out.
