How Atopic Dermatitis Changes as You Age
If you're born with atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly called eczema, it can be triggered at any age. Here's how this condition can change as you get older.
Jul 08, 2021
Oct 27, 2022
Created With SupportHealthyWomen's Program Coordinator
Cynthia Louis-Juste is a program coordinator on the education team at HealthyWomen. She has worked with underserved and uninsured community patients to understand health disparities; conducted research on communication/cultural competency at Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, through the Greater New York Hospital Association; and conducted community needs assessments alongside Morris Height Health Center in Bronx, New York, during her CDC-funded internship at Columbia University.
Cynthia graduated with a bachelor of science in public health with a minor in sociology and a master of public health with a concentration in health policy and management and certificate in health disparities from the University of Albany. Some of her health interests include addressing women's health issues, health disparities within underprivileged populations, and tackling health strategy and operations within healthcare organizations.
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If you're born with atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly called eczema, it can be triggered at any age. Here's how this condition can change as you get older.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Elizabeth Liotta
Babies (0-12 months)
Skin appears red
Red rashes are likely to appear on face, cheeks, chin, forehead and scalp
Starts to appear on the elbows and knees between 6 and 12 months
Can spread to other areas of the body but is not usually found in the diaper area
May form a yellow crust or small pus bumps on the skin if it gets infected
Children (1-12 years)
May make skin look dry, scaly and thick with deep lines
Begins to appear in creases of elbows and knees or on wrists, ankles and hands
May also appear under eyes, around the mouth, on eyelids and on neck
Can cause redness and itchy patches behind the ears, on feet or on back of scalp (sometimes mistaken for cradle cap)
Teens (13-19 years)
Can cause symptoms again after having been dormant, often triggered by stress or anxiety
Mainly appears around eyes or on eyelids, neck and scalp
May be found on nipples, palms and soles of feet
Can be found in the creases of the elbows and behind the knees
Adults (20-59 years)
Causes rashes that are more scaly than those in children
Appears in the creases of the elbows or knees or the nape of the neck
May cover much of the body
Can cause very dry skin on the affected areas
May cause itchy rashes
Can lead to frequent skin infections, which can worsen during pregnancy
Older Adults (60 years and older)
Causes itchy, thick or leathery dry skin
Results in a decline in skin barrier function
Creates imbalances of the immune system
Increases risk of Staphylococcus aureus (staph) infection as a result of open, cracked skin
Can be worsened by pollen, dust mites, fragrance mixes, and metals (nickel and cobalt)
This resource was created with support from Regeneron and Sanofi Genzyme.