Summer is a cruel season for atopic dermatitis patients and their families.

The heat and humidity exacerbate the itchiness and pain that come with the disorder. Worried parents often stay up all night fanning their children kept awake by itchy and swollen skin.

According to the British National Health Service, atopic eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is the most common form of eczema. It mainly affects children, but can continue into adulthood.

The number of people diagnosed with atopic dermatitis and other diseases here marked 1.08 million in 2011, about 2.98 percent of the population, according to the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation.

The Korean Dermatological Association said the number has been rising by 5-15 percent every year.

The U.K. NHS says that the exact cause of atopic eczema is unknown. However, it often occurs in people who have allergies (“atopic” means sensitivity to allergens). Atopic eczema can run in families and often occurs alongside other conditions such as asthma and hay fever.

It also notes that atopic eczema can vary in severity. Most people are only mildly affected and have small areas of dry or red skin, which are occasionally itchy, it says. Other people have more severe symptoms, such as cracked, sore and bleeding skin.

A person with atopic eczema usually has periods when symptoms are less noticeable, and flare-ups when symptoms become more severe and require additional treatment.

Atopic eczema clears up or significantly improves in many children as they get older. In about 53 percent of cases, atopic eczema clears up by the time a child reaches 11 years of age, and in 65 percent of cases it clears up by 16 years of age, according to the NHS.

Severe eczema often has a significant impact on daily life and may be difficult to cope with physically and mentally. However, many different treatments can be used to control symptoms and manage the eczema, the NHS said.

“The most notable thing about atopic diseases is that the whole family needs to get involved in tackling them, take extensive care and monitor the ongoing situation,” said Dr. Pyeon Ju-ri, head of the oriental medicine division of Cheong Shim International Medical Center.

Below is a checklist to screen for the disease, provided by the medical center. If you have more than five of the symptoms mentioned below, you should visit a doctor.

Symptoms of atopic dermatitis

Common:

1. Red spots, oozing sores or papule on the face, arms or legs.

2. Sudden itchiness with the symptoms worsening at night.

3. Frequent inflammation of the skin.

4. Either parent is allergic to something.

5. Previous history of allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis or asthma.

Infants (up to 6 years):

6. The forehead, cheeks and inner scalp are red and the red area expands.

7. Skin inflammation worsens after eating a particular food.

8. Itchiness worsens after drooling or crying.

9. The elbow and knee areas turn red easily. Blisters occur on the earlobe.

10. Areas around mosquito or other bug bites appear swollen and reddish.

Children/teens:

6. Constant itchiness.

7. One is constantly occupied and very short-tempered because of itchiness.

8. The pigment of the skin near the eyes, knees and other joint areas becomes darker.

9. The itchy skin becomes rough, uneven and thick.

10. Itchiness worsens under stress.

Adults:

6.The skin texture gets rough (like that of an elephant) and wrinkles are detected on the surface.

7. Itchiness gets worse after drinking alcohol or smoking.

8. Itchiness gets worse with a lack of sleep.

9. Had atopic eczema as a child.

10. Skin inflammation all over the body.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)