University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital Eczema Multidisciplinary Clinic provides optimal health and functioning for eczema patients and their families through interdisciplinary development of a tailored plan-of-care utilized to meet their health needs and support quality research.
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic disease of the skin that is estimated to affect 10% of children in the United States. Eczema patients have an increased inflammatory response to allergens, irritants, and skin flora often leading to scratching and infection. Itch-scratch can cause interrupted sleep.
As eczema increases in severity, it may lead to disruption of parental and family function. Patients often require topical steroids to control eczema flare-ups, antibiotic therapy for treatment of infections, avoidance of food or environmental allergens, and/or asthma maintenance and emergency medications. Eczema is a pervasive and challenging chronic skin disease that can be accompanied by immense psychological distress for both sufferers and their families. Our clinic addresses both the patient's condition and family stress resulting from the condition. The benefits of our clinic include same day visit with a dermatologist, allergist, psychologist, pediatric gastroenterologist and nutritionist.