What is atopic skin?

Updated on December 09, 2025
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Co-authored with dermatologist Clarence De BELILOVSKY, a member of the Mustela expert circle.

Atopic dermatitis (also known as atopic skin disease ) affects one in five children worldwide, but "atopic" does not mean "rare." While eczema symptoms are uncomfortable (redness, itching, dryness, etc.), it is not rare, not contagious, and not irreversible .
More precisely, atopic dermatitis symptoms may appear as early as two months of age (or even earlier) and may lessen or disappear by age five to six . During this time, rest assured: proper care and gentle attention will soothe your baby's discomfort (see "Atopic Dermatitis: How to Prevent It?").
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What is heterotopy?

So where does it originate? Atopic dermatitis stems from a combination of two key factors: an overreactive immune system and very dry skin .
When the immune system overreacts to allergens or specific environments, it's called atopic dermatitis (see home care advice). It can be hereditary : if one parent has atopic dermatitis, the child's incidence is 40%-50%; if both parents have it, the incidence rises to 50%-80%. <sup>2 </sup> Other causes can also explain its occurrence, such as pollution or excessive cleaning! In fact, atopic dermatitis is more common in industrialized countries than in developing countries.
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What is atopic dermatitis? How can it be relieved?

Why does atopic dermatitis affect dry skin ? Because it's more sensitive . Skin normally forms a protective layer of water and oil (lipids) on its surface, called the sebum film , and produces filaggrin, which acts as "cement" to maintain the barrier function. When lipids or filaggrin are insufficient , the skin loses moisture, its barrier function declines, and allergens can more easily enter the body.

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