所有患者都应接受合理皮肤护理并避免刺激因素(如屋尘螨、刺激剂和食物过敏原)的指导。此外,患者应意识到特应性皮炎是一种慢性疾病,需要润肤霜来维持皮肤屏障功能,即使他们的病情得到了很好的控制。根据疾病的严重程度,需要局部或系统应用药物来控制疾病。同时,很重要的是患者应适应使疾病恶化的过敏原的类型,并尽量避免接触这些过敏原。[118]Greenhawt M. The role of food allergy in atopic dermatitis. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2010;31:392-397.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20929606?tool=bestpractice.com
特应性皮炎患儿的父母或监护人可写下一系列说明,包括皮肤护理,沐浴方式及其他的对策以便帮助他们有效的管理孩子的皮肤疾病。那些父母可能因为孩子经历着慢性瘙痒和不适而失眠,并且想要让他们记住门诊就诊时所有被告知的内容是具有挑战性的。书面的治疗计划无法取代门诊时的患者教育。[91]Pickett K, Loveman E, Kalita N, et al. Educational interventions to improve quality of life in people with chronic inflammatory skin diseases: systematic reviews of clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Health Technol Assess. 2015;19:1-176, v-vi.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK321887/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26502807?tool=bestpractice.com许多父母非常感激拥有可以在回家后帮助执行医生提供的护理和指导的说明书。[92]Chisolm SS, Taylor SL, Balkrishnan R, et al. Written action plans: potential for improving outcomes in children with atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59:677-683.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18513825?tool=bestpractice.com[93]de Bes J, Legierse CM, Prinsen CA, et al. Patient education in chronic skin diseases: a systematic review. Acta Derm Venereol. 2011;91:12-17.http://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/?doi=10.2340/00015555-1022&html=1http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21264451?tool=bestpractice.com
即使在理想条件下,父母,监护人和照顾者照顾特应性皮炎患者的压力仍可以影响被照顾者。如果注意到或感觉到令人担忧的心理压力,应提供支持和转诊。[94]Chida Y, Steptoe A, Hirakawa N, et al. The effects of psychological intervention on atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2007;144:1-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17449959?tool=bestpractice.com[95]Ersser SJ, Cowdell F, Latter S, et al. Psychological and educational interventions for atopic eczema in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(1):CD004054.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004054.pub3/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24399641?tool=bestpractice.com为父母提供支持和改善他们生活的方式有助于治疗的其他关键方面顺利进行。[119]Weber MB, Fontes Neto Pde T, Prati C, et al. Improvement of pruritus and quality of life of children with atopic dermatitis and their families after joining support groups. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2008;22:992-997.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18422535?tool=bestpractice.com