Atopic dermatitis care. The story of Diego and Nicolò at Terme di Comano.

The story we are telling you today is about two children:Diego, 4 years old, from Rho, andNicolò, 10 years old, from the province of Bergamo. What do they have in common? Both have had to face from a very young age a problem that affects about 20% of the child population: atopic dermatitis. But, most importantly, both found a solution to the numerous problems caused by this pathology in the Terme di Comano. Let's discover together, through the direct testimony of the children and their parents, what their experience was like.

Diego and Nicolò have had very similar, almost parallel, clinical journeys. The former has suffered from atopic dermatitis since he was just a month and a half old. His mother, Adelaide, clearly remembers that very difficult initial period for little Diego and his family:“He kept scratching, I slept with him to hold his arms still during the night, we couldn't find peace, he kept scratching and the situation just kept getting worse”.

Sleeplessnightswere a constant for many years for Nicolò too. His mother, Chiara, tells us how they had all fallen into deep despair: "Until the age of 8, the atopic dermatitis was mainly concentrated in the crooks of his elbows and neck. Nicolò also had some rashes on his face, but only a puff. He didn't want to wear short-sleeved shirts because otherwise the other children would see his arms, and he was ashamed. He felt a very strong discomfort; he was always agitated and didn't sleep."

The diagnosis of atopic dermatitiswas a real obstacle course for both of them.

“Initially, doctors always prescribed corticosteroids, but his parents were reluctant to use cortisone on such a young child,”Diego’s mother tells us, and Nicolò’s journey was equally complicated. “We subjected him to several medical examinations, but they never definitively clarified the diagnosis. The pediatrician and pediatric dermatologist struggled to identify and recognize atopic dermatitis because Nicolò was in the remission phase at that time. In addition to cortisone, we were advised to bathe him as little as possible.”.

Diego's and Nicolò's paths share a common destination: Terme di Comano. Diego first discovered it in 2018:"We had tried everything and were almost giving up. A dermatologist in Milan, whom we had visited to inquire about salt caves, gave us an illuminating piece of advice: the solution was called Terme di Comano. At first, I tried contacting other spas in Northern Italy, which were closer to us, but what struck me was that they all pointed me to Comano as a pediatric dermatological center.".

And Nicolò?"While searching for information online, we learned about the world of Terme di Comano,"says Chiara. "We decided to take matters into our own hands once and for all, and at the beginning of 2021, we booked a specialist dermatological consultation in Comano, which confirmed the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis and recommended that we undergo a course of balneotherapy. Once we were home, the pediatrician did not hesitate to issue a referral for a course of thermal baths for atopic dermatitis.

“Terme di Comano was a pleasant discovery,”Nicolò’s mother continues. “In addition to the thermal baths, we were able to participate in the weekly Comano Educational meetings, training sessions led by the spa’s specialists dedicated to the correct lifestyle choices to adopt in cases of atopic dermatitis. Nicolò participated in the Atopic School, with pediatrician Dr. Baldo and psychotherapist Dr. Laura Franceschini, as well as the nutrition school with nutritionist Dr. Laura Giglia, from whom he learned what to eat and what not to eat. It was a way to make him more responsible and to make him more aware. Seeing so many people at Comano Educational was good for him, because he understood that there are many other people who have the same problem and that he is not alone.”They had a great time at Terme di Comano, went for many walks, the weather was beautiful, and they greatly enjoyed exploring the area, especially liking Lake Molveno, the Fiavè Pile Dwellings, and Trento.

The experience at Terme di Comano has significantly improved the management of atopic dermatitis in the family. Chiara tells us that the first important step was to gain greater awareness of the problem and possible solutions. They know that dermatitis might return, but they have learned to accept and treat it by implementing the advice of specialists. Chiara explains: “Now in the evening, he takes a quick shower, dries himself minimally, and immediately applies cream and compresses as Dr. Baldo recommended at the Atopy School.”.

The same applies to little Diego. "Over the years, Terme di Comano has become part of our daily lives; we always talk about it and recommend it to everyone because it's a positive environment that makes us feel good," Adelaide emphasizes. "Diego's atopic dermatitis has improved so much that he's stopped scratching at night. Now he can rest, and of course, the whole family has benefited from this. Sometimes it worsens in winter, but to combat the itching, we use the thermal water spray from Terme di Comano and the intense relief moisturizing cream specifically for atopic dermatitis."