Also called eczema Atopic dermatitis: This disease often appears before a child’s first birthday and causes itchy skin that is red, warm, and tender. This is a common skin disease in children. It is so common that people have given it a few names: Eczema (name most people use). Dermatitis. Atopic (a-top-ic) eczema. Atopic dermatitis. To avoid confusion, we’ll use the medical term atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis: Who gets and causes Who gets atopic dermatitis? Around the world, between 10% and 20% of children have AD. About 1% to 3% of adults have AD. People of all skin colors get