A mother asks why her 8-year-old child's eczematous lesions have moved from the cheeks to the elbow and knee folds over the years. Which pattern correctly describes the age-related distribution of atopic dermatitis?

• A Trunk only throughout childhood, limbs in adulthood
• B Flexural surfaces in infancy, face and extensor surfaces in childhood
• C Face and extensor surfaces in infancy, flexural surfaces in childhood and adolescence ✓
• D Palms and soles in infancy, scalp in childhood

Explanation

Infantile atopic dermatitis involves the face, scalp, and extensor surfaces because crawling causes friction on extensors and drooling affects the face. As the child grows, involvement shifts to the flexural creases of the antecubital and popliteal fossae, wrists, neck, and ankles. The reverse pattern given in option B is the single most tempting distractor and is simply the mirror image of the true sequence.

Reference: Habif Clinical Dermatology, 6th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.