Causes, symptoms and treatment of eczema in children and adults
Eczema (dermatitis) is a group of chronic recurring skin diseases, the result of which is its inflammation. What the initial stage of eczema looks like depends on the form of the disease, common signs are redness and a rash on the skin or all over the body. Symptoms of dermatitis range from small rashes to blisters. Redness of the skin, swelling, itching are characteristic.
Eczema is a common disease that accounts for 30-40% of all skin pathologies. In developed countries, it affects 10-20% of the population.
Eczema is caused by serious inflammation of the epidermis and dermis. As a result of the various genesis, the disease is characterized by the variability of the clinical course and polymorphism of the elements of the rash. The causes, symptoms and treatment of eczema will be discussed below.
Types of eczema
According to the classification based on the clinical features of the disease, true, microbial, seborrheic, children's and professional types of eczema are distinguished.
The main types of eczema:
- Seborrhea. As a rule, it develops gradually and begins with dry or oily seborrhea - peeling of the scalp (dandruff). If left untreated, it can lead to hair loss. In severe cases, the rash appears along the hairline, behind the ears, on the eyebrows, on the back and around the nose, on the chest, on the upper back, in the inguinal and inguinal folds.
- Atopic (sometimes called nervous) eczema is a common allergic disease. It is believed that a hereditary component prevails in the occurrence of atopic eczema. It often occurs in families whose members suffer from asthma. The itchy rash is especially visible on the face, scalp, elbows, and buttocks. Irritant contact dermatitis is sometimes misdiagnosed as atopic.
- Microbial (exudative) or coin-shaped eczema. This form is characterized by rounded wet spots or a dry rash with clear, uneven borders. It most often affects the upper and lower extremities. As a rule, it worsens in the winter period.
- Varicose eczema occurs in people with impaired blood circulation, varicose veins, edema, especially in the area of the ankle joints. This type of eczema leads to ulcers. Read about how to treat varicose veins on our website Dobrobut.com.
- Xerotic eczema is manifested by dryness and cracking of the skin. The disorder is common among the elderly.
- Dyshidrotic or vesicular eczema (dyshidrosis). A characteristic manifestation is small opaque tubercles (vesicles), cracks on the palms and soles. The disease is accompanied by itching, which intensifies at night. Exacerbations are observed in the warm season.
- Hormonal eczema develops as a result of asymptomatic use of hormonal drugs.
How to get rid of eczema on nails, elbows, palms, hands and fingers
Taking into account the polyetiological nature of the disease, eczema therapy is carried out comprehensively. The doctor develops a personalized treatment algorithm, taking into account the localization of the pathological process, the patient's age, concomitant diseases, and the effectiveness of previous therapy.
An obligatory component of complex treatment is adequate external therapy. Cream for eczema on the body in adults helps relieve itching, eliminates dry skin, stops allergic inflammatory reactions, and prevents secondary infection.
Systemic therapy is usually connected when the pathology worsens. How to treat eczema on the face and head depends on the form of the disease and the nature of the skin damage.
As a rule, drugs are prescribed:
- antihistamines;
- desensitizing;
- sedatives (tranquilizers).
If necessary, correction of accompanying pathology is carried out.
How to get rid of eczema on legs, elbows, palms, hands and fingers? You should regularly moisturize the skin and apply hormonal creams strictly according to the scheme prescribed by the doctor. Eczema is considered a steroid-sensitive disease, therefore a high therapeutic effect is observed with topical glucocorticosteroid therapy. However, hormonal creams should be used for no more than two weeks. Antibiotic ointments are prescribed for signs of skin infection.
Treatment of eczema in children
Diet for eczema on hands and feet in children allows you to improve the condition of the skin without using strong hormonal ointments. Parents should monitor which products the child has an allergic reaction to and exclude them from the diet.
How to treat eczema on the skin of a baby? First of all, products should be excluded from the mother's diet, after the consumption of which the baby has an exacerbation of atopic dermatitis. It has been proven that the mother's diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding reduces the risk of eczema in the child.
The second important point is moisturizing/softening of the skin. Bathing once or twice a day and regular use of moisturizers are recommended. Hormonal ointments for children's eczema on the feet or other localization are prescribed only in the period of exacerbation and strictly dosed. Long-term use of topical steroids can lead to skin atrophy, telangiectasia. Therefore, they should be used with caution for the delicate skin of a child.
What to do in case of eczema in pregnant women? Eczema usually appears/exacerbates during pregnancy due to hormonal changes and other changes in a woman's body. Since the use of medications during this period is undesirable, you should immediately consult a doctor and strictly follow all his instructions.
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