True eczema
True eczema is one of the chronic forms of dermatosis. It manifests itself in the form of characteristic localized rashes (microvesicles). Vesicles have a feature of opening quickly, forming serous wells. The skin around the affected areas is reddened, edematous and characterized by intense wetness. The clinical picture is so specific that it allows a specialist to accurately make an accurate diagnosis based on a visual examination.
The content of the article:
Causes of true eczema
Symptoms of true eczema
Diagnosis of true eczema
True eczema: treatment and prevention of recurrence
True eczema
Causes of true eczema
What causes this pathology is not reliably known. The etiology of true eczema is the subject of lively discussions. However, there are factors that are considered to be predisposing to the development of this disease:
genetic predisposition;
various diseases of the endocrine system;
there is a theory that true eczema is an autoimmune disease;
allergic reactions;
neurogenic factors. True eczema occurs in patients with impaired skin innervation;
immunodeficiency of various origins;
various background pathologies: diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, vegetative-vascular dystonia, diabetes mellitus, chronic infectious diseases, etc.;
stressful situations and depressive states of the patient, etc.;
Summarizing, it is worth noting that many scientists associate the occurrence of eczema with various disorders of the central nervous system and allergic reactions. Allergy has, as a rule, a chronic process. The stages of exacerbation are replaced by stages of remission, which may explain the long-term recurrent course of true eczema.
Often true eczema occurs in children. The cause of this pathology in childhood is considered to be toxicosis of pregnant women, various diseases suffered by the mother during pregnancy and related medication, improper feeding or the introduction of complementary foods into the baby’s diet.
With hypersensitivity of the body, some factors can cause exacerbations of true eczema: food, skin contact with certain tissues (wool, synthetics and others), household dust, animal hair, plant pollen, etc. In children, the cause of true eczema can be a helminthic invasion.
Symptoms of true eczema
For the first time, eczema begins acutely in the patient: multiple symmetrical lesions immediately appear. There is no favorite localization, but it is noted that in the onset of the disease, the skin of the face and hands is often affected. There is some stage in the course of the disease. First there is a rash resembling boiling water (hence the name of the disease, from the ancient Greek “boil”). Then papules, vesicles, serous wells, skin weeping, crusting and peeling appear. Often the rash is polymorphic in nature, that is, at the same time, various morphological forms of skin lesions with true eczema can be observed on the affected area.
With adequate therapy, all manifestations of the disease gradually disappear, but its recurrent course is possible. During the treatment period, exacerbations of the eczema process may appear several times before the onset of full recovery.
True eczema is accompanied not only by skin lesions, but also by constant severe itching. This creates a certain psychological discomfort. Sleep function may be disrupted and other neurotic disorders may occur: increased fatigue, irritability, etc. appear.
The acute course of the disease gradually becomes chronic, true eczema can last for many years. From time to time, the patient has relapses, and each time the eczema process is complicated by the increasing compaction of the affected skin, its color changes, it flakes off strongly and differs in the severity of the skin pattern. Calloused parts with excessive keratinization of the skin and cracks may appear on the feet and palms.
True eczema can be complicated by the addition of infection with the development of pustular skin disease and the appearance of purulent putrefactive vesicles.
Thus, the acute inflammatory process is constantly replaced by chronic manifestations of the disease, which distinguishes true eczema from other skin diseases.
Diagnosis of true eczema
The diagnosis is established based on the patient’s survey. Special attention is paid to identifying those factors that could provoke the disease. If necessary, various allergy tests are carried out, since for successful treatment it is important to establish and eliminate the root cause of the disease. Differential diagnosis with contact allergic dermatitis is required due to the similarity of the clinical picture.
General urine and blood tests are performed on the patient. According to the indications, a biopsy of the affected tissues and other studies. In cases of secondary infection, bacteriological seeding of the discharge from the affected surface should be carried out.
True eczema: treatment and prevention of recurrence
Treatment of true eczema has several directions and directly depends on the stage in which the disease is located. Therapy should be carried out under the constant supervision of the attending physician, only he will be able to correct the prescribed treatment in time.
Symptomatic therapy consists in the use of antihistamines that reduce swelling and significantly relieve itching. The choice of antihistamines depends on the stage of the course of the disease and is carried out individually for each patient. With a long-term chronic course of the disease, corticosteroid medications may be prescribed orally.
Preparations for external use are of great importance. At the stage of wetness, chatterboxes can be prescribed that have cooling properties and help to get rid of severe itching. Various ointments and creams containing hydrocortisone and prednisone are also used. Such rubbing is effective in the presence of a pronounced inflammatory process. General therapy is also used, including treatment of background or secondary infection. Some experts emphasize the need to take vitamins and minerals, especially B vitamins and vitamin C. They help to prevent or weaken an existing allergic reaction.
During remission, the patient is shown physiotherapy procedures and spa treatment in accordance with the recommendations of the attending physician.
