Eczema: what is it, the causes of appearance, the types and treatment

There are many different skin diseases characterized by clinical manifestations. One of the most common ailments is eczema. With it, every 6th child and every 10th adult comes across. Chronic disease in humans is manifested by unpleasant symptoms. However, you can get rid of them. A quick cure is possible in cases where the specialist makes the correct diagnosis and prescribes the appropriate treatment in a timely manner. So, eczema - what is it? How can one get rid of this disease and in the future avoid its exacerbations?

What is this disease?

In medicine, the term "eczema" is used to describe the inflammatory process that occurs on the surface layers of the skin. The name of this disease originates in the Greek language. It has the word "eczeo", which in translation means "to boil". This value perfectly characterizes the features of eczema (with the disease on the skin appear bubbles, which are quickly opened).

What is eczema? What it is? Answers to these questions mankind has known since ancient times. The term "eczema" began to be used by our ancestors around the 2nd century BC. E. This word denotes various skin diseases that occur in an acute form. Only in the first half of the last century eczema was isolated by researchers in a separate nosological unit.

Causes

When answering the question "What is eczema - what is it?" It is worth noting that this disease is polyethological. This means that the ailment can arise for various reasons:

• An important role in the emergence and development of the disease is played by exogenous factors (food, medicines, fungal and bacterial agents, chemicals);
• In some patients, the appearance of eczema is associated with the impact of endogenous factors (chronic infections).

Very often the disease is diagnosed at a young age. Basically, it occurs in those children who have exudative diathesis (hereditary predisposition of the body to allergies to various stimuli). From the development of eczema are not insured and adults.

Types and stages of the disease

There is no universally recognized classification of the disease. In the medical literature the following main types of cutaneous eczema are mentioned:

• True (endogenous);
• Seborrheic;
• Microbial;
• Children's;
• Professional.

For each type of disease there are several stages:

1. Erythematous. Eczema (photo "The initial stage of the disease" can be seen below) is manifested by inflammation that occurs as spots. Gradually they merge with each other.
2. Papular. On the affected skin there are small nodules that have clear boundaries and are painted in a bright red color.
3. Vesicular. Surfaces of the existing nodules are covered with vesicles filled with serous contents.
4. The stage of wetting. Vesicles on the skin are opened. From the formed point erosions, the liquid accumulated during the inflammatory process begins to be released.
5. Cortical. The liquid on the skin is drying up. As a result, yellowish tints appear. Under them, the upper layer of the skin is restored.
6. Stage of peeling (dry eczema). The scales and crusts on the surface of the skin begin to gradually disappear.

How does the ailment proceed?

For each type of eczema is characterized by a specific clinical picture. With a true variety of the disease, the inflammatory process is revealed on the face and limbs. Foci of defeat do not have clear boundaries. Some patients complain of a feeling of cold.

Seborrheic eczema - what is it? This kind of disease appears, as a rule, in people during puberty. Symptoms characteristic of eczema are observed in those areas where there are sebaceous glands (lesions appear on the scalp, face, neck, scapula, etc.). The disease is accompanied by severe itching.

Microbial eczema occurs in places where there are fistulas, trophic ulcers, infected wounds. First the inflammation begins around the already affected areas of the skin. As the disease progresses, healthy skin becomes involved in the process. The lesions are round, large. Their borders are exfoliated epidermis.

Disease in children is manifested by symptoms of true, seborrhoeic and microbial eczema. Most often, the disease occurs in infants in the first year of life. Children badly sleep, constantly crying because of itching. Signs such as puffiness, hyperemia, mocculation and stratification of crusts are vividly expressed.

Professional skin eczema occurs in employees and workers in contact with various chemicals. Foci of lesions appear on exposed areas of the skin. Symptoms of the disease disappear rather quickly when the effects of chemicals are eliminated.

Diagnosis of eczema

Diagnosis begins with anamnesis. The expert finds out, when the patient had the first signs, how eczema appeared (the initial stage), whether the patient has intolerance of any products, whether allergic reactions had occurred before, whether provoking factors could have been acting on the body.

After collecting anamnesis, laboratory tests are appointed:

• Clinical analysis of urine;
• Biochemical and clinical blood tests;
• Determination of the level of total immunoglobulin E in the serum by an enzyme immunoassay.

The listed studies are mandatory. In addition, bacteriological examination of skin microflora can be prescribed. Sometimes the results of all the diagnostic procedures performed indicate the need to contact other specialists:

• To the gastroenterologist (for the purpose of diagnostics and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases);
• Therapist (in the presence of various chronic diseases);
• Allergist (for allergic research);
• Psychoneurologist (for diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nervous system).

Treatment with the use of drugs

General treatment is chosen by the doctor individually for each specific case, taking into account the endogenous and exogenous factors, which caused the development of the disease:

1. Antihistamines are prescribed (Diprazin, Suprastin, Diazolin, Tavegil, Claritin, etc.). They contribute to the elimination of allergy manifestations.
2. With edematic syndrome, experts recommend the use of diuretics (for example, "Furosemide").
3. In order to provide a regulatory influence on the immune system, "Diucifon", "Metiluracil", "Timolin", "Pyrogenal", etc. are prescribed.
4. With microbial eczema antibiotics are shown ("Azithromycin", "Ampicillin", "Gentamicin", "Cefazolin", "Lincomycin", etc.).
5. In children who have this disease, often specialists discover dysbiosis, fermentopathy of the gastrointestinal tract. In connection with this small patients doctors appoint Bifidumbacterin, Lactobacterin, Bactisubtil, Bifikol.

When eczema treatment can be external. It is prescribed depending on the nature of the inflammatory process, the stage of eczema. In acute conditions, it is recommended to use glucocorticosteroid preparations: very strong, strong and medium strength. When the severity of the inflammation decreases, weak and medium strength medicines are used (for example, aerosols such as Triamcinolone, Oxycyclizol).

Pastes begin to use when the acute phenomena subsided. Means that contain i-thiol, sulfur, birch tar, naphthalan oil are recommended. The resolution of the inflammatory process that proceeds on the skin serves as an indication for the administration of ointments.

The doctor can also recommend aniline dyes (diamond green alcohol solution, methylene blue 1-3% aqueous or alcohol solution). They have disinfecting properties, promote faster formation and rejection of crusts.

Non-drug treatment

Eczema on the hands: how to treat more? It should be noted that the use of drugs is not the only purpose of doctors. Nutrition plays an important role in the treatment of the disease. Patients recommend a milky-vegetable diet. Positive effect on the body:

• Porridge;
• vegetables and fruits;
• Apple juice;
• Compotes.

From the menu it is recommended to exclude citrus fruits, eggs, meat broths, fatty fish, poultry meat, nuts, tomatoes, legumes, seafood, mushrooms, mayonnaise and seasonings. From coffee, cocoa, red wines, carbonated drinks, too, you need to refuse.

With extensive skin lesions, water procedures are undesirable. However, some experts recommend the adoption of therapeutic baths with herbal decoctions (for example, from chamomile, oak bark). Particular attention should be paid to the clothes used. People with eczema can not wear woolen, flannel, synthetic things that increase skin irritation.

Additional advice of specialists in the appointment of treatment to patients are:

• Exclusion of contact with substances and products that can cause an allergic reaction;
• A full-fledged sleep, the duration of which should be at least 8 hours;
• Limitation of stressful situations;
• Passage of physiotherapeutic treatment (ultraviolet therapy).

Recipes of traditional medicine

Some sick people turn to folk healers for help and ask them how eczema is treated at home. Physicians give the following recipes from inflammatory processes on the skin surface:

1. Prepare fresh cabbage. Mix it with egg white. Mix the prepared mixture under the dressings 1 or 2 times a day.
2. Take fresh cabbage leaves. Boil them in milk and mix with bran. From the prepared preparation to do poultices 1 or 2 times a day. The positive effect is noticeable at the wetting stage.
3. If you have eczema on your hands, what can you do to treat it? Folk healers are advised to prepare a special decoction. It is necessary to take twigs of birch, covered with leaves. Put them in a container and boil. In the not too hot broth with twigs, drop your hands. Keep them in a liquid for half an hour. During the day, you can still do 1 or 2 procedures.
4. Children suffering from wet eczema can prepare a remedy from walnuts. To do this, take the named ingredient (in the shell) in an amount of 3 pieces. Put the walnuts in the oven and do not remove them until they get a dark brown hue. After cooking and cooling, pour out, adding 1 tsp. Fish oil. The finished mixture can be lubricated twice a day.
5. This recipe is again the answer to the question, if you have eczema on your hands: than to treat? In case of inflammation on the upper limbs that has arisen because of the negative influence of detergents, it is necessary to prepare a solution (add 1 tsp of soda in 1 liter of cool water). Put your hands on it for 15-20 minutes, and then dip them into warmed sunflower or olive oil. After the procedure, it is not recommended to wash and wipe the skin. You can do it in half an hour.

To treat eczema, you can prepare a special ointment. It is made on the basis of the root of the hooves, dried herbs of spray, chamomile flowers and burdock leaves. The stages of preparation of an agent for treating eczema are as follows:

• The listed ingredients (each taken for 20 g) are immersed in a container with 4 glasses of water and put on a fire;
• The preparation is boiled for 25 minutes;
• After that 1 tbsp. L. Butter, 1 glass of strong decoction of hay, but do not remove from the fire (you can put it on a water bath);
• The final broth is filtered and mixed with an equal amount of glycerin.

Effectiveness of treatment

With correctly diagnosed and timely-started therapy, the improvement in the condition of a sick person comes about 1 week or slightly earlier. Inflammatory process on the affected areas of the skin begins to subside. New stains and nodules no longer appear. The old elements gradually regress. Sick people, who have eczema on the fingers, limbs and other parts of the body, stop complaining about the constant itching.

Recovery occurs in 20-25 days. However, it is worth noting that eczema is a chronic disease with frequent relapses. Prevention is necessary to prevent exacerbations. When performing all the recommended measures, the period of remission can last for several years and even for life.

Prevention of eczema

Diseases are easier to prevent than cure. This is also true for eczema. An important preventive measure is proper skin care. The fact is that the inalienable process occurring in the human body is the allocation of sweat. When it evaporates, the products of metabolism remain on the skin. They are joined by a fatty grease, which is secreted by the sebaceous glands. The mud deposited on the skin creates ideal conditions for the growth and development of pathogens.

Regular cleansing of the skin eliminates the development of the inflammatory process. For the hygienic purpose, it is sufficient to wash the body 1-2 times a week with the use of toilet soap and a sponge. Household soap can not be used, because it can cause eczema. Reviews of it testify that after its use there is dryness and irritation of the skin.

It is also recommended to take a shower twice a week. The sites that are most contaminated (face, hands, axillary hollows, external genitalia, legs) should be washed every day with soap. Care of the face deserves special attention. Fatty skin should be wiped with degreasing alcohol solutions of salicylic acid (1-2%), tincture of calendula (1 tablespoon per 1 glass of water). You can buy special cosmetics. Owners of dry skin is recommended to use nutritious creams.

Another preventive measure is wearing clothing that does not cause discomfort. It is best to buy things made from cotton. This material has excellent properties. It absorbs the sweat that emerges from the body, dries quickly and provides air to the skin cells.

Other preventive measures include:

• The exclusion of contacts with allergens;
• Correction of diet, compliance with diet;
• Use of neutral detergents;
• Use of gloves when working with various chemicals.

The disease "eczema" can occur in any person, because it is not a rare occurrence and according to statistics is about 30% of all skin diseases. Diagnosis of the disease with the same frequency in both women and men. Eczema does not lead to death, but in some cases it occurs in a very severe form, causing disability. In order not to interfere with the disease, it is necessary to follow the recommendations for prevention. When the same symptoms of eczema should seek help from specialists.