|
|
Eczema
|
|
- This skin disorder is generally
attributed to a malfunction in the body's immune
system. It tends to occur in people who have a family
history of allergies. Many children who get this disease outgrow it at puberty, but later develop dermatitis of the hands as adults. Risk factors may include exposure to tobacco smoke, Skin Infections,
changes in climate, irritating chemicals, food allergies,
and stress.
|
|
- Skin (all or some may occur)
- Dry Scaly Skin
- Thickened skin
- Red patches with weepy or thickened
skin
- Tends to occur on face, neck, upper
trunk, wrists, hands, in the folds behind the knee and elbow
- Itching -- may be
severe
|
|
- Skin biopsy if diagnosis is unclear
- Food challenges to see if certain
foods are causing the condition
- Increased eosinophils may be
present in the blood
- Increased level of IgE antibodies
may be present
|
|
- Avoid drying or irritating the
skin
- No more than one shower or bath
per day, and do not sit in a soapy bath
- Only use soap on armpits, groin,
and feet
- Uses soaps that do not dry skin,
such as Dove, Aveeno, Basis, or Cetaphil.
- Pat skin dry after shower/bath --
do not rub.
- Before skin is completely dry,
cover with an agent that helps hold in moisture, such as
Eucerin, Vaseline, or mineral oil.
- Avoid scratchy clothes (often
cotton is the best)
- Avoid foods that tend to trigger (do challenges to determine which
ones may trigger -- most common are wheat and
dairy). Only 30% of those affected are worsened by certain
foods.
- Medication options (choices depend on type lesion, e.g.,
scaly or weeping):
- Corticosteroid creams
Doxepin cream
- Antihistamines such as Zyrtec to
treat itching
- 5% Aquaphor or Fototar cream
- Oral corticosteroids for 2-4 weeks
- Kenalog (a steroid) injection
- Antibiotics such as Keflex if there is
Staphylococcus infection
- Phototherapy
- Saline, bicarbonate or Domeboro tablets in
water, colloidal oatmeal (Aveeno) -- can use two to four
times per day for 10-30
minutes
|
|
- Herpes simplex infection (appears as blisters or crusty
scabs) may occur in areas that have been treated with
corticosteroid creams. This can be treated with acyclovir or
similar medication.
|
| | |
If you want your friend to read or know about this article, Click here
|
|
|