Dry eczema on hands and feet
Dry eczema is a chronic form of a severe dermatological disease that develops as a result of the influence of various factors, the identification of which is the main task of the doctor for the implementation of successful treatment. The dermatologist, in order to properly prescribe therapy, needs to find out many different details, such as:
- In what water and how often does the patient bathe, does he visit the pool with water treated with chlorine and bromine;
- What products are used for skin care. Are alcoholic solutions, chlorine, hot water, preservatives and various other potential irritants and allergens being used;
- What remedies were used to get rid of the first signs of dry eczema.
In most cases, they turn to a dermatologist only when the stage has already begun at which cracks appear and the serous fluid oozing from them, drying out, leaves crusts of a linear and ring-shaped nature. To prevent this, you need to be aware of the primary symptoms and causes of dry eczema.
Content:
- Causes of dry eczema
- Dry eczema symptoms
- Dry eczema treatment
- Relapse prevention and prognosis
Causes of dry eczema
Eczema is one of the few diseases for which a specific cause has not yet been clarified.
Experts offer a whole list of reasons that can affect the likelihood of dry eczema:
- Regular exposure to powerful allergens. The reliability of this factor is indicated by numerous cases of dry eczema in workers who are in daily contact with certain chemicals.
- Dry air. This factor is not considered an intrinsic value, since millions of people permanently live in areas with dry air without any signs of skin diseases. But it is a known fact that in winter, when the air humidity indicator decreases significantly, patients with eczema experience an exacerbation of the pathological process.
- Disorders of normal metabolism. It is believed that problems with the digestive system, in particular with the stomach, intestines, liver, lead to the release or passage of toxins, the action of which negatively affects the condition of the skin.
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Genetics. As with many other diseases, the appearance of eczema, to a certain extent, is due to the presence of a condition of the organism itself predisposing to the disease. A certain sequence of genes is responsible for it, passed down from generation to generation. Therefore, the presence of eczema in blood relatives significantly increases the risk of getting it.
- Nervous disorders. This factor can be used for many diseases. On a nervous basis, immunity deteriorates significantly and the body's resistance decreases, and the patient himself may cease to adhere to the elementary rules of hygiene. In any case, depression and nervous tension greatly aggravate the condition of patients with eczema.
As already mentioned, it is impossible to say for sure which factor is decisive for the onset of eczema symptoms. But it can be reliably asserted that a history of two or more factors is a danger to any person.
Dry eczema symptoms
Dry eczema manifests itself with symptoms typical for the chronic form of this disease:
- Xerosis of the upper layers of the dermis, highlighting the skin pattern;
- Inflammation of the dermis, characterized by redness and itching;
- Cracks that make the patient's skin look like porcelain cracked from time to time. The depth of the cracks reaches the blood vessels, so they are often very painful and ooze with blood and serous fluid.
- Dry eczema is complemented by crusts of hardened exudate and aggravated redness.
Dry eczema treatment
Dry eczema is a chronic form of the disease, so treatment should be started immediately after diagnosis. The goal of dry type eczema therapy is to achieve and prolong remission as soon as possible. When using pharmaceutical and folk remedies, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the dosage and course of medication, since the interruption of treatment after the cessation of external symptoms leads to a rapid relapse with an exacerbation of the disease.
A systematic approach helps to increase the effectiveness of treatment - a strategy developed by the doctor together with the patient for using several types of drugs at once and treating not only the symptoms, but also the root cause of the development of eczema clarified during the diagnosis.
Symptoms are treated with the following means:
- Softening the skin with the regular use of oily or lighter creams.
- Specialized moisturizing is carried out with more expensive products based on hyaluronic acid, collagen, uric acid.
- Use of extremely mild detergents for delicate skin.
- An excellent effect is provided by the use of various external agents based on corticosteroids. Daily compresses, lotions and spreading of pastes and ointments should be carried out until peeling and redness stops. After that, it is better to stop using them.
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Weeping eczema requires the strongest treatment to prevent an exacerbation of inflammation, fraught with serious complications. Applications with Burov's solution have a good effect. But after the acute phase of the development of eczema subsides, it is worth switching to another drug in order to prevent the skin from drying out.
Treatment of the underlying cause of the disease differs depending on the results of the diagnosis:
- Neurotic disorders must be stopped by the use of sedatives, then seek help from a psychotherapist for further therapy. It is possible that eczema appeared as a consequence of damage to peripheral nerves during trauma. In this case, the appropriate procedures and operation are prescribed;
- Hormonal imbalance can contribute to the development of eczema, therefore, a blood test is necessary and the search for corresponding pathologies in the endocrine glands;
- Metabolic disorders must be addressed with a strict diet. It is necessary to stop overloading the gastrointestinal tract with artificial and difficult to digest food; it is also necessary to monitor the state of the liver and intestinal microflora. If necessary, drugs are prescribed to calm the stomach, enzymes to improve digestion, probiotics and stimulants of peristalsis.
- In severe cases, an immunological study of the blood composition for the ratio of immunoglobulins IgE, IgG and IgM, the number of T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes, as well as the presence of isoantigens A, M, N and rhesus D + is mandatory. The test results must be transferred to the immunologist for the appointment of drugs correcting the immune state.
Among the possible complications of eczema, external infections are the most common. Eczema itself is a non-contagious disease caused by internal and external factors of non-biological origin. But combed irritations and weeping vesicles (dents on the skin left after bubbles of serous fluid) are places of increased permeability to microbes, and over time, the course of the disease is aggravated by infection.
This eczema is called microbial, and antibiotics or antimycotics are used to treat it. It is best to pay attention to the inflammatory process right away, and take a smear to make a culture to find out the type and strain of the pathogenic microorganism. This will allow avoiding the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which have a strong side effect in the form of dysbiosis after the destruction of the intestinal microflora.
Antifungal drugs are prescribed for fungal infections. This form of microbial eczema is characterized by white discharge from ulcers on the skin, which occurs due to the vital activity of fungi of the genus Candida.
In addition to drug treatment, eczema in any case helps to stop a specialized diet.
Foods containing popular allergens and foods that overload the gastrointestinal tract are excluded from the patient's diet:
- Citrus;
- Eggs;
- Chocolate;
- Spices;
- Hot spices;
- Grilled meat;
- Cheese;
- Alcohol.
On the subject: Treatment of eczema with folk remedies - 7 effective remedies
Relapse prevention and prognosis
The prognosis for eczema is most often favorable, especially if the diet is followed and the courses of prescribed medications are properly administered. Eczema is prone to relapse at the first lapses in the skin care regimen, so patients need to pay close attention to the symptoms of the disease at all times.
During the period of remission, regular skin hydration is indicated with the help of cosmetic, traditional and folk remedies. In the cold season, you should enhance care and protect the skin from hypothermia and dry air with clothing.
One of the important measures for the prevention of eczema is to prevent skin contact with all kinds of chemicals - adhesives, detergents, powders, dyes, fuels, lubricants and paints and varnishes, etc., especially if the cause of the disease was regular contact with them at work.
When choosing new cosmetics, women always need to test for an allergic reaction. Sea buckthorn or almond oil should be continued after getting rid of all symptoms - these remedies have worked well both in the treatment and prevention of dry eczema.
The return of dry eczema in many cases can be prevented by installing a humidifier in the room. This modern device will automatically maintain a slightly increased humidity, which will not allow the skin to dry out too much, even if the patient refuses constant care for a while. In winter and in cities, a humidifier is a real lifesaver for eczema patients. If you add a little of your favorite essential oils to a container of water, you can brighten up the atmosphere in the house and improve the patient's mood.
Various emollients (moisturizers based on fatty acids that fix in the skin) with soothing properties without fragrances, terpenes or alcohols in the composition are good for preventing the recurrence of dry eczema.
The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist
Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).
