Eczema On The Feet - Symptoms, Stages And Treatment Of Eczema On The Feet

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Eczema on the legs

Eczema on the legs is a chronic disease that has a neuro-allergic nature, manifests itself in rashes, itching, burning of the lower extremities, and is prone to frequent relapses.

Eczema is widespread, accounting for up to 40% of all dermatitis. The disease affects both women and men with equal frequency. Although some types of dermatological pathology, for example, varicose eczema, are more common in women.

Content:

• Symptoms of eczema on the feet
• Causes of eczema on the feet
• Stages of eczema on the legs
• Types of eczema on the legs
• Treating eczema on the feet

Symptoms of eczema on the feet

Symptoms of eczema on the legs will depend on which type of eczema is affecting the lower extremities.

However, the following common symptoms of eczema development can be distinguished, such as:

• The appearance of a polymorphic rash that has a wavy character. Vesicles, nodules, erythema, vesicles, scales, crusts, erosion may appear on the affected skin areas. Moreover, all these manifestations can be observed on the lower limbs at the same time.
• Erythema, which is expressed in severe redness of the skin due to dilated capillaries. With eczema of the lower extremities, this process is triggered against a background of inflammation, since some mediators contribute to the expansion of blood vessels.
• Itching. The skin of the legs itches a lot, as the activity of T-lymphocytes increases. These cells begin to attack both foreign agents and their own body. During this process, a number of biologically active substances are released that provoke itching.
• Lichenization of the skin, its dryness and peeling. This symptom occurs during the reduction of inflammation, when scales form on the skin.
• Violation of sleep and wakefulness. Often, severe itching, which tends to increase during the night hours, leads to the fact that the patient cannot get enough sleep. Sometimes erosion becomes the cause of nervous disorders.

Causes of eczema on the feet

The disease has a polyetiological basis, as it develops as a result of the influence of many factors.

Experts identify the following causes of eczema on the legs:

• Genetic predisposition. It was found that if one parent had eczema on the legs, then the risk of developing it in the child is 40%, and if both parents had a history of the disease, the risk increases by another 10%. The symptomatology of the disease manifests itself especially clearly in those patients who have intraspecific antigens in their blood - isoantigens A, N, M. In addition, the disease often occurs in people with positive blood Rh factor.
• Disorders in the functioning of the endocrine system, in the work of the thyroid and adrenal glands.
• Disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system. In addition to angiovegetative neuroses, patients with eczema on the legs often indicate that the disease arose in them after a stressful situation.
• Existing skin diseases: atopic dermatitis, exudative diathesis.
• Occupational factors, as a result of which various chemicals regularly affect the human body. Exposure to nickel, chromium, lead, manganese, formalin, epoxy resins, cutting fluids, surfactants, etc. can contribute to the formation of occupational eczema. The high-risk area includes workers in the pharmaceutical, metallurgical, printing industries, service personnel, car wash workers, etc.
• Exposure to the skin of the legs of infectious agents, such as: mycotic microorganisms, bacteria (especially staphylococci and streptococci).
• Environmental factors such as overheating, hypothermia, solar radiation.
• Various injuries to the skin that could be obtained by mechanical, chemical or thermal means.

• Irrational use of certain drugs.
• Violation of the digestive tract. It is known that the condition of the skin directly depends on the normal functioning of the digestive system. If the intestines cannot cope with toxic products that enter it, then most of the harmful substances are absorbed into the bloodstream, in order to then be excreted through the skin. If the problem is not eliminated over a long period of time, then the negative effect of toxic substances on the dermis increases, which leads to the formation of eczema.

If external and internal factors are combined, then the neuro-allergic reaction of the body forms much faster, as a result, eczema develops.

Stages of eczema on the legs

Regardless of the reasons that provoked the disease, the stages of eczema on the legs will be as follows:

• Stage of erythema or redness of the skin. In the place where the rash will subsequently be localized, the dermis becomes warmer to the touch, begins to itch. Itching may occur several days before redness appears.
• The stage of papule formation. This stage is characterized by the formation of nodules that rise above the surface of the skin. The formations have a reddish tint, and their size does not exceed 5 mm in diameter. Sometimes the pathological process can end at this stage: the papule will be covered with scales, the hyperemia will gradually disappear, and the dermis will return to its original state.
• If the papules do not regress, then they begin to fill with light serous contents and turn into small vesicles. Bubbles can open, then their contents will come out. These vesicles are called vesicles, and the stage of eczema on the legs is vesicular.

• The next, pustular stage, is characterized by a change in the fluid contained in the bubbles. The number of leukocytes increases in it, and the vesicles are filled with pus, forming pustules.
• At the stage of weeping eczema, erosions are formed, which are located around the pustules. They have a deep red color, if the area of the leg with the scalp is inflamed, then the hair falls out. If a secondary infection joins, then an increase in body temperature is possible.
• As the inflammation process fades away, the disease enters the crustal stage. The eroded surface dries up, a crust forms on it. If there is a secondary infection, then pus will come out from under the crust.
• The stage of formation of scales. The crusts are gradually rejected, and pityriasis scales appear on the surface of the regenerating skin.

After about a month, the skin can fully recover. When eczema does not pass from the oozing stage for a long time or remains at the peeling stage, then it makes sense to talk about the subacute course of the disease. The more often relapses occur, the more the protective mechanisms of the skin are weakened, its barrier function decreases.

Types of eczema on the legs

Experts identify the following types of eczema on the legs:

1. True eczema, which is characterized by the appearance of symmetrical foci with indistinct boundaries, with wetness and swelling of the skin. Nodules and pustules with this type of disease appear rarely.

   The following subspecies of true eczema can occur on the legs:

   • Puriginous with a predominant place of localization on the bends of the legs (without getting wet with bubbles, nodules and severe itching);
   • Dyshidrotic with a predominant place of localization on the feet (with pronounced itching, getting wet, with dense bubbles);
   • Horny or tylotic with a predominant site of localization on the heels (with hyperkeratosis of the skin, with the formation of cracks and with itching).

2. Microbial eczema, which most often appears next to damaged areas of the skin, such as: burns, cracks, scratches, etc. Areas of inflammation become wet, covered with a large number of crusts, characterized by exfoliation of the epidermis.

   There are the following subspecies of microbial eczema, which can appear on the legs:

   • Nummular in the form of round areas of inflammation with vesicles, papules, crusts;
   • Intertriginous, which can appear in the groin folds (characterized by pronounced redness, cracks, itching, weeping);
   • Varicose, which is located in the places of varicose veins (most often this type of eczema occurs with varicose veins, complicated by skin sclerosis and ulcerative processes); see also: varicose veins on the legs - diagnosis and treatment
   • Fungal or mycotic eczema can affect the feet and nails (may be accompanied by wetness and itching).
3. Seborrheic eczema can occur in the groin folds, since it is there that a person has the most sebaceous glands (if we consider the lower limbs). This type of disease is characterized by the appearance of oily plaques with yellowish crusts (how is oily and dry seborrhea treated?).
4. Occupational eczema occurs due to frequent contact of the skin of the feet with various chemicals. According to clinical signs, it is similar to true eczema, but it is able to quickly eliminate itself in the absence of a potential irritant.

Treating eczema on the feet

Treatment of eczema on the legs will differ slightly depending on what type of disease is bothering a particular patient, on the severity of the pathological process, on the presence of a secondary infection.

It will not be possible to get rid of the problem if you do not get rid of the cause that provoked eczema on the legs. Therefore, the existing diseases of the endocrine, nervous and digestive systems should be eliminated.

• Patients are prescribed sedatives to help cope with nervous disorders, such as: Nozepam, Phenazepam, Chlozepid (up to 10 days), Novopassit, Sedasen, Valerian, Persen (according to indications).
• To reduce the symptoms of intoxication, enterosorbents can be recommended: intramuscular administration of calcium gluconate, oral administration of Multisorb, Enterosgel, Polysorb, Polyphepan, intravenous infusion of calcium chloride or sodium thiosulfate.
• The use of local hormonal preparations in the form of ointments. It is worth remembering that experts recommend refraining from applying hormone-containing products to eczema as long as possible. They are prescribed only for severe and persistent inflammation, when other drugs do not help. The following hormonal ointments are used: Ftorocort, Sinaflan, Flucort, Elokom, Hydrocortisone ointment, Oxycort, Cloveit, Betazone, Diprogent, etc.
• If the inflammation becomes systemic, then the patient may be prescribed a course of treatment with hormonal drugs taken orally. The total duration of therapy should not exceed 15 days. The most commonly used drugs are: Prednisolone, Corticotropin, Triamcinolone, Dexamethasone.
• For any type of eczema on the legs, the patient is prescribed antihistamines. During the acute stage, it is recommended to take Promethazine, Diphenhydramine, Chloropyramine. As the exacerbation fades away, they switch to taking antihistamines of the second and third generation: Loratadin, Zirtek, Zodak, Tsetrin, Erius, etc.
• If a patient is found to have an immunodeficiency state, then he is referred for a consultation with an immunologist, who prescribes immunomodulators for him. Among these: Thymogen, Polyoxidonium, Plazmol, etc. The choice of means and dose adjustment is carried out only by a specialist.
• Microbial eczema requires treatment with antibacterial agents. You should first sow the flora and conduct an analysis to determine the sensitivity of the pathogen of eczema. On pustules, you can apply a solution of Resorcinol, a solution of Ethacridine Lactate in the form of lotions. Burov's liquid, silver nitrate solution, diphenhydramine paste have an anti-inflammatory effect. These remedies will help relieve itching. As the inflammation process fades away, you can use Lassar paste, zinc paste.
• With seborrheic eczema, it will be necessary to treat the affected surface with antimycotics and take antimycotics inside.
• Diet therapy involves the rejection of salt, fatty foods. The cooking method should be gentle. It is worth excluding all potential allergens from the menu, it is advisable to adhere to a dairy-plant diet.
• In the treatment of eczema on the legs, physiotherapy techniques have proven themselves well, for example, baths with mineral water, general galvanization, ultraviolet irradiation of the skin, ozone therapy, laser therapy, mud therapy, etc.
• In the presence of varicose veins, a phlebologist's consultation is indicated.

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).