Neurodermatitis: photos, symptoms and treatment, causes
Under the neurodermatitis, modern medicine implies a chronic inflammatory dermatological disease with neuro-allergic origins.
It is characterized by seasonality, recurrent nature and high prevalence among children.
Some of them in the process of puberty forever part with the disease. Almost half of the cases of skin diseases occur in the neurodermite.
The origin of the term is associated with 1891, when the first case was described of the defeat of this ailment. Then it was believed that the main reason for the appearance of the disease is combing the itchy skin.
Nowadays, experts have identified far more profound and diverse sources of the disease. The main among them are:
The disease differs significantly in the nature of the rashes and their localization, which allows to identify several types of this ailment:
Symptoms of neurodermatitis may differ, but all of them are preceded by severe itching, which does not go to full recovery and tends to intensify towards night.
Sometimes it is so intense that a person can not hold back and starts combing the skin to the condition of a sinking wound. Soon this place dries up, but it coarsens.
At the initial stage, the affected skin is absolutely identical to healthy ones. But later they are covered with a characteristic rash, specks and pimples, which can merge with each other.
The areas covered by the disease are visually divided into zones: the central region is distinguished by thickening of the skin and a greater degree of pattern, the middle is filled with shiny papules, and the peripheral is markedly pigmented. Affected areas become dry, they can be seen exfoliation. With a prolonged course of the disease, the skin begins to become denser, the relief undergoes changes, rough folds appear.
Neurodermatitis can cover the surface of any part of the body, but more often others suffer hands, face, legs and head. Rashes on the lips are much rarer.
Symptoms are not limited to changes in skin condition. Neurodermatitis causes weakness in people, their fatigue increases, blood pressure drops. There may be weight loss and a decrease in blood glucose levels. Failures in the work of internal organs begin, especially strongly neurodermite affects the functionality of the adrenal glands, inflamed lymph nodes.
The mental health of a person also deteriorates. Patients often fall into depression, apathy, unbearable itching makes them irritable and uneasy. In the anamnesis of such patients contact dermatitis, bronchial asthma and other diseases of allergic nature are often present. The first cases of neurodermatitis are usually associated with childhood.
Symptoms of neurodermatitis in adults are seasonal in nature and may disappear during the summer, exacerbated in winter. The signs of the disease in children are similar to the manifestations of the disease in adults.
Because of the pronounced symptoms, the definition of the disease is not associated with difficulties. After a survey and examination, the doctor prescribes a blood test and instrumental studies. Thanks to the first specialist will be able to make sure that the ESR has decreased, and the number of lymphocytes and eosinophils has increased. A blood test will also indicate an increase in the amount of IgE.
In case of disease, skin tests will give a positive result with some allergens. From the surface of the affected dermis, a sow is taken to reveal the possible presence of candidiasis and streptococcus.
Treatment of neurodermatitis should take into account the age characteristics of the patient. In addition, it involves comprehensive measures of exposure:
As efforts should be aimed at the maximum elimination of allergens, it is worth paying attention to the quality of clothes, its naturalness and the degree of compliance with weather conditions. All materials that exert a coarse mechanical effect on the skin should be eliminated.
Complete treatment of neurodermatitis is impossible without additional but very important measures:
To prevent the onset of neurodermatitis during the period of gestation and lactation, a woman is recommended to follow the rules of healthy nutrition and reduce the intake of allergenic products to a minimum. This measure is especially relevant in those families where there is a predisposition to allergies.
Later, it is important to choose the right food and formula for the baby. Older children should not only eat properly, but comply with the regime, wear natural clothes, properly take care of skin, learn to avoid stress.
Preventive measures also mean rational and timely treatment of the disease at its initial stages, which avoids complications.
With this disease, the prognosis is quite favorable. Given the right treatment and excluding the interaction of the patient with allergens, the acute period of neurodermatitis takes no more than two weeks. After itself, the disease does not leave significant marks on the skin. In addition, more than half of the children cease to suffer from neurodermatitis after the onset of puberty. In others, the ailment assumes a chronic form with a recurrent course.
It is noted that there is a relationship between the time of onset of neurodermatitis and the prognosis of its further course. The appearance of the disease in infants most of the time indicates that unpleasant symptoms will persist after puberty.
The deterioration of the patient's condition may be due to the attachment of secondary infections. On their appearance evidenced arising on the skin of the abscesses, crusts and blisters. It is not excluded the occurrence of recurrent furunculosis in chronic form and skin lymphoma.
Complications of the neurodermatitis may include keposi's herpetiform eczema. This childhood illness is dangerous because it can lead to death.
The child's body temperature reaches 40 ° C, the skin is covered with pus-filled bubbles with characteristic dents in the center. Their rupture leaves behind bleeding erosions.
It is characterized by seasonality, recurrent nature and high prevalence among children.
Some of them in the process of puberty forever part with the disease. Almost half of the cases of skin diseases occur in the neurodermite.
The origin of the term is associated with 1891, when the first case was described of the defeat of this ailment. Then it was believed that the main reason for the appearance of the disease is combing the itchy skin.
Causes of the neurodermatitis
Nowadays, experts have identified far more profound and diverse sources of the disease. The main among them are:
- hereditary predisposition to allergic reactions.
- stress conditions, depression.
- malfunctioning of the nervous system.
- overstrain both physical and mental plane.
- decrease in the protective properties of the body, problems with sleep and non-compliance with the regime of the day.
- problems with digestion and improper nutrition with the inclusion of allergenic products.
- the presence of various infections in the chronic stage of development.
- intoxication.
- neurovascular and neuroendocrine changes.
- taking certain medications.
Forms of neurodermatitis
The disease differs significantly in the nature of the rashes and their localization, which allows to identify several types of this ailment:
- 1) According to statistics, the leader in the frequency of occurrence can be considered diffuse neurodermatitis. The rash covers the skin of the neck, elbows, hands, face, feet, occupies the popliteal cavities.
- 2) Signs of limited neurodermatitis are rashes that occupy a strictly defined area of the skin and do not leave its boundaries.
- 3) If signs of the disease are observed on extensive areas of the skin, we should talk about atopic neurodermatitis.
- 4) The disease can resemble psoriasis. In this case, it covers the skin of the face and head, small flakes are formed on the dermis surface, hair loss is possible. This kind of disease is called psoriasis.
- 5) Rash bands on the limb folds indicate a linear neurodermite.
- 6) If the symptoms of the disease are localized in the groin, neurodermatitis is called hypertrophic.
- 7) When the lesion affects only the hairy areas of the skin, it is a question of the follicular form of the disease.
Symptoms of neurodermatitis
Symptoms of neurodermatitis may differ, but all of them are preceded by severe itching, which does not go to full recovery and tends to intensify towards night.
Sometimes it is so intense that a person can not hold back and starts combing the skin to the condition of a sinking wound. Soon this place dries up, but it coarsens.
At the initial stage, the affected skin is absolutely identical to healthy ones. But later they are covered with a characteristic rash, specks and pimples, which can merge with each other.
The areas covered by the disease are visually divided into zones: the central region is distinguished by thickening of the skin and a greater degree of pattern, the middle is filled with shiny papules, and the peripheral is markedly pigmented. Affected areas become dry, they can be seen exfoliation. With a prolonged course of the disease, the skin begins to become denser, the relief undergoes changes, rough folds appear.
Neurodermatitis can cover the surface of any part of the body, but more often others suffer hands, face, legs and head. Rashes on the lips are much rarer.
Symptoms are not limited to changes in skin condition. Neurodermatitis causes weakness in people, their fatigue increases, blood pressure drops. There may be weight loss and a decrease in blood glucose levels. Failures in the work of internal organs begin, especially strongly neurodermite affects the functionality of the adrenal glands, inflamed lymph nodes.
The mental health of a person also deteriorates. Patients often fall into depression, apathy, unbearable itching makes them irritable and uneasy. In the anamnesis of such patients contact dermatitis, bronchial asthma and other diseases of allergic nature are often present. The first cases of neurodermatitis are usually associated with childhood.
Symptoms of neurodermatitis in adults are seasonal in nature and may disappear during the summer, exacerbated in winter. The signs of the disease in children are similar to the manifestations of the disease in adults.
Treatment of the neurodermatitis
Because of the pronounced symptoms, the definition of the disease is not associated with difficulties. After a survey and examination, the doctor prescribes a blood test and instrumental studies. Thanks to the first specialist will be able to make sure that the ESR has decreased, and the number of lymphocytes and eosinophils has increased. A blood test will also indicate an increase in the amount of IgE.
In case of disease, skin tests will give a positive result with some allergens. From the surface of the affected dermis, a sow is taken to reveal the possible presence of candidiasis and streptococcus.
Treatment of neurodermatitis should take into account the age characteristics of the patient. In addition, it involves comprehensive measures of exposure:
- use of medicines;
- compliance with the diet;
- treatment of skin;
- rehabilitation period.
- 1) Antihistamine group drugs taken either inside or outside in the form of ointments.
- 2) Antibiotics.
- 3) Vitamin complexes and immunomodulating agents.
- 4) Medicines, whose action is aimed at improving the functioning of the digestive tract and its components.
- 5) Membrane stabilizing agents.
- 6) Soothing, most often it is valerian, novopassit and tincture of motherwort.
- 7) Drugs designed to stabilize the CNS.
- 8) In exceptional cases, when the disease was heavily triggered, it is possible to administer systemic corticosteroids.
- 9) In addition to antihistamine ointments, the skin is treated with antipruritic and antiseptic agents.
As efforts should be aimed at the maximum elimination of allergens, it is worth paying attention to the quality of clothes, its naturalness and the degree of compliance with weather conditions. All materials that exert a coarse mechanical effect on the skin should be eliminated.
Complete treatment of neurodermatitis is impossible without additional but very important measures:
- strengthening the body's defenses by hardening.
- decrease in physical and mental loads, overcoming stress, providing a full rest.
- bathing in decoctions of the bark of oak, string, St. John's wort and other medicines.
- application of physiotherapy methods, the most effective of which is phytotherapy and magnetotherapy.
- plasmapheresis.
Prophylaxis and prognosis for neurodermatitis
To prevent the onset of neurodermatitis during the period of gestation and lactation, a woman is recommended to follow the rules of healthy nutrition and reduce the intake of allergenic products to a minimum. This measure is especially relevant in those families where there is a predisposition to allergies.
Later, it is important to choose the right food and formula for the baby. Older children should not only eat properly, but comply with the regime, wear natural clothes, properly take care of skin, learn to avoid stress.
Preventive measures also mean rational and timely treatment of the disease at its initial stages, which avoids complications.
With this disease, the prognosis is quite favorable. Given the right treatment and excluding the interaction of the patient with allergens, the acute period of neurodermatitis takes no more than two weeks. After itself, the disease does not leave significant marks on the skin. In addition, more than half of the children cease to suffer from neurodermatitis after the onset of puberty. In others, the ailment assumes a chronic form with a recurrent course.
It is noted that there is a relationship between the time of onset of neurodermatitis and the prognosis of its further course. The appearance of the disease in infants most of the time indicates that unpleasant symptoms will persist after puberty.
Complications of
The deterioration of the patient's condition may be due to the attachment of secondary infections. On their appearance evidenced arising on the skin of the abscesses, crusts and blisters. It is not excluded the occurrence of recurrent furunculosis in chronic form and skin lymphoma.
Complications of the neurodermatitis may include keposi's herpetiform eczema. This childhood illness is dangerous because it can lead to death.
The child's body temperature reaches 40 ° C, the skin is covered with pus-filled bubbles with characteristic dents in the center. Their rupture leaves behind bleeding erosions.