Atopic dermatitis: photos, treatment, symptoms, causes

Atopic dermatitis( synonyms: atopic eczema, constitutional eczema, diffuse neurodermatitis, Pruerigo Bénier) is a multifactorial pathology of a chronic nature, the appearance of which is associated with the inferiority of the functional capacity of T-lymphocytes of suppressors, as well as the blockade of some parts of the immune response in the body.

During this disease, there is a clear age variability: children under 1 year old, as well as teenagers and young people under 25 years, are more likely to undergo atopic dermatitis. This pathology is often manifested as early as the 2nd month of the child's life.

It is necessary to distinguish the temporal stages of development of atopic dermatitis:

1. 1) Early( clinical signs appear in the first months of life);
   
2. 2) Childhood( the symptoms of the disease appear and progress at the age of 4 to 7 years);
   
3. 3) Adult( in children older than 8 years).

The genetic predisposition is important in the etiology of atopic eczema. The risk of developing this disease is high, both in the presence of an allergic disease in any of the parents, and with the use of a mother during pregnancy, a large number of products that can provoke an allergic reaction.

The main characteristics of atopic dermatitis are:

1. 1) Chronic course with a tendency to frequent relapses( typical seasonal recurrence: the most frequent exacerbation is observed in the autumn-spring period of time).Exacerbation is most often provoked by heat or cold, dry skin, physical activity, sudden temperature fluctuations, psychoemotional overexertion, exacerbation of concomitant diseases( any type of allergy, scabies, infectious process of any localization);
   
2. 2) The presence of an inflammatory pathogenetic component;
   
3. 3) Polymorphism of the rash;
   
4. 4) Symmetry of lesions of skin;
   
5. 5) Lichenification;
   
6. 6) Combined damage to the skin, respiratory system( in particular, the upper parts: bronchi, trachea, nasal mucosa), nervous and immune systems.

See also how contact dermatitis and allergic dermatitis manifest.

Causes of Atopic Dermatitis

At this time, it is not possible to clearly identify the causes of atopic dermatitis in children and adults. There are 2 basic theories explaining the etiopathogenesis of the disease.

The first is immunological, according to which the pathological process arises from a defect in the immune system( high Ig E, a tendency to infectious diseases of the viral, bacterial and fungal nature, the presence of another concomitant allergic disease).

The second theory relates to the blockade of β-adrenergic receptors. According to her, the violation of their functional ability can be triggered by various factors: immunological, chemical, physical, mental, etc.

In addition, one should remember about the existence of some factors that can provoke the appearance and development of atopic dermatitis. Among them, it is customary to distinguish the following:

• diseases of the digestive tract( helminthic invasions, inflammatory processes, including autoimmune diseases);
  
• genetic predisposition;
  
• endocrine diseases( including a violation of the normal functioning of the thyroid gland).

Symptoms of atopic dermatitis

Clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis can be completely individual in children and adults.

In this pathological process, there is a complex clinical and morphological syndrome, which has several forms: erythematous-squamous, lichenoid, erythematous-squamous with lichenification, prurigopodobnaya.

However, all these forms have several typical signs: the presence of severe itching, seasonal recurrence, the presence of lichenification.

So, the "classic" symptoms of atopic dermatitis are:

• skin itch, the intensity of which can vary from mild to painful and even intolerable;
  
• progressive skin lichenification;
  
• polymorphism of the rash: the elements appear in this order: eruptions of the erythematous, papular and urticarious nature, then the lichenification progresses. Rash and lichenification are localized mainly in symmetrical areas( the area of ​​the flexor of the hands, popliteal fossa, the dorsal surfaces of the hands, the anterior and posterior surfaces of the neck, the inguinal and suprapubic areas, and the scalp and face skin - the nasolabial triangle, the areas around the eyes);
  
• presence of clefts and, as a consequence, it is possible to attach a secondary infection;
  
• hyperemia of the skin in lesions;
  
• jam at the corners of the mouth;
  
• polished look of nail plates.

Atopic dermatitis - photo

Atopic dermatitis in children looks like this:

Complications of the disease

Atopic dermatitis in the absence of adequate therapy can be complicated by an infectious process. Secondary infection accompanying this disease can be bacterial( Staphylococcus aureus), viral( papilloma virus, herpes virus), as well as bacterial nature. Depending on the infectious agent, the clinical picture of dermatitis acquires new qualities.

Thus, for bacterial infection of lesions in patients appear impetigo-like crusts of yellow color, having a specific unpleasant odor. In fungal infection, dermatomycosis occurs.

Diagnosis

In order to differentiate atopic dermatitis from other skin diseases, it is necessary to conduct a series of laboratory and instrumental tests. At the heart of the diagnostic minimum, which determines the presence of this disease in children and adults, there are such research methods as:

• a general blood test( special attention in this study should be given to neutrophils and eosinophils);
  
• biochemical blood test;
  
• blood sugar test;
  
• expanded proteinogram;
  
• immunogram;
  
• general urinalysis;
  
• scarification tests;
  
• intradermal tests for allergens;
  
• provocative tests;
  
• analysis of feces for the presence of helminths.

Treatment of atopic dermatitis

In adults, the basis of treatment of the disease is a combined treatment using not only different groups of drugs, but also the use of non-pharmacological methods.

Scheme of used pharmaceuticals is highly individual and its combination depends on specific clinical manifestations of diffuse neurodermatitis( atopic dermatitis).

The following groups of drugs are used for atopic dermatitis medicines:

• antibacterial drugs for topical use( more often there is a need for secondary infection);
  
• antimediators( Fenspiride);
  
• glucocorticosteroids, which can be applied topically in the form of ointments of gels and creams, and systemically - depending on the prevalence and severity of the pathological process( hydrocortisone, prednisolone, betamethasone);
  
• membranous stabilizers of mast cells( Cromoglycic acid);
  
• antihistamines( Loratadine, Suprastin, Cetirizine, Tavegil);
  
• cytostatics( cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil);
  
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
  
• antimycotics( antifungal drugs) - are used mainly when attaching secondary fungal infection( Terbinafine, Ketozoral, Diflucan, Oxiconazole);
  
• immunoprotectors( Timalin, Methyluracil, Splenin)
  
• sedatives( Valeriana, Novopassit);

In addition to basic therapy, there is an additional one, which includes: enterosorbents( white and black activated charcoal, Povidone, Polyphepan), pre- and probiotics( Dufalk, Hilak forte, Bifidumbacterin, probiophore), symbiotics( normoflorin).hepatoprotectors( Phosphogliv, Essentiale forte), enzymes( Creon, Penzinorm forte), vitamins and minerals( vitamins A, E, B, C).Important role in the treatment of atopic dermatitis is physiotherapy.

Among the main methods of physiotherapy are used: phototherapy with ultraviolet light, selective phototherapy, high-dose UV-A1 irradiation, PUVA therapy, acupuncture, magnetotherapy, central electroanalgesia, inductothermy, laser irradiation. Observing the prescribed treatment regimen, in no case should we forget about the importance of adherence to a therapeutic hypoallergenic diet.

See also how to treat seborrheic dermatitis on the face.

Prevention of disease

There is no specific prevention of atopic dermatitis. However, there are some conditions that, if carried out, can increase the body's resistance to allergic processes, and also "push back" their possible development for as long as possible.

Genetic counseling, preventive hypoallergenic diet, as well as avoiding contact with possible allergens will help protect the body from a pathological allergic process.

For the prevention of relapses it is recommended to conduct sanatorium-and-spa treatment in the period of remission with the use of belneotherapy, peloidotherapy, climatotherapy, heliotherapy.

I weighed 92 kg! Fat went 3 kg a week! For this, I drank a glass before bed. ..

The nail fungus is afraid of this as a fire! If in cool water. ..

Varicose veins disappear in a few days! Just need to smear your feet once a day. ..

"Dedovskiy" method to quit smoking! In 7 days you will forget about cigarettes forever!