Eczema: Symptoms, Treatment and Causes
Dermatitis is a skin condition that is very common in daily life, also known as eczema, and can be seen in both genders in a wide range of ages. Since it is an itchy condition that can flare up at unexpected moments, it negatively affects the person’s quality of life. Eczema; It is an important skin disease in that it has many causes and more than one type, can be confused with other skin diseases, and its symptoms vary from person to person, and expertise is required in its treatment.
What is Eczema?
Eczema is a disease characterized by itching, redness of the skin and a raised appearance. The skin has lost its healthy appearance. However, dryness, cracking and water-filled blisters may occur on the skin.
Atopic dermatitis is a type of eczema commonly known as childhood eczema. Atopy means a hereditary predisposition to allergic diseases and is also used in other allergy-related diseases. As can be understood from here, some types of eczema are skin diseases that are more common in people with allergies, but can also be triggered by other reasons. The incidence is much higher in individuals with a genetic allergy in their family than in other individuals. Atopic eczema occurs before the age of 5 in the majority of patients (90%), and while it usually regresses towards adolescence, it can also be seen in adulthood, although rarely. Childhood eczema, called atopic dermatitis, can progress to asthma and then allergic rhinitis in later ages. This process is called “atopic walking”. Well; Eczema occurring in childhood may increase a person’s susceptibility to some diseases such as rhinitis and asthma triggered by allergies later in life. This situation negatively affects the person’s quality of life both during childhood and adulthood.
Eczema Symptoms
Although it varies from person to person, the most common symptom of atopic dermatitis is skin dryness. This itchy eczema, which gets worse especially at night while sleeping, usually occurs in fold areas such as elbows, knee bends and neck; It appears as wounds whose color may vary from pink, red, to brown. It can also be seen on the hands, feet, eyelids, and head in babies. As the person scratches these spots and the skin barrier is disrupted, crusting and inflammation occur over time. The person may experience insomnia etc. due to intense itching, especially at night. situations begin to appear. As the skin dries, it becomes sensitive and prone to redness. Thickened skin may be seen in some places. Deterioration of skin integrity and the skin’s vulnerability to all external factors may cause some infections and problems other than existing eczema. This makes treatment even more difficult. When the barrier layer is broken, the skin cannot fulfill its normal functions such as retaining water, maintaining moisture balance, and defending the skin and body against microorganisms. These symptoms usually come in the form of attacks, and the person may not feel any discomfort except when they become severe.
What Causes Eczema?
Although it is known that genetic factors are effective in the formation of atopic dermatitis, the exact cause is not known. It is known that environmental factors, as well as genetics, are effective in the onset and exacerbation of atopic eczema. Some foods and clothing that come into contact with the body can cause an overreaction in the body and cause atopic dermatitis to flare up. Although this situation varies from person to person; Woolen clothes worn especially in winter months, chemical-containing soaps, shampoos and shower gels used in baths and hand washing, stress, some infections and foods, as well as house dust mites, animal dander, increased pollen in spring and intense sun exposure can also cause this eczema to flare up. Although a significant portion of atopic dermatitis cases regress with age, it may continue in adolescence and adulthood in some patients, and may even occur at older ages. Genetically, it is more common in children with allergic diseases in both parents than in children with allergic diseases in only one parent. Children should be monitored because allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis can follow each other. For example, children with eczema may also develop conditions such as allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma as they get older.
Eczema Treatment
Atopic dermatitis is a disease whose severity can vary seasonally. Although there is no permanent treatment, the attack period of the disease can be overcome more mildly as a result of the precautions taken during the symptoms. In some cases, symptoms may disappear on their own without the need for treatment. The main purpose of treatment in eczema is to protect the skin barrier, moisturize the skin and eliminate dryness, improve the quality of life by relieving itching, and prevent infections that may occur on the skin due to itching. Apart from attack periods, it is necessary to take protective measures to keep atopic skin, which is more sensitive than normal skin, healthy.
The main treatment for atopic dermatitis is moisturizing the skin. Apart from this, cortisone creams are applied for a short time and then cortisone-free creams are applied to the areas where itching is severe. For the treatment of bacterial infections that can be added to eczema, locally applied antibiotic creams or, in case of severe infection, oral antibiotic treatments can also be given. Antihistamine syrups are also given to suppress itching. In the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis that does not regress with all these treatments, systemic cortisone drugs or some drugs that suppress the cells that exacerbate this eczema can be started, if deemed appropriate by your dermatologist. Since skin dryness can cause itching and disease exacerbation in atopic dermatitis patients, the skin is moisturized with special creams at regular intervals in order to restore the skin’s moisture balance. It is also important for the patient to drink enough water daily. It is important to use cortisone creams used for short periods of time during disease exacerbations as recommended by your dermatologist. Although cortisone creams are applied locally, they may cause side effects such as thinning of the skin, increased appearance of capillaries, and crack formation. Although there are a wide variety of eczema creams, different types of creams can be prescribed depending on the person’s age and the severity of the disease.
