Red spots on the skin, usually still accompanied by severe itching – what can it be? In the vast majority of cases, it is eczema. Eczema accounts for up to 20 percent of all skin diseases. Eczema is the collective term for inflammatory, mostly itchy, non-contagious skin diseases. Different forms are distinguished on the basis of various criteria. These – as well as possible causes and treatment options – are considered in more detail below.
1. differentiation according to the course
- Acute eczema is often associated with itching, redness, and blistering. The foci often ooze and crust easily.
- Chronic eczema is characterized by dry, scaly skin, increased keratinization and also itching. The skin thickens, cracks and appears rough.
2. differentiation according to the trigger.
Depending on the trigger, we distinguish:
- Exogenous eczema and
- Endogenous eczema
Eczema caused by external influences are called exogenous eczema or contact eczema. A distinction is made between allergic (caused by, for example, food, cosmetic products or metals) and non-allergic (caused by, for example, chemicals such as cleaning agents or in textiles) contact eczema. In the case of exogenous eczema, a reaction usually occurs immediately after contact with the triggering agent, usually at the exact site of the skin where the contact occurred. Often, a similar progression of symptoms takes place: Thus, it often begins with redness, then small blisters form, the blisters may burst and weep, crusting follows, and finally scaling. Such eczema is one of the most common occupational diseases.
Endogenous eczema – genetic predisposition.
Eczema caused mainly by internal influences is called endogenous eczema. In endogenous eczema, a genetic predisposition is present – it affects about ten percent of the population. The most common endogenous eczema is the so-called atopic eczema – neurodermatitis. Children suffer from neurodermatitis with a frequency of about 30 to 40 percent if one parent already suffers from this skin disease. If both parents have endogenous eczema, about 60 to 70 percent of the children develop the disease. Those affected also frequently suffer from bronchial asthma, hay fever or food allergies.
Eczema – what to look out for?
To make it easier for the doctor to make the diagnosis, you should ask yourself the following questions:
- When and under what conditions did the eczema occur?
- Have you suffered from such skin conditions before?
- Where do the skin symptoms occur?
Possible causes of eczema
The following table provides an overview of possible causes of eczema on different parts of the body:
| Examples | Possible causes |
|---|---|
| Head | Hair dye and hair care products |
| Face | Cosmetics, aftershave, shaving soap, nail polish |
| Arm | Watch/bracelet for metal allergy |
| Lips | Toothpaste, mouthwash, citrus fruits, lipstick, lip balm, chewing gum |
| Hands | Detergents or cleaning agents, plant allergens |
| Body | Shower or bath products, clothing, massage products |
| Armpits | Deodorant, antiperspirant preparations |
| Belly | Jeans buttons, pants |
| Genital | Intimate hygiene preparations, contraceptive preparations |
| Leg | Stockings (material, color), ulcer ointments |
| Feet | Deodorant, antifungal agent |
Basic skin care
In any case, the individual, consistent basic care plays a special role, because in most cases the skin is already pre-damaged and therefore requires special care. Good skin care can also prevent so-called secondary infections caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses. Therefore, the following applies: refrain from anything that could additionally dry out the skin. This includes, for example:
- Alkaline soaps, cleaning agents
- Alcoholic rubs or lotions
- Hot baths above 35 degrees Celcius
- intense sunbathing
How is eczema treated?
For the care of the skin are suitable active ingredient-free ointment bases or oil baths. Those who suffer from a reddened or inflamed skin, respectively, should resort to shaking mixtures or O/W emulsions. Greasy ointments should not be applied. Nowadays, open, weeping skin diseases are treated with moist or grease-moist dressings. This prevents dehydration and also has a cooling effect. Grease-moist bandages are applied as follows: First, a grease cream is applied, over which a moist bandage is then placed. A dry dressing is then applied, which remains on the skin for about three to five hours. In addition to preparations without active ingredients, urea preparations have also proven effective, as urea normalizes the corneal layer, relieves itching and also has mild antibacterial properties.
Helpful preparations for eczema
If consistent basic care does not help, preparations containing cortisone can be used – possibly as so-called interval therapy, i.e. alternating with basic care. Other options are herbal preparations. However, they are less effective than a 0.5 percent hydrocortisone cream. In some cases, taking zinc tablets also appears to be useful for eczema.
