Neurodermatitis
Neurodermatitis is also called atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema. It is a chronic skin disease that runs in waves and is caused by an imbalance in the immune system. Acute disease outbreaks occur repeatedly between longer disease-free phases.
The affected persons then suffer from inflammatory skin changes, which form mainly on the flexor sides of the elbow, hollow of the knee and wrist. The accompanying symptoms are extreme itching and dry, flaky skin. Especially babies and small children in industrialized countries are often affected by neurodermatitis, in many cases the children also develop allergic bronchial asthma. Up to now neurodermatitis cannot be cured, therefore the symptomatic therapy is in the foreground.
Is neurodermatitis contagious?
Neurodermatitis is a non-infectious disease. The exact causes for the development and finally the outbreak of the disease are not yet known, but it is known that besides a genetic component, environmental factors also play an important role. The disease is similar to an allergy, also with neurodermatitis a hypersensitivity reaction occurs. That means that one cannot be infected by neurodermatitis, even if many people mistakenly assume that. A transmission by body contact or droplet infection is not possible.
What can be contagious with neurodermatitis?
A neurodermatitis disease is not contagious in itself. However, accompanying skin infections caused by fungi, viruses or bacteria are more frequent in neurodermatitis patients. Due to the recurring inflammations, the patients’ skin is more susceptible than healthy skin.
The skin is dry and cracked, which means that its natural protective function is no longer sufficiently guaranteed. Therefore, pathogens can easily penetrate and lead to infections. This type of infection is called secondary infection or superinfection.
Especially often bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus aureus or yeast fungi cause secondary infections, which can also be contagious. However, since the germs are mostly inhabitants of the natural skin flora, there is only a risk of infection for people with a weakened immune system. Healthy persons with an intact immune system cannot normally be infected by skin infections from neurodermatitis patients.
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