Dermatitis or eczema: pimples and itchy skin

The dermatitis or eczema is a skin disease characterized by inflammation and itching. It does not have a single cause, and it can have internal or external triggers. It is a very common problem, especially in developed countries. It is not contagious.

Types of dermatitis or eczema

In general, eczema are classified in endogenous (of internal or unidentifiable cause) and exogenous (due to external causes).

Endogenous

La is a very common problem in the developed world. Its frequency is increasing in parallel with other diseases of an allergic nature such as allergic rhinitis, asthma or food allergies.

• Dyshidrotic eczema or dyshidrosis manifests as very itchy blisters or blisters, and can appear on the palms, on the lateral aspect of the fingers, and also on the soles of the feet. Your triggers are not unique and they are not entirely identifiable. In some patients it appears as a reaction to sweat or heat. In others, flare-ups occur during times of emotional stress.

Exogenous

Irritant contact dermatitis is a very frequent problem in professions that subject hands to continuous washing with soaps or detergents. For this reason it has also been called "housewife dermatitis". Eczema is caused by a direct chemical damage to the skin, without an allergy mechanism.

• Allergic contact dermatitis is caused by allergic sensitization in predisposed people. There are numerous substances capable of causing contact allergy. Diagnosis is made by (patch tests).
• Astheatotic eczema or craquelé eczema is caused by dry skin. The most frequent cause is the use of unsuitable soaps or detergents and the lack of hydration of the skin. It is especially common in the elderly.
• Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of dermatitis. It mainly affects children and its causes lie in two alterations: on the one hand, a skin hydration defect that makes it more sensitive, and on the other, an increase in allergic sensitivity sometimes also manifested in the bronchi (allergic asthma ), the mucosa of the nose (allergic rhinitis) and the digestive tract (food allergies). Atopic dermatitis is especially common in childhood, manifested by eczema that affects the folds of the arms and knees, the face, and other areas of the body. As a general rule, atopic dermatitis improves with age, except in cases of adult atopic dermatitis, a disease that can become serious and extremely disabling.

Symptoms

All types of eczema have one common symptom:. In addition, the skin shows variable changes ranging from red skin (erythema), to peeling, the formation of rough or scratched areas and the appearance of pimples or blisters with water inside.

Treatment

In general, a dermatologist can recognize eczema with the naked eye, although sometimes it is necessary to resort to a skin biopsy (taking a skin sample and examination under a microscope) to differentiate it from other diseases. In the case of some exogenous eczemas such as allergic contact dermatitis, the complete diagnosis and identification of the triggers is done through allergy tests.

The test is called a patch test or patch test, which consists of cause a reaction to different substances by sticking a patch with them on the skin. The standard 24-substance test battery includes the most frequent triggers in our environment (metals, gums, drugs, dyes, perfumes, preservatives, etc.). There are also batteries of more specific tests depending on the suspicion in each individual case.

For more serious or urgent cases, he puts at your disposal a telephone service, both for pediatric guidance and medical guidance. A team of specialists will inform you about everything you need regarding diseases, treatments, centers, etc., to solve your doubts in the fastest and most efficient way.