|
Atopic Dermatitis
back to top
Atopic dermatitis is a disease that affects the skin, being
characterized by dryness, frequent inflammation, itching, scratching and
a tendency to skin infections. Atopia means outside of place. It is a
relatively frequent disease, not contagious, and in most of the cases,
benign. The evolution is lengthening with relapses alternating with
periods of remission. Atopia includes a group of allergic diseases that
can occur in several members of the same family. Normally, patients with
atopic dermatitis have a member of the family who suffers asthma,
allergic rinitis or hay fever. This disease occurs at any age, but
mainly in infancy and adolescence. Lesions itch very much and sometimes
they are deforming. Though with the time cure is expected (before the
adolescence), it can last several years.
These patients are very susceptible to virus infections (herpes simplex,
chicken pox and zone herpes). Therefore, they should avoid contact with
people who suffer such diseases, since in case they contact them, these
conditions are more problematic to treat. Patients with atopic
dermatitis are also prone to develop allergic reactions to penicillin,
biologic serums and other drugs. Therefore, the administration must be
discussed with the dermatologist. Keeping an adequate skin care and some
hygiene rules will permit a better quality of life to children with this
affection.
Infantile Form
The dermatitis is oozing and scabby, and the itching is very intense.
The face and the scalp are usually affected, but other areas may also be
affected. The itching may disturb the sleep of the child, who is
scratched and very frequently cries. Half of the children are recovered
of the disease before 2 years, but in others the disease is chronic and
the skin turns dry, brownish, scaly and rough.
Juvenile Form
The eruption is located on the folds of the extremities, hollow of the
elbows, and knees, face, neck and trunk. The skin has a swollen
appearance and itches intensely to the point that patients are scratched
until it bloods and crusts. The duration and the nuisances produced by
atopic dermatitis can be reduced considerably accomplishing an adequate
treatment and skin care:
Care
of Atopic Dermatitis
back to top
Food:
Avoid bananas, strawberries, chocolate, oranges, tomatoes, as well as
foods observed to aggravate the process when they are eaten.
Clothes:
Suppress wool pledges. All types of fibers may be used. New clothes must
be washed before dressing. It's recommended not using strong detergents
to wash clothes, neither softeners, and to rinse well. Avoid thigh
clothes. Clothes made of cotton are advised.
Room:
Should be powder-free (it contains mites that aggravate the eczema).
Avoid using carpets in the room, neither wool curtains, and if possible,
they will be acrylic. Avoid hair-dolls and plants within the room.
Ambient:
Avoid plants and flowers where the child plays. Also, avoid visiting
gardens in seasons of pollination. Avoid domestic animals (cats, dogs
and birds).
Sun:
Use neutral pH sunscreens and avoid sun-exposure between 11a.m. and 3
p.m.
Hygiene:
Nails should be short and clean to avoid the infection of the lesions by
scratching. Avoid using eau de Cologne and normal soaps for the body
hygiene. Avoid frequent baths, as a rule, the frequency of the bath is
2-3 times a week. It is better to take a bath one hour before going to
bed. The water for the bath should not be very hot. In some cases, it is
better the tub than the shower. In this case, it may be recommended to
add oatmeal envelopes to the water. This bath is prepared with half a
tub of temper water to which an envelope of oatmeal is added. It is
advised to use very mild soaps or soaps without soap. After the bath,
it's advisable to employ lubricant milk. If the child bathes in swimming
pools, he or she must take a shower immediately after.
Scratched:
Rub when the skin is itching. Do not scratch, since this stops the
healing. Avoid bath brushes and use a soft sponge. Some medicines may be
recommended to reduce the itching. If the itching is very strong, apply
cold clothes over lesions for 2 minutes 2-3 times a day. In case of no
improvement, try with hot clothes or alternate cold and hot clothes.
Cortisone creams are prescribed to reduce the inflammation and the
itching.
Other advise:
Avoid rapid temperature changes (from cool to hot rooms) and any violent
exercise that induces sweating. Sometimes, it's useful a change of
environment. It's more advisable a hot and dry climate. If oozing or
crusts appear consult your dermatologist.
Primuvit:
People with atopic dermatitis may have a deficit in skin hydration that
leads to dryness and eczema. This skin lacks linolenic acid, a substance
that captures water in the skin, hydrating it. Primuvit provides this
essential fatty acid that lacks in the diet. The product will have to be
taken without interruptions for a long time.
Care of Hand
Dermatitis back to
top
To accelerate the healing and to avoid its recurrence we must remember:
Hands washing:
Use temperate water and soap without perfume, tar or sulfur. Employ just
a little quantity of soap, clarifying thoroughly the hands under the
water. Hands should be dried with a clean towel, without forgetting the
interdigital folds (spaces between fingers).
Avoid
as much as possible contacting with detergents and other strong
cleansers. Measure the quantity of necessary detergent according to the
instructions to prevent that the concentration can result too strong.
Keep the packages well clean to avoid the irritation produced by the
detergent out of the box.
Avoid
direct contact with shampoos. Ask someone to shampoo or use plastic
gloves.
Avoid
direct contact with clean metals, as well as with glazes for waxing,
shoe creams, polishers for the soil and the car, and glass cleaners.
Try not
to touch dissolvent with turpentine, mineral, oil, trichloroetilene and
diluters.
Avoid
peeling or squeezing oranges, lemons or grapefruits with hands.
Do not
apply lotions, creams or hair dyes directly with hands.
Wear gloves
when the weather is very cold.
Housework:
Do not wear rings, even if the dermatitis is cured. Rings should be
cleaned frequently with a brush, leaving them in ammonia water during
the night and clarifying them thoroughly the next day. Do not wash your
hands with soap while wearing rings.
Wash dishes
with running water as long as possible. Using a dishwasher can avoid
subsequent relapses.
Gloves
for washing clothes or dishes must
be made of plastic (not rubber) to prevent an allergic contact
dermatitis. Gloves can be worn about 15 or 20 minutes every time. When
water gets inside the glove, you must take it out at once. Turn the
gloves inside out and wash them with hot water several times every week.
Gloves should be used just occasionally without washing them previously.
It is advisable to buy several pairs of plastic gloves at the same time.
Remember:
the skin resistance is reduced at
least 4-5 months after the dermatitis seems totally cured, therefore you
must follow all these instructions.
|
|
Seborrheic
Dermatitis
back to top
It is a chronic and recurrent eruption with red patches and scales,
mainly located on the face, ears, eyebrows, scalp and sometimes the
chest. It may occur at any age. There is no cure, but it is treatable.
Causes
A yeast called Malassezia Furfur or P. Ovalis, which grows on the skin,
is related to seborrheic dermatitis. There are people genetically prone
to develop this disease. SD may be aggravated in winter.
Treatment
The treatment controls, but not cures the disease. Usually it responds
to local treatments. The treatment depends on the location, as well as
on the severity. The most adequate shampoos contain Piroctone Olamine
and salicylic acid. Piroctone Olamine has an antifungal action
eradicating the responsible yeast. Salicylic acid has a keratolytic
action increasing the exfoliation of scales. They should be used daily
to wash the scalp and, if your dermatologist advises you, also the face.
As you use the shampoo more frequently, the possibilities of the
reappearance of the problem will decrease.
Shampoos that contain conditioners can aggravate this disease. If you
use a shampoo with a conditioner is advisable to alternate it with
others without conditioner.
Oily hair can contribute to aggravate this problem. Certain hair lotions
can reduce oiliness, decrease itching and facilitate the elimination of
scales. An excellent treatment for non-hairy areas, such as the face, is
to apply twice a day a facial gel or a cream containing Piroctone
Olamine or other antifungal agents, or apply instead a steroid cream.
These two products can be applied at the same time (can be mixed), first
the facial gel and then the steroid cream just over the lesions. In some
cases, your dermatologist will recommend you an antifungal product to be
taken by mouth.
|
BY RANGE
SESDERMA
01614081848
