Eczema: why this disease occurs and whether it is possible to cope with it
Hereditary predisposition plays an important role in the development of the disease.
Many are embarrassed to wear open clothes even in warm weather, fearing that red erosions, cracks and scabs on the skin will be visible – manifestations of eczema. It is not only, to put it mildly, unattractive, but also unbearably itchy.
– There are several forms of eczema, – says Zhanna Prikhodko, a dermatologist. – The microbial form is preceded by trauma, ulcers on the skin, for example, due to varicose veins or diabetes, infection of the wound. The basis of seborrheic eczema is a violation of the regulation of the functions of the sebaceous glands, professional – contact with aggressive chemicals (acids, alkalis, dyes, etc.).
The most common form of this pathology is true or idiopathic eczema. Its causes are not fully understood, but scientists associate the appearance of symptoms with a malfunction of the immune system. Hereditary predisposition also plays an important role in the development of eczema. If both parents had this pathology, then there is a more than 50% probability that their children will also have it.
I remember how a woman who had suffered from eczema for many years brought her teenage daughter to an appointment. She had the same ulcers on her hands as her mother. Fortunately, we managed to cope with the disease in both mother and daughter, and it did not remind us of itself for a long time. But, unfortunately, the tendency to eczema was also inherited by the child of the younger patient. A few years later, she brought her little son for a consultation.
– What are the characteristic signs of eczema?
– The rash varies with different forms of the disease. Usually, redness (erythema) with swelling that itches appears on the skin first. Then the surface of the lesion becomes covered with small bubbles, similar to bubbles in boiling water. Hence the name of the disease – eczema is translated from Greek as “to boil”.
– Are eczema and stress related?
– With chronic stress, the body is in a state of constant bombardment with hormones cortisol and adrenaline. The level of free radicals increases, through a cascade of biochemical reactions, the synthesis of inflammation mediators is triggered. And autoimmune inflammation begins to develop in the skin. Stress, among other things, slows down the process of skin regeneration. Therefore, people living in a state of anxiety do not get enough sleep, are physically exhausted, and often suffer from constant relapses of eczema.
– Is it difficult to cure eczema?
– The course of therapy depends on the form of the disease, stage, age and condition of the patient’s body. The acute process subsides in a few weeks or months. But quite often patients come with a chronic form of the disease, the treatment of which requires more time.
For the therapy to be effective, it is necessary to make contact with a potential irritant impossible. For example, absorb protective gloves when washing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning, normalize your sleep pattern, choose a suitable diet free of possible allergens. It is also important to treat concomitant pathology: varicose veins, diabetes, helminthiasis, etc.
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