Childhood Eczema – What Is It?
Atopic dermatitis, or childhood eczema, is characterized by a spreading, sometimes patchy red rash that is itchy, scaly, or blistered. We call it “the itch that rashes” because it starts with itchy skin that disrupts the barrier.
When that happens, moisture is lost, and skin becomes dry and more prone to infection. Appearing within the first six months of life, it usually shows up in the folds of the elbows and knees. Children will sometimes even scratch it to the point of bleeding.
Atopic dermatitis generally disappears by age twelve. A small percentage of adults continue to suffer from eczema, and it may be localized to areas such as the hands.
Treatments
- Decrease bathing because water can cause further drying of skin
- Rub soap-free skin cleansers on dry skin and gently towel off without adding water.
- Take antithistamines to treat the itch
- Apply topical steroids to treat the rash
- Take antibiotics to treat crusting of infected areas
Skin Conditions: Seborrheic Dermatitis
What Is It?
An inflammatory condition commonly seen in teenagers and adults that is the result of an overgrowth of yeast. Seborrheic dermatitis appears as a greasy, pink scaly rash on the scalp, eyebrows, and crease around the nose.
It may be itchy and feel chapped, spreading from the eyebrows area to the cheeks. It frequently flares with stress, cold, dry weather, and the surge of hormones in teens and may be triggered by neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s.
Treatments
- Mild topical steroid, a topical sulfur cream, or an antiyeast cream such as ketoconazole.
- For seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, zinc, ketoconazole, or tar-containing medicated shampoos.
Skin Conditions: Rosacea
What Is It?
Rosacea is a common condition in which the blood vessels of the skin dilate and constrict very easily in response to a whole variety of stimuli including spicy food, alcohol, embarrassment, heat, sunlight, and menopause. Women are more than three times as likely as men to exhibit it, although the symptoms are often more pronounced and severe in men.
This chronic skin condition is characterized by intense and frequent flushing or blotchy redness, the appearance of “broken blood vessels” on the cheeks, chin, and nose and, in some cases, acnelike pimples. It often starts simply as pink, flushed cheeks and eventually evolves into a more permanent, redness in the midface, along with pustules and red inflammatory acnelike bumps.
Treatments
- Oral antibiotics, in particular within the tetracycline family, and topical antibiotics such as metronidazole.
- Topical agents such as azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, sulfactamide(10%), and sulfur(5%).
- Pulsed dye laser(PDL) and nonlaser intense pulsed light(IPL) therapies may utilized by dermatologists
- Be cautious of glycolic acids or astringents containing alcohol.
I hope the information on these skin conditions was helpful.