Eczema atopic dermatitis

Eczema (atopic dermatitis)

  • Is very common due to skin inflammation
  • Can start at any age from infancy to elderly
  • Frequently patients with eczema associate hay fever and/or asthma
  • Flares-up without an obvious cause
  • Tends to run in the families
  • Skin is red, dry, itchy and sometimes becomes weeping, blistered or thickened
  • Can affect any part of the skin , but face and skin folds are most commonly involved
  • Blood tests aren’t usually necessary; sometimes specific Ig E (RAST test) and patch test are indicated when there is suspicion clinically that allergy plays a role
  • There is controversy with regard to the role of allergy in eczema
  • The optimal management of eczema requires a multipronged approach

Seborrheic dermatitis

  • Very common type of eczema affecting scalp, face, chest
  • Excessive dandruff is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis
  • Possibly triggered by an overgrowth of a yeast called Malassezia furfur
  • Tends to be more severe in HIV+ patients
  • Tiredness and stress can flare it up
  • If you have persistent flaky skin on upper forehead, between eyebrows or sides of the nose, you might suffer of this condition
  • Commitment to long term treatment is the key to success
  • Antiyeast medication by mouth proved to be helpful in severe forms
Seborrheic dermatitis eczema