Eczema Flashcards
endogenous types of eczema
atopic discoid (scaly circular patches on limbs. can be confused in psoriasis) hand seborrhoeic venous
exogenous types of eczema
contact (irritant or allergic)
photosensitive
triggers
- irritants
- staph aureus
- contact allergens
- extremes of temp and humidity (worse in winter!)
- wool
- dietary factors
- inhaled allergens e.g. dust mites, pollen, mould
diagnostic criteria
itchy skin plus 3 or more of:
- itchiness in elbow/knee folds, fronts of ankles, around neck (or cheeks if <18m old)
- hx asthma or hay fever
- general dry skin
- visible flexural eczema
- onset in 1st 2 yrs of life
what area is usually spared in atopic eczema of infancy
nappy area
what may mean it is eczema herpeticum?
-rapidly worsening, painful
-clustered blisters
-punched out erosion (circular, depressed, ulcerated lesions) 1-4 mm
fever/lethargy
ix
not usually necessary. swabs to identify bacteria if don’t initially respond to abx when suspected infection
rx
- emollients LIBERALLY AND FREQUENTLY (3-4 times a day)
- topical steroids
- oral fluclox for infection. erythro if pen allergic
what type of emollients are there
cream, ointment, bath oil, emollient soap substitute
lichenification rx (aka lichen simplex)
potent steroid
specialist treatments?
phototherapy, systemic corticosteroids
immune system drugs e.g. ciclosporin, azathiprine
topical tacrolimus/pimecrolimus (topical calcineurin inhiitor)!!!
bandaging
what is eczema herpeticum
infection with herpes simplex
possible causes of allergic eczema
jewellery (nickle) cement perfume latex plants
SEs of topic steroids
skin atrophy
straie
telangiectasia
hypopigmentation
how to differentiate between psoriasis and eczema
psoriasis is well demarcated. eczema isn’t
