The word "lichen" in many causes unpleasant associations. Some consider this disease to be very contagious, therefore they are afraid to stroke a dog or cat, which “by all means” should be the distributors of such a terrible infection, and, of course, shun people who have noticeable lichen on the leg, arm, or other open areas of the body. In fact, in medicine, the term "lichen" is applied to a whole group of skin diseases, among which there are infectious, and there are quite harmless to others, for example, eczema or psoriasis, which can be caused by a common allergy. But how to recognize which lichen on the leg or arm of a person standing nearby? How to determine what kind of rash appeared on your own body? What to do with it and whether it is necessary to immediately run to the doctor? Let's try to figure it out.
The mechanism of the appearance of a rash
Redness and rashes, our skin responds to dozens of irritants - from an allergic reaction to anything to the introduction of pathological microorganisms into the body. The rash is primary, that is, appearing where there was nothing before, and secondary, which is formed in place of the primary with its further development. All diseases, the symptom of which is the appearance on the skin of itchy nodules, spots or papules, are called "lichen". Such rashes on the leg, arm, and other exposed areas of the body give their owners not only physical suffering, but also moral problems, and a rash on the fingers or sole makes it difficult to walk and wear shoes. There are many types of lichen. Not all of them are contagious, but each of them is a danger to the patient. Appearing in one place, the rash can spread throughout the body, and its constant itching can lead to scratching - wide open to the gates for hundreds of germs. In addition, any rash can be a symptom of an internal organ disease that must be identified. Therefore, if lichen has appeared on the leg or somewhere else, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist to determine the etiology of the rash and its proper treatment.
Classification
Before you think about how to treat lichen on the leg, you need to determine what type it belongs to and what caused it. They say that the effectiveness of therapy depends on a correctly defined cause of the disease. For skin rashes, this is especially true, since their etiology is very different. To date, the following types of lichen are diagnosed:
- ringworm, or trichophytosis;
- also ringworm, but already microsporia;
- weeping;
- herpes zoster;
- scaly;
- pink;
- multi-colored
- red flat;
- inguinal.
Let's consider them in more detail.
Trichophytosis
This ailment has other names, such as dermatomycosis, dermatophytosis, scab, ringworm. On the leg or arm, it is rare and in most cases affects the scalp. Previously, this ailment was treated with wax, tar or tar, but the patient was previously shaved with a head. Hence the name - ringworm. Several types of pathogenic fungi, parasitizing on humans and animals, cause it at once. Some parasites settle only where hair grows in large quantities (head, groin, armpits), while others prefer only limbs. You can get ringworm from animals, and in these cases the pathogenesis of the disease will be harder. The second source of the disease is a sick person. Routes of infection are the same as in all mycoses:
- general things (towel, clothes);
- Houseware;
- close bodily contact.
It is important to know what ringworm on the foot looks like. The photo above clearly shows that the rash with this disease has the appearance of round red spots. At the edges they are brighter, and in the center are brighter. In the patient, the rash causes severe itching. Sometimes the places of combing become infected and purulent ulcers form.
Mild forms of ringworm are treated topically, applying the antifungal ointment Miconazole or Clotrimazole to the lesions and adjacent areas. In severe cases, Griseofulvin is prescribed inside. If the source of infection was a pet, you need to vacuum up all the wool, and then thoroughly wash the room with water and bleach. Things of a sick person need to be washed with fungicidal agents in very hot water.
Microsporia
This is another type of ringworm. It is caused by the Microsporum fungus, which affects any part of the body. It parasitizes on so many animals (dogs, cats, sheep, pigs, horses, rabbits, wild animals). A person becomes infected by caring for them. You can also become infected with microsporia from a sick person, using with him household items, clothing. To do this, it is enough to get hair, hair or scales from infected areas of the skin onto the skin, which can happen, for example, at the hairdresser, or when using things that are sick with the patient. Microscopy or ringworm on a person’s leg has the appearance of clearly defined flaky spots. If the disease arose on the head, in the beard, on the eyelashes or eyebrows, in the lesion foci, the hair breaks off, leaving a characteristic “hedgehog” (that's why it is called so - ringworm). The spores of the fungus occupy the remnants of the hair, covering them with a peeling cover. It's hard to believe, but in our space age, many, especially urban residents, have microsporia. If in winter such people manage to hide their problem from others, then in the summer in open areas of the body the rash is clearly visible, for example, lichen on the leg. Treatment of the disease in children or adults consists in water procedures using antifungal detergents. After that, antifungal ointments with ketoconazole are applied to and around the affected area.
Versicolor
This type of disease has another, not so sonorous name - pityriasis versicolor. But the people dubbed this rash "solar fungus", as it manifests itself perfectly in tanning.
One fungus causes multi-colored lichen, but it can be in three forms - oval, mycelial and round, passing one into another. The fungus parasitizes on any part of the body, but the most rare is multicolored lichen on the leg. The photo clearly shows how the affected skin looks. In a tanned person, dark spots are clearly visible on it, but in the sun they become lighter than neighboring areas. This happens because the fungus disrupts the synthesis of melanin, which gives us a tan. The spots “created” by the fungus can merge or remain single over time. And in both cases peeling is observed on them. This disease is not contagious, because the fungus lives on the skin of almost every one of us. It becomes pathogenic under the following conditions:
- disorders in the thyroid gland;
- diseases of the digestive tract;
- weakening of the immune system;
- special composition of sweat;
- prolonged exposure to the sun;
- heavy physical exercise;
- an increase in blood sugar;
- overdose of corticosteroids;
- radiation.
For an accurate diagnosis of multi-colored lichen, a Balzer test, a Wood lamp, and skin scrapings are used.
Treatment is carried out with antifungal detergents and ointments, for example, Nizoral, Fluconazole.
Tinea shingles
This disease rewards us with the well-known herpes virus type 3, or chicken pox. In children who have been ill, the virus gets into nerve cells and sleeps there for decades. Under certain circumstances, he wakes up and goes out along axons. The exact mechanism of the process has not yet been clarified. Herpes can appear anywhere in the body, depending on where its axons will lead.
Tinea on the leg or other parts of the body initially looks like a cluster of pink, slightly swollen spots. After three, at most five days, they turn into erythematous papules, and after another day or two into vesicles with a clear liquid. Subsequently, the bubbles dry out, leaving behind crusts. To "wake up" the virus are capable of:
- taking antibiotics, cytostatics, all drugs that inhibit the immune system;
- organ transplantation;
- malignant tumors;
- bone marrow transplantation;
- stresses;
- subcooling;
- hyperfatigue;
- age-related changes (more often people over 50 are sick);
- pregnancy.
Before the appearance of rashes, patients usually experience soreness and itching in those places where herpes pops up, as well as some malaise. Shingles on the leg can go away on their own in about a month, but to avoid complications, doctors recommend taking antiviral drugs, and with severe pain, analgesics. A preventive measure against this disease is vaccination.
Deprive pink
This disease is not contagious and appears as a complication of the common cold or flu. It is not yet precisely determined what or who causes pink lichen. On the leg, arm or body (everywhere along the Langer lines), it looks like a group of pink oval spots with peeling in the center. The first manifestations in a person can begin either in the process of a cold, or after recovery. Pink lichen does not require treatment, since it passes by itself, leaving no traces. Only if the patient experiences intolerable itching, doctors attribute antihistamines and antipruritic ointments.
Deprive scaly
This is the name of one of the most common and most unpleasant chronic skin diseases - psoriasis. It does not pose a danger to others, but it causes a lot of trouble to a sick person. Some sufferers of scaly lichen even need the help of a psychologist, so their self-esteem and quality of life are reduced because of this ailment.
What does lichen on the leg or arm look like, there is no definite answer, because psoriasis can be of several types:
1. Plaque-like, or simple. It is characterized by large inflamed spots covered with a gray-white scaly film. When it exfoliates, the skin under it begins to bleed.
2. The reverse. It occurs on flexion surfaces, for example, in the knee, and in all folds - in the groin, under the armpits, in women - under the chest. It has the appearance of inflamed red spots.
3. Teardrop-shaped. With it, the rashes are similar to dewdrops or drops of a dark red or purple color.
4. Exudative. It has the appearance of blisters filled with exudate. Moreover, the skin in the area of inflammation is hot, red and very painful.
5. Erythrodermic. It is characterized by very large inflamed spots covering large areas of the body. In this case, the skin in the foci can exfoliate, peel off and itch very much.
6. Arthropatic. This type is characterized by inflammatory processes in the joints, which become very painful.
7. Psoriasis of nails.
The causes of psoriasis are not exactly established. There are only hypotheses according to which the disease appears when the processes of cell growth and differentiation are disrupted in the skin. Or when the process of producing autoimmune bodies is disrupted.
Contribute to the development of psoriasis skin injuries, some detergents, working with chemicals, allergies, nervous disorders.
Being a serious chronic disease, psoriasis requires complex treatment methods, the basis of which is taking medications that improve all processes in the skin, including T-cell control. Also, ointments, herbal medicine, physiotherapy procedures are used locally in the treatment.
Deprive weeping
In other words, it is eczema. It can be acute and chronic. Not being contagious, a rash with this disease looks very unpleasant. It can appear on any part of the body, but more often there is a weeping lichen on the leg or arm. The causes of eczema are still unclear. Its appearance is promoted by:
- weak immunity;
- skin injuries;
- heredity;
- allergy;
- metabolic disease;
- diseases of so many internal organs;
- infections (viral, fungal);
- skin contact with toxic chemicals.
There are many forms of eczema. The most common (about 50% of cases) is true.
In the acute form of the disease, a rash can occur in any part of the body. It has the appearance of small red acne - microvesicles that can quickly open, forming multiple microerosion. In these places, exudate is constantly allocated, which is why lichen is called weeping. Drying, erosions form yellow-brown crusts, but new acne may appear nearby, and the process repeats. In a chronic form, the skin becomes denser at the site of erosion and begins to peel off. The chronic course of the disease is again replaced by acute, causing physical pain to the patient - itching, burning, high soreness of the affected areas of the skin.
Second place is microbial. Appears around wounds, scratches, and most often there is such lichen on the leg. Visually, it looks like sharply defined inflamed foci with purulent crusts. Small pustules appear around them, peeling is observed. All this occurs against a background of severe itching.
Quite often, weeping lichen on the child’s leg is found. It looks the same as in adults, combining the signs of microbial and true forms. Causes of eczema in children:
- difficult pregnancy of the mother;
- frequent acute respiratory infections, SARS;
- breast-feeding;
- diseases of the digestive tract;
- lack of hygiene;
- heredity.
In addition, there is varicose eczema, mycosis, seborrheic, professional.
The treatment of each form is specific. From the general methods, the purpose of a diet, painkillers, vitamins can be distinguished, and ointments are used locally - antifungal, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory.
Lichen planus
This disease is an allergic skin reaction to irritants and can appear on the body and in the oral cavity. Its exact mechanism has not yet been established, but it is known that risk factors are:
- some drugs;
- diseases of internal organs, especially the liver, stomach, kidneys, pancreas;
- nervous disorders;
- injuries of the skin and mucous membranes;
- weakening of immunity.
Lichen planus can occur in several forms:
1. Typical. Symptom - flat spots of whitish-pearly hue. They tend to merge with the formation of large plaque or mesh. After healing, pigmentation remains on the skin.
2. Hyperkeratic (lesions have clear keratinized borders).
3. Exudative-hyperemic. Formed in inflamed areas of the oral mucosa.
4. Erosive and ulcerative. Very severe form, often acts as a complication of the previous ones. Long healing ulcers of various shapes and sizes form on the skin and mucous membranes. They are covered with fibrotic secretions, when removed which appears bleeding.
5. Atrophic.
6. Bullous. It is characterized by the formation of blisters, at the opening of which erosion appears. Lichen planus can be treated with folk methods, such as compresses of decoctions of herbs of mullein, St. John's wort, sage, yarrow, willow bark, burdock, and goldenrod. After compresses, dressings with sea buckthorn oil are applied to the affected area. There are several dozen folk recipes for treating this ailment, but before you use them, you need to visit a dermatologist and find out the cause of your disease. It is likely that in parallel with external therapy will need to treat internal organs.
Deprive between the legs
This fungal ailment has another name - inguinal epidermophytosis. It can affect women and men. Ways of infection household (use alone with a sick towel, clothes) and contact-sexual. Inguinal lichen is manifested by itching in the genital area and groin, a red-brown rash, peeling in the affected areas. Without treatment, the rash passes to neighboring areas of the skin. If these symptoms are found, you need to consult a doctor to clarify the type of fungus that has penetrated the skin and choose the right medication. Treatment is carried out at home, mainly with antifungal ointments. Sometimes the patient is prescribed antihistamines "Diphenhydramine", "Suprastin" and others.