Nervous eczema is a skin disease that develops against the background of stress and anxiety. It is manifested by itching, peeling, dry or wet rashes on the skin. Often has a chronic nature. To a greater extent, the fair sex is affected due to emotional lability. The treatment requires the help of not only a dermatologist, but also a neurologist.
Relationship between stress and skin diseases
If a person has characteristic rashes before a speech or an upcoming exam, this is no accident. Doctors have long known that stress negatively affects the condition of the skin. How does this happen?
Healthy skin acts as a kind of barrier to the harmful effects of the environment. When the body is stressed, lipids (the building blocks of the dermis) are destroyed. As a result, the invisible barrier disappears. The skin dries, becomes vulnerable to external irritants, infections and allergens. Thus, any stressful situation can be a trigger for the occurrence of eczema in the nervous system. A photo of how she looks is presented in our article.
Main reasons
As noted above, stress is the primary factor due to which the disease develops. It can be acute (when there is a loss of a loved one, dismissal, separation from a loved one) or chronic. In the latter case, we are talking about long-term experiences, for example, with problems in school, conflicts in the family. Stress is an external factor.
Sometimes the causes of characteristic rashes on the skin hide deeper and are in violation of the organs and systems of the body. The tendency to allergic reactions, diabetes, the presence of chronic diseases only exacerbates the overall picture. Predisposing factors are also problems with the gastrointestinal tract, dysbiosis, and reduced immunity.
First signs
Nervous eczema is characterized by the appearance of rashes on the skin, which is accompanied by severe itching and soreness. In the development of the disease, several stages can be distinguished.
First, puffiness and redness of the skin appear. Then nodules and bubbles appear on it. Over time, they spontaneously open, leaving behind small erosions. This is the stage of the wetting process. The lesions are very itchy, which increases the likelihood of a bacterial infection joining through open wounds. In the future, the rashes dry out, become covered with itchy crusts. After exfoliating, clean and intact skin remains.
In parallel with characteristic rashes, patients often complain of the following conditions:
- Insomnia.
- Nervous breakdowns.
- Irritability.
- Depressed state.
Favorite places for the localization of eczema are the elbows and elbow bends, palms, face, legs. Usually it has a symmetrical nature of the lesion. Nervous eczema on the hands spreads over the entire area of the skin of the hands, capturing the inside. On the legs, as a rule, it is localized under the knees, rarely on the feet.
Therapy options
Eczema usually develops amid exposure to several provoking factors. Therefore, to confirm the diagnosis, consultation with different specialists (psychologist, dermatologist, allergist, geneticist) will be required. Based on the results of the examination, treatment will be prescribed. Usually it is comprehensive and includes the following activities:
- The use of medicines.
- Physiotherapeutic effect.
- Means of traditional medicine.
- Psychotherapy sessions.
Let us consider in more detail each method.
Drug use
How to treat eczema in the nervous system with the help of medications, the doctor must tell. Therapy is always selected individually. Most often you have to combine drugs in order to achieve a positive effect. Usually prescribe funds from the following groups:
- Corticosteroids in the form of ointments, tablets, creams, or drops (Advantan, Thyroidin, Dexamethasone). They resort to their help if the rashes are accompanied by severe itching and pain. These are powerful hormonal drugs, so they are used in short courses in the middle and severe stages of the disease.
- Drugs for suppressing the immune system (Cyclosporin, Methotrexate). They are also prescribed in short courses. The use of medications can be accompanied by complications in the form of increased blood pressure, renal failure.
- Antibiotics (Ampicillin, Erythromycin, Celestoderm). Used in the form of injections or ointments for external use. Antibiotics are prescribed in case of infection. They well destroy pathogenic flora, relieve swelling and redness.
- Antihistamines (Zirtek, Suprastin, Zodak). Recommended for severe itching. They also soothe nerves and help with insomnia.
Additionally, for a general strengthening of the body, vitamin balanced complexes are prescribed, for example, Centrum, Vitrum or Complivit.
Physiotherapeutic Impact
Features of the treatment of nervous eczema are such that only drug therapy is not enough to eliminate the symptoms of the disease. They are associated with serious malfunctions in the functioning of the body. We are talking about depletion of the central nervous system, hormonal imbalance and an increased immune response of the body.
Therefore, medication is often supplemented with physiotherapeutic procedures. Their regular use contributes to the correction of the immune system and nervous system, improve overall health. As a result, the inflamed areas cease to peel and itch.
Among the variety of physiotherapy procedures for the treatment of eczema on a nervous basis, it is most often used:
- Electrosleep.
- Electrophoresis with antihistamines.
- UV therapy.
- Baths with radon, sulfides and tar.
Nutrition and lifestyle
So that eczema on nervous grounds does not bother, and the skin remains clean and healthy, the following rules must be observed:
- Water for taking a bath or shower should be at a comfortable temperature. Do not make it too hot or cold.
- After swimming, you need to use a soft towel, moisturizer.
- It is better to eat natural products, excluding food from the diet that adversely affects the body.
- It is recommended to avoid contact with aggressive chemicals. Gloves should be used during cleaning.
- Clothing must be chosen from natural fabrics. It should be comfortable, not hamper the movement.
- It is important to learn how to properly allocate time for work and leisure.
- It is better to avoid overheating of the body. After a workout or prolonged exposure to the sun, you should take a warm shower.
In the treatment of nervous eczema, diet plays a special role. Since the disease is often provoked by allergic components, it is important to completely exclude them from the diet (honey, chocolate, eggs, whole milk products, smoked meats, products with dyes and flavor enhancers). To neutralize the symptoms of eczema daily should be taken:
- Varieties of fish high in omega-3 acids.
- Products with quercetin (broccoli, spinach, apples, blueberries).
- Foods rich in probiotics (kefir, soft cheeses, natural yogurts).
It is important to abandon addictions, devote more time to sports and outdoor activities.
Work with a psychologist and relaxation methods
To suppress manifestations of nervous eczema, it is not enough to use medications or dietary restrictions. Doctors must evaluate the atmosphere in which the patient lives. If he is regularly subjected to nervous overload, he is shown sessions of psychotherapy.
Constant conflicts, problems at work and in the family negatively affect the functioning of the central nervous system, exacerbating the course of eczema. Relaxation and various auto-trainings help eliminate the factors that trigger the ailment. Psychotherapy sessions break the invisible connection between the manifestations of the disease and nervous reactions of a negative nature.
Relax and relieve nervous tension help:
- Breathing exercises.
- Hypnosis.
- Meditation.
- Relaxing music.
- Visualization.
First, patients, along with a therapist, learn relaxation techniques. Then they are practiced independently at home.
Help traditional medicine
Healer recipes are also used in the treatment of nervous eczema. However, you should first consult with your doctor, since certain funds may be contraindicated. The following are the most effective recipes:
- Collection based on the roots of burdock and dandelion. To prepare the broth, you need 2 tablespoons of the raw material, pour 0.5 liters of hot water, bring to a boil and strain. The tool is consumed 100 ml 5 times a day. The duration of such treatment is 21 days.
- Celandine juice with milk. In 50 ml of milk, you need to add a drop of celandine juice. Take the drug daily. Gradually, you should increase its dosage by adding one drop of celandine every day (maximum volume is 15 drops). The amount of milk remains unchanged throughout the treatment.
Baths with sea salt help get rid of eczema on nervous soil in the hands. Hands should be lowered into a solution of comfortable temperature. The procedure lasts until the water cools completely. Then hands should be gently patted with a towel, greased with a moisturizer. The result appears after the first procedure.
The danger of nervous eczema
In the photo, the pathology looks rather unpleasant. It occurs in people of all ages. From the moment of primary manifestations, a person literally falls into a vicious circle. At first, an emotional breakdown provokes severe itching and rashes. Discomfort and constantly itching skin cause nervousness and irritation, interfere with sleep, lead to new breakdowns and an oppressed state. Eczema caused by a nervous breakdown becomes a source of stress as a result.
Its main danger lies in the high probability of transformation into a chronic form, especially if untreated. In the acute phase, it lasts up to two months, and the chronic course lasts a lifetime. Periods of remission and relapse endlessly replace each other. Therefore, when the initial signs appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Disease prevention
To prevent the development of eczema and to avoid frequent cases of relapse, it is necessary to follow simple rules of prevention:
- Observe the regime of vigorous activity and rest.
- Stick to personal hygiene.
- Periodically take baths with herbal extracts (chamomile, string, St. John's wort).
- Avoid contact with probable allergens (animal hair, household chemicals, clothing made from synthetic materials, certain medications).
- Choose the right diet.
After the illness, doctors recommend sanatorium treatment to their patients. Skin pathologies respond well to therapy in the resorts of Crimea, the Caucasus, Altai Territory, Transbaikalia. Some people prefer a holiday on the shores of the Dead Sea.