Almost everyone heard the name of the disease "eczema." This is a skin disease that cannot be transmitted from person to person. One of its varieties is microbial eczema. It prevails in approximately 27% of cases among people infected with this disease. It does not develop independently, but on the skin already affected by pathology.
Medical history
Why is it possible to get microbial eczema? If it was inherited or appeared due to allergic processes in the body. Its appearance is influenced by endogenous (internal) and exogenous (external) factors. The culprits of eczema can also be psycho-vegetative, neuroendocrine disorders.
Speaking specifically about the causes of microbial eczema, in most cases they lie in weakened immunity. It can occur after a disease, during the period of spring vitamin deficiency, when the immune defense is most reduced, the threshold of susceptibility of the organism of pathogenic bacteria is high. Especially for staphylococci and streptococci.
Risk zone
Which of the people are at risk as the most susceptible to the disease?
- Neglect of personal hygiene procedures creates an excellent environment for the development of eczema.
- People who have problems with the work of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as malfunctions in the functioning of the endocrine system.
- Those who are in a constant state of stress experience increased emotional stress.
- People prone to frequent diseases due to weakened immunity.
Symptoms of the disease
Foci of microbial eczema are most often manifested and localized on the lower extremities of a person. They look like large foci, inflammation of the skin, with serous purulent vesicles, weeping erosion. All lesion sites merge with each other, without clear dividing edges. Microbial eczema is accompanied by severe itching, its areas are covered with purulent crusts, and tend to grow. Healthy skin around the affected area contains foci of peeling (screenings).
Varieties of eczema
There are several types of microbial eczema.
- Syciform form most often occurs in people with inflamed hair follicles. In places, its manifestations are the chin, upper lip, armpits, genitals. It looks like wet, inflamed areas of red color, accompanied by severe itching.
- Since this type of eczema is not an independent disease, but arises against the background of already existing pathological processes, microbial eczema on the legs can manifest itself with varicose veins, in its neglected case.
- Human hands are also not immune from the manifestation of an ailment. Microbial eczema on the hands is called nummular and manifests itself in the form of focal lesions of a round shape, with diameters up to three centimeters.
- If your nails or skin are affected by a fungal infection, you can wait for the appearance of a mitotic variety of eczema.
- Unhealed wounds, long-term injuries can also serve as a reason for the development of an unpleasant factor. In this case, eczema is called paratraumatic and is localized around these skin lesions.
- The last type of ailment affects mainly women, while breastfeeding a child. Or people infected with scabies. Eczema appears around the nipples and bears a similar name. Red spots get very wet, causing discomfort and itching.
Forms of eczema
Depending on the time of manifestation of the disease, microbial eczema can take the following forms.
- Sharp. It lasts up to three months, is characterized by the appearance of bright red spots on the skin, they are moist and itchy.
- Subacute. It lasts up to six months. The skin is not only red, but thickened, peeling.
- If measures are not taken in time to treat the ailment, eczema passes into the following form - chronic. Its manifestations have been disturbing for more than six months. The affected skin becomes very dense, the color stands out sharply against the surrounding tissue.
Symptoms
The very first and most striking symptom, in the presence of which it is possible to judge the occurrence of the disease, is inflammation of the skin. Literally immediately on the affected area, a rash and weeping erosion appear. The whole process is accompanied by severe itching, which will not allow eczema to be confused with any other ailment. If several affected lesions appeared on the skin at once, then after a while they merge, covering a healthy cover. The surface of these foci is covered with a thick layer of purulent crusts.
Treatment of microbial eczema must be started in a timely manner, at its first manifestations. In no case should you self-medicate. With the wrong intake of unsuitable drugs, lubrication of lesions with an inappropriate ointment, the consequences can occur in rashes and the formation of secondary allergic lesions. Gradually, they merge into a single spot, spreading to healthy skin and covered with soaking erosion. After that, microbial eczema becomes true.
How to diagnose
It is not difficult for a dermatologist to recognize in the disease (L20-L30 - ICD codes) - microbial eczema. This is indicated by its secondary nature, that is, not the independence of occurrence, but the consequence of an already existing ailment, such as varicose veins, candidiasis, streptoderma. It will also be indicated by areas of infected skin or injured skin. To verify the correct diagnosis, bacteriological culture or scraping from the affected area is carried out. If there is reason to suspect the occurrence of eczema from a fungal infection, a scraping is taken to determine the pathogenic fungi.
But first, the doctor carefully examines the patient’s medical history in order to identify factors that influence the onset of eczema. Then a detailed visual examination of the affected skin areas is carried out. And the third necessary element is to conduct a survey of the patient to establish the time of occurrence and the severity of the ailment.
If it is not possible to visually diagnose microbial eczema, or if a more serious examination is necessary, then a histological examination of the particles taken from the focus itself is carried out. In this case, it is determined how strong the swelling of the dermis, vesiculate formations. During the examination, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of contracting psoriasis, dermatitis or other types of eczema.
Treatment
In case of detection of microbial eczema, treatment should be comprehensive. And, first of all, it should be aimed at eradicating the root cause of the disease and maintaining the entire body. Microbial eczema - the disease in most cases is chronic. Therefore, it is difficult to get rid of it and it is even more difficult to keep the skin from newly emerging rashes.
In the treatment of microbial eczema on the legs, the ointment helps best, and it can also be used on the affected areas of the hands. But only after a detailed study of the medical history and examination. First you need to identify the main pathology that led to the disease. After all, as is already known, microbial eczema is a secondary and non-independent phenomenon. Only after establishing the cause is an effect on the focus of inflammation.
General recommendations
To get rid of an unpleasant ailment, there are a number of general recommendations that are mandatory for all victims to follow.
- Patients with eczema must carefully monitor body hygiene. But at the same time refrain from prolonged contact with water in affected areas.
- You should refrain from overheating the body, do not sunbathe, do not expose the affected areas to direct sunlight.
- Directly with the process of getting rid of the foci affected by the infection of the tissues, the chronic infection in the body is also eliminated.
- Do not injure inflamed skin. Lingerie and clothing should be made of soft natural fabrics that do not cause discomfort.
- Do not do in the treatment process and without a diet. It should mainly consist of milk and vegetable and meat dishes. Moreover, the latter should be less. It is forbidden to eat citruses. The restriction is imposed on the amount of fluid taken, alcohol, canned and spicy foods.
- With a varicose form of microbial eczema, treatment is ointment and bandaging of the feet with an elastic bandage, or wearing dense stockings. First of all, efforts should be directed towards getting rid of varicose veins.
In addition to the conditions described, medications are also used to treat eczema. Antihistamines - to get rid of allergic reactions, vitamins - to support the immune system and restore balance in the body. Treatment with ointment of microbial eczema on the legs in combination with medications quickly leads to positive results. Treat the affected areas with antiseptics.
Local therapy
It is possible to treat microbial eczema and facilitate the well-being of a sick person at home. To do this, you need to make lotions on the affected area from lead water and a 1% solution of resorcinol. Treat the foci with Castellani liquid. If the cause of eczema is due to the presence of bacteria in the body, ointments containing antibiotics such as Bactroban, Dettol are well suited. To dry weeping tissues, ointments containing tar are used. For the treatment of eczema-provoked fungus, antifungal ointments are suitable.
When the disease progresses to a more severe stage, conventional therapy is already used, using hydrocortisone ointment and glucocorticosteroid drugs to help nullify the relapse. Additionally, vitamins B and C are prescribed as intramuscular injections. After removing the acute phase, the affected skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The long-term positive effect of the treatment will help preserve the healing mud and protect the skin from frost, snow, sun, rain.
What will happen if not treated
In some cases, a person may for a long time ignore the appearance of inflamed foci of the skin and not contact specialists to prescribe effective treatment. What could happen in that case? Itchy red spots will spread fairly quickly to healthy skin. They will cause a herpes infection. The disease will turn into a chronic form, which can no longer be eliminated.
The same effect can be observed when trying to cure yourself. Only a timely visit to a specialist, prescribing the course of the right drugs and following the above recommendations will help get rid of the disease and avoid relapse in the future.
Prevention
It is not enough to recover from eczema. A number of actions still need to be taken so that the unpleasant disease does not appear in the future. First of all, you need to carefully monitor body hygiene. The skin must not be allowed to undergo infection or structural changes. If the above diseases causing eczema are found, immediate treatment should be taken. Only by observing these recommendations will it be possible not only to recover from an unpleasant illness, but also to forget about it forever.