Neurodermatitis is a skin disease caused by somatic factors. The disease has a chronic course and symptoms similar to manifestations of atopic dermatitis. At risk are people with pathologies of the nervous, endocrine systems. Many experts consider neurodermatitis a hereditary disease or a continuation of eczema, diathesis of a childhood period of development. There is no consensus on the origin of skin disease.
general description
The diagnosis of neurodermatitis began to be made in 1891 to determine a pathological skin disease, accompanied by severe itching, scratching and rashes. In modern realities, this diagnosis is made in 40% of cases of dermatological pathologies.
Patients get acquainted with the first manifestations of the disease in childhood or adolescence. Manifestations pass without a trace with adequate therapy. If no action was taken to stop the pathology, then in the adult state chronic neurodermatitis is diagnosed. Treatment requires constant monitoring by a specialist, and its intensity depends on the stage of the disease.
The disease is not contagious, many factors can provoke its onset:
- Constant stress.
- Animal hair, fish food.
- Pollen of plants and trees.
- Strict diets, excessive physical activity.
- Sudden changes in temperature, etc.
There is no absolute list of reasons for the appearance of neurodermatitis, since its origin lies in the plane of reactions of the nervous system and in hormonal disorders.
The main causes
Specialists distinguish several groups of patients at risk of developing neurodermatitis. Complex treatment is prescribed, after a thorough diagnosis.
The most common causes of pathology:
- Heredity. If one parent has an allergy, the prerequisites for the appearance of neurodermatitis in a child are about 40-50%, if both parents are prone to allergic reactions, then the likelihood of a child's pathology increases to 80%.
- An existing allergy to any irritating agent (plant pollen, dust, drugs, etc.).
- Disorders of the central nervous system plunge the patient into a vicious circle - insomnia and nervousness generate neurodermatitis, irritated skin stimulates further disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system.
- Stress, bad habits, difficult life situations (unhealthy diet, smoking, alcoholism, work in hazardous industries, chronic lack of sleep, etc.).
- Chronic diseases - weakened immunity, gastrointestinal tract pathologies, infectious diseases, hormonal disruptions.
Symptoms
Manifestations of neurodermatitis depend on the causes that caused the onset of the disease, but there are general symptoms. These include:
- Constant exhausting itching with increased manifestations in the evening and night. The patient inflicts scratches on himself, which is fraught with infection in open wounds.
- Skin rashes. The location is likely to be on any part of the body, but is most often observed in the groin area, the internal bends of the elbows, under the knees, on the hands, neck. The foci do not have clear boundaries, the initial rash is covered with papules, the skin becomes denser, peeling of the epidermis is observed in the center of the focus.
- In a chronic course, the skin acquires a bluish or purple hue. Papules damaged by combs are covered with dry crusts, in some places the skin is cracked from a lack of moisture. Folding is manifested on the inner surface of the palms and feet.
- Due to constant itching, the patient suffers from insomnia, shows aggression, irritability or lethargy, quickly gets tired.
- Disorders of the nervous system appear - whitish spots on the palms of the hands, low blood pressure, glucose levels drop, the patient loses weight for no apparent reason, there is no appetite, thermoregulation is disturbed.
The peak of the acute course of the disease occurs in the off-season (autumn, spring), in winter and summer manifestations are almost not felt.
Forms of pathology
Treatment of neurodermatitis in adults begins with the classification of the form of pathology, determining the phase of the disease and localizing the spread.
Classification by location:
- Psoriasis - skin lesion is concentrated in the neck, head.
- Hypertrophic - the main foci spread in the groin area.
- Follicular - affects the scalp, causing profuse hair loss.
- Linear - areas of elbow and knee bends are affected.
Classification by area of lesion:
- The focal form is a type of allergy that is inherent in adults. External skin lesions are concentrated in several places (bends of the elbows and knees, neck, head, nape). In men, the groin organs and the inner thighs are affected.
- Diffuse form - covers large areas of the body in adults and children. It can appear on the skin of the chest, face, neck, joint bends, etc.
Complications
The lack of therapy complicates the manifestations of neurodermatitis. Symptoms and treatment require an individual approach. With a prolonged course of the disease, provoked by the lack of adequate treatment or constant contact with the allergen, atopic and non-atopic complications develop.
Atopic complications include:
- Bronchial asthma.
- Rinoconjunctivitis is a chronic cough, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes.
- Pollinosis, allergic otitis media.
- Erythroderma Hill.
Non-atopic complications:
- Attachment of an infectious skin lesion (fungus, viruses, bacteria).
- Enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy).
- Intoxication of the body.
Diagnostics
Treatment of neurodermatitis in adults is based on analysis data, detailed diagnosis and the general condition of the patient.
Diagnostic Methods:
- History taking (identification of heredity, allergic reactions, exacerbations, etc.).
- Determination of skin reaction to mechanical irritation (dermographism).
- General blood tests, feces.
- Biochemical, allergological blood test.
- The immunogram.
- Skin tests for allergens.
- Examination of a skin smear (bacterioscopy, bacteriology).
- Skin tissue biopsy.
- If necessary, consultations of narrow specialists (depending on complications).
- Consultations of a neurologist, psychiatrist (for central nervous system disorders)
After receiving all the data, consultations with specialists, the form of neurodermatitis can be diagnosed. Treatment is prescribed to overcome the exacerbation of the disease itself and its complications.
Therapy Goals
The chronic course is characterized by neurodermatitis. Treatment is prescribed individually, depending on many indicators.
The goals of treating the disease are:
- Relief of manifestations of neurodermatitis (weakening or reduction of rashes, itching).
- Treatment of joined skin lesions (infection with fungus, viruses, bacteria).
- Achieving persistent remission and maintaining state.
- Restoration of the lipid layer, the protective barrier of the epidermis.
- Prevention of complications, prevention of their occurrence.
- Psychological rehabilitation.
Due to the hereditary nature of the disease, the doctor’s task is to select a therapy such that the patient can achieve remission, eliminating irritants from his environment. A complete cure of the disease is not yet possible, but a significant weakening of the manifestations is achieved in most cases.
Treatment program
It is difficult to treat neurodermatitis in adults. Symptoms and treatment are caused by a large number of concomitant complications and possible long-term consequences. The disease requires a systematic approach and constant discipline in the fulfillment of all assignment points.
The treatment program consists of a set of measures and includes the following mandatory items:
- Control over the course of allergic reactions.
- Exclusion of an allergen from all areas of life (hypoallergenic life).
- Decreased hypersensitivity of the immune system.
- Increased immunity to the allergen.
- Symptomatic treatment.
Diet
One of the manifestations of allergies is neurodermatitis. Symptoms and treatment are determined by a specialist in the same way as a list of medications, physiotherapy procedures. To achieve persistent remission, the patient has to change his lifestyle and eating habits. A special diet has been developed for patients that excludes possible allergens from the diet.
Excluded Products:
- Concentrated meat or fish broth.
- Seafood (caviar, mussels, shrimp, “sea cocktail”, etc.).
- Fruits and berries - strawberries, citrus fruits, raspberries.
- Natural honey and bee products.
- Stimulants - chocolate, alcohol, cocoa, strong tea, coffee, etc.
- Fatty cheese with histamine.
- Products, semi-finished products with preservatives, flavor enhancers, dyes, etc.
- Reduce the amount of salt to 3 g per day.
Valid Products:
- Weakly concentrated broth ("second" - when boiling meat or fish, after boiling, the resulting broth is poured, the product is placed in new water).
- Boiled meat, fish, poultry.
- Baked apples in the form of compote.
- Vegetable oil - olive, sunflower.
- A small amount of butter.
- Egg yolk.
- Sour-milk products (kefir, fermented baked milk, sour cream, etc.).
- Vegetable broths and soups with cereals.
- Rye or wheat bread.
Drug treatment
Especially a lot of inconvenience and pain are experienced by a patient who has localized neurodermatitis on his hands. Treatment of this type of pathology is carried out especially carefully because of the constant threat of contact of the extremities with an irritating factor and the high probability of infection of open wounds.
Medication combines two types of drugs - for external and internal use. Therapy at the first stage stops the acute phase of the disease and puts the patient in a state of remission. At the second stage of therapeutic measures, the results are consolidated and measures are taken to prevent the onset of exacerbation.
For internal administration, drugs of the following groups are prescribed:
- Antihistamines (relieves itching).
- Corticosteroids (relief of symptoms).
- Immuno-suppressors (stimulation of protective functions).
- Sedatives (for insomnia, itching, nervousness).
- Antibiotics (elimination of a secondary infection).
- Antiviral drugs.
- Mast cell membrane stabilizers (prevention, suppression of eosinophilia).
External preparations:
- Hormonal ointments, creams, lotions. The tool and active substances in its composition are chosen by the doctor.
- Non-hormonal drugs - birch tar, "Ihtiol", "Tacrolimus", "Naftalan" and others.
- Fitomazi, infusions of traditional medicine.
The patient and the doctor need a lot of time and effort to treat neurodermatitis. A photo of a pathology in the acute stage looks awesome for many, but in most cases it is possible to achieve good results with a competent therapy strategy. The disease is not cured, however, allows you to fully live and work.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapeutic procedures have a positive effect on neurodermatitis. Symptoms and treatment, a photo of the results convincingly indicate the usefulness of a range of procedures, which includes:
- Phototherapy.
- Phototherapy.
- Electrosleep.
- Pyelotherapy with mud from the Dead, Black Seas.
- Suggestive therapy.
- Paraffin treatment.
- Electrophoresis
- Ozokerite therapy, etc.
Physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed after the removal of the acute syndrome. It is possible to achieve the best results in treatment in sanatorium conditions, where an integrated approach to the process is used - medical, physiotherapeutic, and psychological rehabilitation of the patient. Given the chronic course of the disease, the patient needs to undergo preventive treatment several times a year. Neurodermatitis (photo) in adults recedes with constant efforts to maintain a state of remission.
Prevention
There are no special measures that can prevent neurodermatitis. Symptoms and treatment in adults, photos of the acute course and remission make it possible to assess the magnitude of the disease and the possibility of relieving the acute course of the disease. Dermatologists recommend that patients adhere to the rules of household and psychological hygiene, lead a healthy lifestyle, and strengthen immunity.
It is preferable for people prone to allergic skin reactions to wear loose-fitting clothing made from natural fabrics that do not cause irritation. Do not undergo strong cooling and do not experience a sharp change in temperature. It is also necessary to pay sufficient attention to skin care - thoroughly cleansing, moisturizing and softening the epidermis.