OR: When it itches because your skin is screaming "SOS"
When our skin is no longer healthy, it no longer fulfills its barrier function - that is, the barrier from the outside to the inside. The immune system reacts hypersensitively to contact with allergens and other irritants. The skin is our outer wall, it hydrates us and protects us from the outside world. If this protection is impaired, this often manifests itself in the form of atopic dermatitis symptoms, which appear in the form of itching, redness and other skin problems.
One of them is neurodermatitis - this is a term from the 19th century. It is a term from the 19th century, where this skin disease was called"Atopic Eczema" considered neuritis. This view has been refuted, but the name is still common today.<
How can I tell if I have atopic dermatitis?
The symptoms of atopic dermatitis are as varied as the people themselves. They depend on age, gender, skin condition and the general psychological and physical constitution of the individual. While the rash settles in soft areas of skin at a young age, the scabs become more pronounced in adulthood until they disappear by themselves in most cases around the age of 30 at the latest. In the "Atopic dermatitis symptoms" section below, we explain exactly which age is associated with which type of atopic dermatitis.
What is the cause of atopic dermatitis?
One possible cause is that the body produces too little of a special protein called filaggrin. We need this to form the epidermis. This top layer protects the body from pathogens. As a result, the skin loses moisture, dries out and reacts more quickly with inflammation and itching. The phase of life has a significant influence on skin health.
In times of change and transition, emotional stress often shows on the skin. In addition, the tendency to atopic dermatitis is hereditary. The general mental, physical and psychological constitution of a person certainly has a major influence on the severity and progression of the disease.
What causes neurodermatitis?
What triggers neurodermatitis symptoms, for example, are textiles, especially wool. Infections such as colds and flu can also have a triggering effect, as can certain foods to which we are allergic. The weather also plays a role - humid or cold and wet weather can be a trigger for atopic dermatitis. Stress and, as mentioned above, changes in the phase of life can also trigger this skin condition.
In addition to psychological factors, or other harmful external influences from chemicals in furniture, textiles and of course in the air, pollen and house dust are also possible triggers of the disease. Heavy sweating and animal hair can also have a triggering effect.
Which foods should you avoid if you suffer from atopic dermatitis?
A balanced diet with high-quality fats and oils, wholesome carbohydrates and little white sugar and flour is recommended for everyone. If certain foods trigger the skin disease, these may be the following:
Wheat
Cow's milk and cow's milk products
Poultry
Pork
Fish
Eggs
Carrots
Paprika
Celery
Tomatoes
Soy
Citrus fruits
Nuts, peanuts
Alcohol
Coffee and
black tee
This is where moderation is key. One cup of coffee a day is not yet a trigger for the majority of sufferers, whereas three cups of coffee can already trigger atopic dermatitis. Ready-made products are generally not good for a healthy lifestyle.
For neurodermatitis sufferers, the Additives
dangerous. Preservatives and food colorings, flavor enhancers and glutamate can trigger allergies. With the help of a nutritionist, you can start an "omission diet". Consistently omit one of the above possible triggers for days, observe how the skin changes and then start a build-up diet. A new food is added to the diet every 4-6 days. Regular skin checks will very quickly reveal which intolerances and/or triggers of atopic dermatitis are present.
Which foods promote a healthy lifestyle?
Cow's milk is very often not tolerated, and it is particularly the lactose that the intestine cannot metabolize. The calcium that we miss out on due to the absence of dairy products can be absorbed through calcium-rich mineral water, green vegetables, almonds and fresh herbs. Omega-3 fatty acids are just as important for the body. We can find these in high-quality fats and oils. For example, we can consume a teaspoon of linseed oil every day - an absolutely high-quality antioxidant! Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
Symptoms
The symptoms vary depending on age. Generally, they include itching, reddening skin and weeping eczema.
Babies and toddlers up to 2 years
These do not tolerate milk and suffer from cradle cap. The name comes from the fact that the rash looks like burnt milk in a pot. Cradle cap alone is not a sign of atopic dermatitis - one of the following symptoms must also occur
Reddened areas of skin on the head indicate symptoms of neurodermatitis. Scratch marks on the child's face indicate itching due to atopic dermatitis. The good news is that in half of infants with the disease, the condition disappears by the age of two.
A common symptom in children and adolescents is cradle cap, which is characterized by yellowish-white crusts on the scalp. In adolescents and adults, atopic dermatitis often occurs in episodes, with the affected areas of skin becoming very itchy and inflamed, which can lead to psychological stress. The itching, also known as excruciating itching, can have a significant impact on everyday life.
Children from 3 to 13 years
In older children, atopic dermatitis is often triggered by allergies. The particularly soft areas are particularly affected, i.e. the bends of the arms, hollows of the knees, neck and face. Skin discoloration, infections and swollen lymph nodes appear, especially in the face and neck area.
Youth
In general, neurodermatitis progresses in episodes. In the acute stage, the skin is reddened and scaly. The inflammation can ooze and bleed. From puberty onwards, the symptoms appear on the crook of the arm, the back of the knee, the back of the hand and in the chest and shoulder area. The itching can be spread all over the body. Nodules and pustules may form. There is also the phenomenon that a certain area of eczema remains while the rest of the atopic dermatitis completely disappears. Inflammation of the lip and earlobe is just as common as tearing of the corner of the mouth and itching between the fingers and toes.
Adult
The symptoms usually subside after the age of 30. If problems persist after this age, long-term preventive medical skin care is recommended. In adulthood, atopic dermatitis cases mainly affect the hands, ears, neck and face. This leads to
swelling around the eyes and forehead
Leather-like thickening of the skin
White skin drawings
Pallor, especially around the mouth area
DID YOU KNOW ? NORA REPORTS
Even the ancient Egyptians knew that they had to lie in the sun if they had skin problems. So when they had eczema, they rubbed medicinal plants on the affected area and lay in the sun. Today, this therapy is called light therapy, or more precisely "PUVA therapy". The "P" stands for plants, UVA for the ultraviolet radiation of light. This wavelength is usually also used in solariums. The ancient Egyptians already knew that active plant substances can trigger a certain skin reaction with sunlight. Today we call this process "photo-toxic dermatitis". It sounds far-fetched, but that's exactly what it means: light and plants trigger a skin reaction. This PUVA therapy is therefore the result of a completely natural phenomenon !
Treatment of atopic dermatitis
Careful skin care
Avoiding triggers (see above "What triggers neurodermatitis?")
cortisone (see more details under level plan)
Light therapy (PUVA therapy)
climate-therapy
Regular care with a suitable ointment or cream is essential to control the symptoms. The treating doctor also plays an important role here, as they can monitor the progression of the disease and initiate more intensive treatment if necessary. Skin changes such as Dennie-Morgan folds or infestation with Staphylococcus aureus are frequently observed in neurodermatitis patients. Targeted treatment helps to keep allergic diseases under control and prevent the occurrence of new allergic reactions.
Medical treatment in a step-by-step plan
Stage: Dry skin
Basic care:
A thorough application of cream to the affected areas of skin is the start of treatment. In addition, trigger factors, which we have already mentioned above, are reduced.
Stage: Mild eczema
Work is done with a so-calledGlucocorticosteroid(these are artificial steroid hormones) of medium strength and/or so-called calcineurin inhibitors, both applied as a cream. In the vernacular we speak of cortisone. Additional application of antipruritic and antiseptic agents is also provided at this stage.
Moderate Eczema (Level 3)
Required measures ofStages 1 and 2 PLUS higher potency cortisone creams. Light therapy, i.e. UV therapy, may need to be used (not in children).
Persistent, severe eczema (stage 4)
Required measures ofStages 1, 2, 3 PLUS oneDupilumab injection. In addition to the cortisone creams mentioned above, there are new preparations and a biologic called dupilumab. This is an antibody that blocks the inflammatory process in atopic dermatitis. This substance is injected into the subcutaneous fatty tissue. This can be done by the sufferer themselves.
Stage treatment Source: Ludger Klimek, Christian Vogelberg, Thomas Werfel (eds.): Weißbuch Allergie in Deutschland, 4th, revised and expanded edition, Springer Medizin 2019, p. 161 (The illustration is based on the AWMF and EDF guidelines on atopic dermatitis and does not include all procedures discussed in the guideline for reasons of clarity).
In general, flare-ups of atopic dermatitis occur during times of change in life. Mental stress and emotional imbalance favor this disease. The Covid19 year 2020 is the peak season for atopic dermatitis. If we also think about ourselves in times of increased stress, pause and simply "slow down" with our daily program, then our skin will also show us very quickly that we are healthy.
In addition, you can use the so-called "omission diet" to test whether you have food intolerances or whether certain foods even trigger atopic dermatitis in you or your loved ones. An omission diet means simply eliminating the possible foods described above step by step and seeing how your skin changes. You can do a lot for your own healthy skin this way
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