How to Manage Dematitis

DERMATITIS

How to manage your condition

CONTENTS

A - Introduction

B - Different types of Dermatitis

C - Treatments for Dermatitis

D - Lifestyle and home remedies

E - Alternative medicine

F - Disclaimer

A – Introduction

LOTS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD SUFFER FROM VARIOUS TYPES OF DERMATITIS

In fact, in the USA alone, there are 30 million suffering from some type of Dermatitis.

Dermatitis is a condition that causes the skin to become dry, red, itchy and inflamed.

B – Different types of Dermatitis

THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF DERMATITIS.

HERE IS A LIST OF THE MOST COMMON TYPES:

1 – Irritant contact dermatitis

IRRITANT Contact Dermatitis will develop immediately after the skin is exposed to irritating and/or drying components.

Unlike Allergic contact dermatitis where the reaction only affects a small proportion of the skin, irritant contact dermatitis typically form no boundaries.

Some of the most common irritating components include harsh soaps, cleansers and solvents.

2 – Allergic contact dermatitis

ALLERGIC Contact Dermatitis a form of dermatitis we see fairly often. It appears as red, itchy, scaly rashes with visible borders.

Generally, the cause of allergic contact dermatitis can be attributed to chemicals or other elements of outside sources. Some of the most popular irritating elements include nickel, fragrances, hair dyes, preservatives, rubber, and latex products. These elements inflict irritation to the surface of the skin, causing the rashes you’ll see with this condition.

3 – Atopic Dermatitis

ATOPIC Dermatitis is an immunologic disease that causes the skin to be hyper-reactive to various external substances. This form of dermatitis is often a long-lasting skin disease that commonly develops within the first six months to five years of a child’s life.

When patients come to us with atopic dermatitis, they often describe it as the “scratch that itches” as it’s accompanied by an irritating scratching sensation. When patients describe these symptoms to us, we’ll recommend that they avoid itching and scratching as much as possible since scratching can lead to their skin swelling, cracking, blistering, and “weeping” a clear fluid. To help you avoid scratching, we may prescribe a prescription medication or ointment.

4 - Hand Eczema (or Dermatitis)

Hand Eczema or dermatitis that’s present on the hand is differentiated from other forms of dermatitis or eczema because it requires a different approach to treat.

For example, hands are a part of the body that are at risk of constant exposure to harsh irritants including air, water, soaps, and other cleansing agents. Because of this, treatment for hand eczema may be more aggressive than treatments for other forms of eczema or dermatitis.

5 - Neurodermatitis

NEURODERMATITIS impacts areas of the skin that are otherwise normal and healthy. With neurodermatitis, the problem does not begin with the skin, but rather an itchy sensation that can irritate the nerve ends of the skin if scratched.

With an endless cycle of itching and scratching, the skin eventually becomes impacted as well. This can lead to thick, scaly, and irritated skin. The challenge in treating neurodermatitis is to break the cycle of itching and scratching.

6 - Nummular dermatitis

NUMMULAR Dermatitis, also referred to as discoid eczema, represents a form of dermatitis that appears as distinct, coin-shaped, oval sores on the skin. This form of dermatitis often forms after skin injuries such as bug bites or severe burns. Over time, these sores become itchy and cause the impacted area of the skin to fill with pus and appear crusty.

7 - Seborrheic dermatitis

SEBORRHEIC Dermatitis is one of the most common reasons adult patients visit their dermatologist. The symptoms include red, itchy, scaly patches on the surface of the skin. Commonly, these patches form on areas of the upper body that have a lot of oil glands, which include parts of the face, ears, scalp, and chest. This condition is caused by a yeast-like organism that lives on the skin.

8 - Stasis dermatitis

STASIS Dermatitis stems from the valves in your veins. It is commonly found in patients over the age of 65.

As you age, the valves within your veins, the ones responsible for blood flow, may deteriorate. This can cause red blood cells to filter into the skin, ultimately leading to skin inflammation.

The extreme skin inflammation caused by Stasis dermatitis is typically found on the lower legs.

We recommend that you elevate your legs over your heart for as long as possible. This allows the legs to regain proper blood flow and also reduce the itching sensation.

C – Treatments for Dermatitis

These are some of the treatments for Dermatitis:

• Corticosteroid creams or ointments: Relieves patients from extreme scaling and itching.

• Oral antihistamines: Helps with sleep to refrain itching throughout the night.

• Oral or injected corticosteroids: Reduces inflammation and controls severe itching sensations.

• Immunomodulators: Maintains normal skin texture.

• Antibiotics: Treats bacterial infections, open sores, or cracking of the skin.

• RAST testing: Finds the cause of dermatitis or eczema by administrating a blood test.

• Patch testing: Finds the cause of the dermatitis or eczema by applying possible irritants on the skin

• Phototherapy: Uses light to sooth the skin. This increases the skin’s production of Vitamin D and helps reduce itching and inflammation.

If we find that the skin isn’t responding these treatments, we’ll perform either of the following procedures:

D - Lifestyle and home remedies

These self-care habits can help you manage dermatitis:

• Moisturize your skin. Routinely applying a moisturiser with high oil content can help your skin.

• Use non prescription anti-inflammatory and anti-itch products. Over-the-counter (OTC) hydrocortisone cream can temporarily relieve redness and itching. Oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, may help reduce itching.

• Apply a cool wet cloth. This helps soothe your skin.

• Take a comfortably warm bath. Sprinkle your bath water with baking soda or colloidal oatmeal — a finely ground oatmeal that's made for the bathtub. Soak for 5 to 10 minutes, pat dry and apply unscented moisturizer while your skin is still damp. A lotion of 12 percent ammonium lactate or 10 percent alpha-hydroxy acid helps with flaky, dry skin.

• Use medicated shampoos. For dandruff, use OTC shampoos containing selenium sulphide,coal tar or ketoconazole.

• Take a dilute bleach bath. This may help people with severe atopic dermatitis by decreasing the bacteria on the skin. For a dilute bleach bath, add 1/2 cup (about 118 • millilitres) of household bleach, not concentrated bleach, to a 40-gallon (about 151-liter) bathtub filled with warm water. Measures are for a U.S. standard-sized tub filled to the overflow drainage holes. Soak for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse off before patting dry. Do this two to three times a week.

Many people have had success using a dilute vinegar bath rather than a bleach bath. Add 1 cup (about 236 millilitres) of vinegar to a bathtub filled with warm water.

with a dressing if you can't keep from scratching it. Trim your nails and wear gloves at night.

• Wear cotton clothing. Smooth-textured cotton clothing can help you avoid irritating the affected area. Avoid wool, as itching can flare after removing wool clothing that directly touches the skin.

• Choose mild laundry detergent. Because your clothes, sheets and towels touch your skin, choose mild, unscented laundry products.

• Avoid the known irritant or allergen. For contact dermatitis especially, try to minimize contact with the substance that caused your rash.

• Manage your stress. Emotional stressors can cause some types of dermatitis to flare up. Consider trying stress management techniques such as relaxation or biofeedback.

E – Alternative medicine

Many alternative therapies, including those listed below, have helped some people manage their dermatitis. But evidence for their effectiveness isn't conclusive.

• Dietary supplements, such as vitamin D and probiotics, (for atopic dermatitis)

• Rice bran broth (applied to the skin), for atopic dermatitis

• 5 percent tea tree oil shampoo, for dandruff

• Aloe, for seborrheic dermatitis

• Chinese herbal therapy

E – DISCLAIMER

ALL OF THE TREATMENTS WE HAVE DETAILED IN THIS BOOK ARE OFFERED IN GOOD FAITH AS A POTENTIAL METHOD OF CONTROLLING AND/OR IMPROVING YOUR DERMATITIS CONDITION.

HOWEVER, WE CAN NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INJURY

OR DISFIGUREMENT WHICH MIGHT OCCUR AS A RESULT OF FOLLOWING OUR RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS.

ALSO, WE CAN NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE TREATMENTS WE OFFER WILL DEFINITELY GIVE ANY RELIEF OR IMPROVEMENT TO YOUR DERMATITIS CONDITION.

PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR DOCTOR BEFORE COMMENCING ANY OF THE TREATMENTS DETAILED IN THIS BOOK