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- Mayo Clinic: Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Atopic Dermatitis
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Papular eczema is a form of atopic dermatitis, a chronic skin condition characterized by an itchy rash 13. One of several types of this widespread skin disorder, papular eczema strikes disproportionately among people of African and Asian descent and is far less common in Caucasians, according to DermatitisFacts.com. The condition, which has no cure, has many characteristics in common with other forms of eczema.
Symptoms
The most characteristic symptom of papular eczema, sometimes called lichen simplex, is a scattering of tiny pinhead-sized bumps, or papules, on the skin. They may be bright or dull red in color and occur most frequently on the flexor surfaces of the extremities, according to F. M. Dearborn, author of “Diseases of the Skin with Illustrations.” Medical professionals occasionally misdiagnose this type of eczema as folliculitis, an inflammation of hair follicles 2. The papules sometimes become filled with fluid, which may lead to weeping lesions, particularly if the papules are broken open by repeated scratching.
Incidence
Causes of External Vaginal Itching
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All forms of eczema, including the papular strain, affect more than 30 million Americans, according to the National Eczema Foundation. Underlining the chronic nature of this skin disorder is the fact that 65 percent of all eczema patients are diagnosed within the first year of life, with an additional 25 percent diagnosed by age five. Although some patients diagnosed with eczema as children may experience some lessening of symptoms as they mature, most will continue to suffer from eczema for the rest of their lives.
Cause
Medical researchers have been unable to identify the cause of papular eczema; according to the Mayo Clinic, it may be triggered by a combination of dry, irritated skin and some form of immune system dysfunction 3. Stress and emotional disorders can cause a worsening of symptoms but do not cause the skin disorder. Although not fully researched, a hereditary predisposition to eczema is suspected, MayoClinic.com reports.
Diagnosis
Causes of Rash in the Genital Area
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Diagnosis of eczema is almost always based on a combination of visual examination of skin lesions with an interview that includes family medical history, including any incidence of eczema, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 24. There are no laboratory tests for the diagnosis of eczema.
Complications
Left untreated, papular eczema may develop into neurodermatitis, a condition in which patches of affected skin become thick and leathery, according to the Mayo Clinic 3. Repeated scratching of eczema lesions may lead to infection.
Treatment
While there is no cure for papular eczema, a wide array of medications and therapies offer symptomatic relief. Such options include phototherapy, the exposure of skin lesions to controlled levels of ultraviolet A or B light, and medications such as:
- antibiotics
- corticosteroid creams or ointments
- immunomodulators
- oral antihistamines
- oral corticosteroids
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References
- Dermatitis Facts: Clinical Features of Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
- “Diseases of the Skin with Illustrations”; F. M. Dearborn; 2002
- Mayo Clinic: Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Atopic Dermatitis
- Pyun BY. Natural history and risk factors of atopic dermatitis in children. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2015;7(2):101-5. doi:10.4168/aair.2015.7.2.101
- Weidinger S, Novak N. Atopic dermatitis. Lancet. 2016 Mar 12;387(10023):1109-22. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00149-X
- Siegfried EC, Hebert AA. Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis: mimics, overlaps, and complications. J Clin Med. 2015;4(5):884-917. doi:10.3390/jcm4050884
- Maliyar K, Sibbald C, Pope E, Gibbald G. Diagnosis and management of atopic dermatitis: A review. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2018;31(12):538-50. doi: 10.1097/01.ASW.0000547414.38888.8d
- Zaniboni MC, Samorano LP, Orfali RL, Aoki V. Skin barrier in atopic dermatitis: beyond filaggrin. An Bras Dermatol. 2016 Jul-Aug;91(4):472-8. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20164412
- Bonamonte D, Filoni A, Vestita M, Romita P, Foti C, Angelini G. The role of the environmental risk factors in the pathogenesis and clinical outcome of atopic dermatitis. Biomed Res Int. 2019;2019:2450605. doi:10.1155/2019/2450605
- Kantor R, Silverberg JI. Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2017;13(1):15-26. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2016.1212660
- Tada J. Diagnostic standard for atopic dermatitis. JMAJ. 2001;45(11):460-5.
- Barrett M, Luu M. Differential diagnosis of atopic dermatitis. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2017;37(1):11-34. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2016.08.009
- Eichenfield LF, Tom WL, Berger TG, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 2. Management and treatment of atopic dermatitis with topical therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;71(1):116=32. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2014.03.023
- Boguniewicz M, Fonacier L, Guttman-Yassky E, Ong PY, Silverberg J, Farrar JR. Atopic dermatitis yardstick: Practical recommendations for an evolving therapeutic landscape. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018;120(1):10-22.e2. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2017.10.039
- Suárez AL, Feramisco JD, Koo J, Steinhoff M. Psychoneuroimmunology of psychological stress and atopic dermatitis: pathophysiologic and therapeutic updates. Acta Derm Venereol. 2012;92(1):7-15. doi:10.2340/00015555-1188
- Avena-Woods C. Overview of atopic dermatitis. Am J Manag Care. 2017 Jun;23(8 Suppl):S115-S123.
- Mayba JN, Gooderham MJ. Review of atopic dermatitis and topical therapies. J Cutan Med Surg. 2017 May/Jun;21(3):227-36. doi:10.1177/1203475416685077
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Writer Bio
Don Amerman has spent his entire professional career in the editorial field. For many years he was an editor and writer for The Journal of Commerce. Since 1996 he has been freelancing full-time, writing for a large number of print and online publishers including Gale Group, Charles Scribner’s Sons, Greenwood Publishing, Rock Hill Works and others.