Causes of chronic eczema

Eczema, a skin disease, actually has two types: chronic eczema and acute eczema. The attacks of acute eczema are generally more serious, and the incubation period of acute eczema in the human body is relatively short. Therefore, acute eczema must be treated in time, otherwise it will develop into chronic eczema. The treatment of chronic eczema is much more complicated than that of acute eczema. The following article will explain the causes of chronic eczema.

What are the causes of eczema?

The onset of eczema is currently believed to be a delayed allergic reaction caused by complex internal and external factors. Patients with eczema often have allergic constitutions, which are related to genetic factors, so the disease occurs in specific populations.

Common internal factors: gastrointestinal dysfunction, neurological dysfunction, endocrine disorders, infectious lesions in the body, intestinal parasites, etc.

External factors: sun exposure, wind, cold, scratching, and contact with soap and cosmetics can all trigger eczema. Eating spicy foods can also make eczema worse in some people.

What are the symptoms of eczema?

1. According to the course of the disease, it can be divided into three types: acute, subacute and chronic.

(1) Acute eczema: The disease develops rapidly and is often symmetrically distributed on the head, face, limbs and genitals. During the course of the disease, various types of rashes such as erythema, papules, blisters, pustules, erosions, and crusts may appear sequentially, but it is common for 2-3 types of rashes to coexist at the same time or for a certain type of rash to be dominant at a certain stage. Frequent scratching due to severe itching makes the condition worse.

(2) Subacute eczema: After the inflammation and symptoms of acute eczema are alleviated, the rash is mainly composed of papules, scales, and scabs, but erosions still occur after scratching.

(3) Chronic eczema: It is often caused by repeated attacks of acute or subacute eczema, and may also present as chronic inflammation from the beginning. The skin of the affected area becomes infiltrated and thickened, turning dark red and pigmented. If the condition persists, the skin lesions will become larger, dry and prone to cracking. It is commonly found in the calves, hands, feet, elbows, vulva, and anus.

2. According to the parts, it can be divided into the following types:

(1) Breast eczema: It is more common in breastfeeding women. The areola is moist, eroded, and crusted. It may thicken and crack over time, causing pain during breastfeeding. Long-term non-healing. If there are nodules under the skin, the possibility of concurrent eczematous carcinoma should be considered. Therefore, you should be vigilant about breast eczema and check it in time.

(2) Scrotal eczema: Acute cases include swelling, discharge, and scabs. Chronic cases will cause thickening, lichenification, severe itching and easy recurrence. It is often related to local hyperhidrosis, vulvar irritation, neuroendocrine disorders, chronic prostatitis, etc.

(3) Vulvar eczema: Common symptoms include redness, swelling, erosion, and chronic thickening of the labia majora and minora and surrounding skin, which are very itchy. It is often associated with candidal vaginitis, increased leucorrhea and endocrine disorders.

(4) Anal eczema: The acute phase of anal eczema is redness, swelling and erosion, while the chronic phase is infiltration, hypertrophy and even cracking. It is extremely itchy and painful, especially after defecation. Due to frequent scratching, the skin may become thicker or thinner, shrink and become shiny. Anal eczema in children is often related to pinworms, while in adults it is often related to hemorrhoids and excessive sweating.

(5) Hand eczema: It occurs on the palms and is prone to infiltration and thickening, and excessive keratinization forms cracks. Eczema on the fingertips often causes repeated blisters, scabs, thickening, and desquamation. Involvement of the nail bed can affect the development of the nails, causing the nail plate to become rough and uneven. Contact with water, soap, laundry detergent, etc. often makes eczema worse.

(6) Calf eczema : It often occurs on the anterior tibia and ankle, and is often caused by varicose veins or trauma in the lower limbs. The tumor may become indurated, thickened, and lichenified, and may also become eroded and oozing. It is prone to secondary infection or ulceration and is stubborn and difficult to treat.

Complications of eczema

In addition to the common Staphylococcus aureus skin infection, the complications of eczema include less common herpes simplex virus infection, warts, or infectious plaques. Some children may have aggravated symptoms of eczema if they are allergic to food or something in the environment.