>> Just a rash: no Atopic dermatitis is of course “only” visible on the skin, but the rash is only the tip of the iceberg. Because it is a so-called systemic disease. That means there is an inflammatory reaction under the skin that affects the whole body. The severe itching also leads to sleep disorders and concentration problems in many patients. Those affected may also have concomitant diseases such as allergies. Neurodermatitis is massively debilitating in everyday life and at work. Those affected have to justify themselves for visible eczema and often feel stigmatized. Psychological effects such as depression or anxiety as well as neurological diseases are common in patients, says expert Martina Schütz-Bergmayr.
>> Typical childhood illness: No, that’s not correct – although neurodermatitis is particularly common in babies and small children. “I see at least five patients with neurodermatitis every day, most of whom are babies and children,” says the expert. In Austria, 18 to 27 percent of children suffer from it in their first year of life. In adulthood, only between two and five percent are affected. Many children get rid of the disease by puberty, but the tendency to do so remains. In addition, there are also neurodermatitis patients who did not have any symptoms during childhood. They only get sick in adulthood. In recent years it has been shown that there are more and more of these “late” neurodermatitis patients. In addition, women are more likely to develop neurodermatitis. The onset of the disease may be influenced by hormonal balance.
>> Only cortisone helps here: no The most important therapy is the basic therapy with creams and lotions without medicinal ingredients. Because in people with neurodermatitis, the natural skin barrier is disturbed. “For a better understanding, I like to use the example of a cracked wall. We need putty to make the wall more stable again. This putty is the basic care for neurodermatitis patients. It enables the skin barrier to retain its protective function and no germs can get through can,” says the expert. “We only use cortisone-containing ointments in the case of acute flare-ups. Cortisone, if used with care, has a very good, anti-itching effect and is wrongly spurned. There are also cortisone-free healing ointments that work against the inflammation. Other options for treating symptoms are antihistamines or light therapy, i.e. irradiation with ultraviolet light. The latter is only possible for adults. Wrap therapy with wet compresses or stays in the mountains or at the North Sea can also help to alleviate the symptoms. In moderate to severe cases, systemic therapy helps. Medication is used for this used, which act directly on the immune system and inhibit inflammatory factors.In this area, much progress has been made in recent years.
>> Do not shower or bathe every day: no It used to be said that those affected should shower or bathe as little as possible. The suspected reason was that it dries out the skin. “We have now moved away from this attitude. Today, those affected in Austria and Germany are recommended to shower or bathe regularly. However, I advise against overdoing it. About 10 to 15 minutes is enough, otherwise the skin swells up too much.” , says the expert. The idea behind regular washing: The water reduces the germs on the skin. How often you should shower or bathe depends on the person with neurodermatitis. The best thing to do is take care of your own body and find out what is good for you. For all those affected, the following also applies: After showering or bathing, you should use basic care and apply lotion. In this way, the skin is moisturized.
>> The right diet can heal: Unfortunately, it is not that simple, because not everyone affected automatically has a food allergy. Flares are often mistakenly attributed to food. There are a number of other triggering factors such as stress, certain clothing, heat or cold. “On the Internet we see abstruse theories and meal plans that even lead to malnutrition. From a medical point of view, there is no recommendation for a general dietary adjustment,” says the dermatologist, who now works in her own surgery at the Vitalzentrum Muldenstrasse in Linz. Previously, she worked at the Kepler University Hospital, where her specialties were inflammatory skin diseases such as neurodermatitis, psoriasis and lichen sclerosus, as well as pediatric dermatology. In the case of the neurodermatitis mentioned, it is important to rule out possible intolerances. Dietary changes should not be made unless recommended. Those affected can only get a grip on neurodermatitis by talking to specialists about suitable treatments. “The best strategy can be selected together. For some time now, intensive research has been carried out into new methods – some of these are already on the market. It’s worth asking!”
Info below www.neurodermitis-online.at
Source: Nachrichten
