After the skin is inflamed, the stratum corneum is damaged, and it is easy to dry, itchy, and peel.
(Photo provided / Ye Huiru)
Text / Ye Huiru
A 70-year-old man came to my outpatient clinic and told me, "Doctor, I have some red rashes on my calves and thighs. It's super itchy. Sometimes it's so itchy that I can't sleep, and I feel better when I scratch it."
I found the front side of the patient's tibia with cracks, rashes, peeling and scratches.
Please read on...
Me: "What's the temperature of the water you usually take a bath? How long do you take it for?"
Patient: "The weather is dry and cold now. Of course, the hotter you are, the more comfortable you will be! In addition, it is very comfortable to take a hot bath. I take a bath for half an hour, or even an hour."
Me: "What do you use to bathe?"
Patient: "I always use soap! It's the most convenient to wash with soap. One soap washes from head to toe, and it's clean."
Me: "Do you usually go to hot springs or spas?"
Patient: "Yes! Bubble hot springs are the most comfortable on a cold day. I can soak in the hot spring pools with various medicinal herbs all night and feel refreshed!"
Me: "Then do you usually apply lotion after bathing or soaking in hot springs?"
Patient: "Occasionally rub it! But why does it still itch after rubbing it? And I don't like to rub lotion sometimes, it feels sticky and uncomfortable."
Me: "You have winter eczema."
Patient: "Winter eczema? My skin looks dry!"
Me: "Eczema is actually dermatitis. After the skin is inflamed, the stratum corneum is damaged, and it is easy to dry, itchy, peel, and rash."
Winter eczema, also known as lipodermatitis, is very common in autumn and winter.
In cold weather, the skin is inherently dry. When the temperature of the bathing water is relatively high, it is easy to take away the oil and moisture of the skin; and the longer the bathing time or the hot spring, the more water will be evaporated, and the skin will become more delicate. dry.
Alkaline soap has strong detergency. It is suitable for washing clothes or cleaning dirt. However, if it is used to wash the body and take a bath for too long, under excessive rubbing, the oil on the skin will be washed away. Causes dry and itchy skin.
Although the patient has rubbed lotion, sometimes when the skin is too dry, it is necessary to use a cream or even an ointment that is more moisturizing than the lotion.
When the skin is inflamed, it is even more necessary to use skin ointment to reduce the inflammatory reaction of the skin, in order to improve the dryness, itching, peeling, and even rash of the skin.
After reducing the heat of washing, using soap base, washing for too long, and using oral and external antipruritic drugs, the symptoms of dry itching and peeling have been significantly improved, and the itching is no longer in the middle of the night, and can sleep well. I felt it.
(The author is the attending physician of Nobel Ophthalmology and Dermatology Clinic in Taichung)
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keywords
red rash
Dermatitis
eczema
peeling
Aliphatic dermatitis
cracked
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