Types of dermatitis
Eczema, dermatitis, POD? Treat it naturally!
The symptoms of eczema can vary. The most common are redness, dry skin, and itching. Here are some tips to avoid and treat eczema, depending on the type of this skin problem.
- Avoid skin irritants such as soaps, cleaners, and household chemicals.
- If your hands come in contact with water, wear rubber gloves, but remove them from time to time to avoid perspiration.
- Wear cotton or cotton blend clothing and avoid wool and plastic.
- Take only a short bath or shower with lukewarm water, not hot.
- After showering, gently soak up the water from your skin and apply a moisturizer immediately, do not allow it to dry out.
- Use a moisturizer daily and take medication for eczema as prescribed by your doctor.
- Do not scratch or rub irritated skin; use a camphor coolant (zinc shaker) to relieve itching.
- Avoid stressful situations whenever possible.
- Patients with eczema should always take products containing gamma-linolenic acid, which is mainly found in evening primrose oil or borage oil.
- Omega-3 oil can also help reduce inflammation, and long-term use of an effective probiotic is essential for recovery.
There are five types of dermatitis with slightly different symptoms.
The 5 types of dermatitis
Perioral Dermatitis
Symptoms
The most common symptoms include a burning feeling and tight skin around the mouth, nose, on lower eyelids, with extremely painful red spots that begin to dry out and poppy-like papules appearing.
Causes
The cause of POD is not clear. Presumed causes include hormonal changes and possible digestive issues, mainly leaky gut syndrome. Using steroid-containing creams, unknown cosmetics, or fluoride-containing toothpaste may strengthen it.
Treatment options
Perioral dermatitis can be stubborn. In the case of POD, you need to leave allergens and triggers. The dermatologist should develop a skin care plan that is constantly adjusted to the skin’s condition.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, retinoids, and possibly azelaic acid-containing medicines can help reduce symptoms.
Natural treatment
Natural anti-inflammatory drugs such as chamomile and calendula can also be applied topically. It is definitely recommended to use emulsion (oil in water) formulations to hydrate the area and facilitate absorption.
The preparation may contain zinc, antioxidants, vitamins, and natural anti-inflammatory oils such as Centella, evening primrose, and borage oil. It is crucial to support the digestive system with a sufficiently effective probiotic.
Still, there will probably be needed to role out SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth) and Leaky Gut syndrome. Omega 3 and gamma-linolenic acid are also essential to improve the symptoms of perioral dermatitis.
It is also necessary to clarify the presence of reflux and to review the hormonal systems. Greasy paraffin-based marigold cream, for example, may worsen the condition of the skin due to paraffin.
Eczema treatment protocol
Contact Dermatitisz
Symptoms
The skin may be red, swollen, blistered, itchy, inflamed, and oozing. Contact dermatitis can occur on any part of the body, but is most common on the hands, feet, and groin. It does not spread beyond the area that was exposed to the allergen.
Possible causes
Inflammation usually develops within 48 hours of contact with the allergen. Contact dermatitis can be caused by chlorine, household cleaners and soaps, fabric softeners, artificial nail glues, perfumes, and topical preparations.
Treatment option
In the case of contact dermatitis, the solution may be to avoid contact with the allergen. If you do not know what triggers dermatitis, you should avoid all possible allergens and minimize the use of cosmetics.
Natural treatment
As a natural solution, an emulsion preparation enriched with antioxidants and vitamins can be good. Moisturizing the skin surface can relieve itching. Avoid oil-based preparations.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Eczema treatment protocol
Symptoms
This is also a hereditary disease caused by overproduction of the sebaceous glands. Yellowish, greasy deposits cover the inflamed skin. It occurs mainly on the scalp, eyelids, outer surfaces of the face, ears, armpits, breasts, and groin.
Possible causes
In adults, it may usually be an accompanying symptom of diabetes; in children, biotin deficiency leads to this type of dermatitis. The exact cause is unknown.
Treatment options
Deposits can be removed with salicylic acid or sulfur-containing preparations, and anti-dandruff shampoos are recommended to control fungal growth. Cosmetics containing alcohol should be avoided. Spots with heavy deposits are suspected to be psoriasis, where symptoms are already more pronounced.
Dermatologists usually recommend steroid-containing preparations for the treatment of severely scaly, thickened, inflamed, and often blistered skin. Seborrheic dermatitis has a milder course and is easy to care for.
Natural treatment
The use of BHA, natural salicylic acid, zinc, and sulfur-free cosmetics that do not contain allergens, as well as preparations containing natural anti-inflammatories (chamomile, tea tree, rosemary, centella) can also help.
Selenium can be taken internally to strengthen the immune system, and zinc and biotin may be recommended. Taking evening primrose oil may also be helpful for seborrheic dermatitis.
Atopic Dermatitis
Symptoms
Atopic dermatitis is an itchy, scaly skin swelling sometimes accompanied by blistering. It is more common in early childhood. This eczema syndrome usually occurs on the face, elbows, and back of the knees.
Possible causes
Atopic dermatitis can be caused by allergies, asthma, or stress, but the most common cause is an allergic reaction to nickel and metal jewelry. The genetic predisposition is probably inherited.
Treatment option
Clarify the presence of allergies, asthma, elimination of possible allergens, and continuous hydration of the diseased skin.
Natural treatment
In most cases of atopic dermatitis, there is a deficiency of gamma-linolenic acid, which must be replaced by e.g. evening primrose oil. Omega-3 oil can help reduce inflammation, and continuous skin hydration is important.
Radiodermatitis
Symptoms
Tissue damage is accompanied by painful redness, and DNA may also be damaged. Short-term reactions may include erythematous rash, peeling, and necrosis (tissue death).
Delayed effects may occur months or even years after radiation treatment, such as pigmentary changes in the skin, capillary dilation, photosensitivity, fibrosis, atrophy, and prolonged wound healing.
Possible causes
An inflammatory reaction to ionizing radiation and X-rays. The most common form is sunburn, which is caused by UV radiation. It can be caused by high exposure to X-rays during various medical diagnostic imaging procedures, and radiation treatment can also cause severe burns.
Its occurrence depends on the level of radiation dose, duration of exposure, and other immunosuppressive effects (e.g. chemotherapy).
Treatment options
For radiodermatitis, the goal is to soothe the skin and prevent infection and further damage, which is treated with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and soothing creams.
Natural treatment
It is recommended to permanently avoid sunlight and all types of radiation. It is definitely recommended to use an emulsion preparation containing zinc, antioxidants, vitamins, and natural anti-inflammatory agents such as Centella, niacinamide, coenzyme Q10, and grape seed oil, which bind free radicals and regenerate damaged skin.
Possible causes
An inflammatory reaction to ionizing radiation and X-rays. The most common type is sunburn caused by UV radiation, but it can be caused by high exposure to X-rays during various medical imaging diagnostic procedures, and radiation treatment can also result in severe burns. Its development depends on the magnitude of the radiation dose, the duration of exposure, and other immunosuppressive effects (eg chemotherapy).
Treatment options
In the case of radiodermatitis, the goal is to soothe the skin, prevent infection and further damage, which is treated with topical antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and soothing creams.
Natural treatment options
Permanent avoidance of sunlight and all kinds of radiation is recommended. It is definitely recommended to use an emulsion preparation that may contain zinc, antioxidants, vitamins, natural anti-inflammatory agents such as centella, niacinamide, coenzyme Q10, grape seed oil, which bind free radicals and regenerate already damaged skin.
