Asteatotic Eczema
April 20th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Asteatotic eczema is also known as Xerotic eczema. This form of eczema is found mostly in older people. The skin disease makes the skin dry to the point of cracking and splitting. Asteatotic eczema usually afflicts people who have less oil secreting glands and affects areas like the lower legs. There is a spike in reported cases during the winter months when the humidity is low. Asteatotic eczema causes problems like pain from the burning and hashing in the skin parts that have dried out.
The clinical picture of asteatotic eczema displays dried out, dull looking skin. It also can exhibit scaling. There can be cracks that are very shallow and there is an occurrence of the cracks of the horny layer. These cracks of the horny stratum can come with erythema, oozing and crusting. A gentle xerosis is asymptomatic, while burning of the skin and harshness may be present in a more obvious injury.
While predominantly affecting the lower legs and shins of elderly people, it can also show up on the arms, thighs or trunk. As far as diagnosis of this disease is concerned, the main emphasis on the case history of the patient, clinical depiction and elimination of other disease.
There are several different methods to diagnose this disease. The diagnosis is separate from the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, stasis dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, scabies or nummular eczema.
Asteatotic eczema was first related by Dr. Brocq back in 1907. He referred to it as eczema craquelè as well as asteatotic dermatitis. This is identified by irregular scaling and dry cracked skin. It also displays polygonal fissured skin. He noted that it was most common on the shins of elderly patients although it can occur on other body parts like the hands.
In 1971 a Dr. Domonkos referred to this form of dermatitis as being similar to the appearance of cracked porcelain. The cracking pattern reminds one unevenly cracked pavement. Caplan figured out that as the epidermis losses water, fissures and superficial bleeding can occur along with periodic splits that can be deep enough to disrupt papillary dermal capillaries. The inflammation is caused by asymmetric leg edema. Eczema that exhibits lichenification can occasionally aggravate as the patients scratches and rubs the affected area.
The eruption can either be localized or generalized. Generalized form of asteatosis is a peculiar feature that provokes a search for other associated ailments. Guillet had categorized the localized variety into four different types: Asteatotic eczema of the lower extremities in elderly persons secondary to aging, dehydrated skin, and malnutrition .Cracked erythema secondary to irritant contact dermatitis from soaps or detergents.Eczema craquelé in areas in which corticosteroid therapy was discontinued Asteatotic eczema in neurological disorders
Ken
