Nummular dermatitis is a type of eczema that manifests as round or oval sores on the skin. Here are four things you need to know about this skin condition.
What causes it?
The exact cause of nummular dermatitis isn't known. Researchers don't think it has a genetic link since it doesn't run in families. Sometimes, an irritation to your skin can trigger nummular dermatitis. This irritation can be anything from a bug bite to winter dry skin. More research needs to be done to see why these triggers cause nummular dermatitis in some people and not others.
What are the symptoms?
People with nummular dermatitis have round or oval shaped sores on their skin. These sores have well-defined borders. For some people, these sores are very itchy, but for others, there is no itch at all. If you scratch the sores, they can become a patch of dry skin, or they can become a bleeding, open wound.
Can it be treated?
There are many treatments available for nummular dermatitis. Your dermatologist may recommend taking steps to keep your skin moist and hydrated. For example, you may be told to soak in your bathtub for 20 minutes every day and to apply moisturizer as soon as you get out of the water. Keeping your skin moist can help to reduce the itch.
Your dermatologist may also give you a prescription for a medication to help the itch, such as corticosteroid cream. Corticosteroid creams work by reducing inflammation. If your nummular dermatitis is severe, your dermatologist may prescribe an antibiotic to fight infection.
It can take a long time for your skin to clear, even with treatment. Some people will be cured of their itchy sores within a year, while other people will have them for years. The condition can also recur; if this happens to you, make sure to see a dermatologist.
Is it a common condition?
Nummular dermatitis affects about two people out of every 1000. That means that it affects more than six hundred thousand people in the United States. It's more common in men than in women, and it is equally common among all races. It tends to affect people either in early adulthood or in their sixties and seventies.
Nummular dermatitis is an uncomfortable skin condition, but with the help of a dermatologist, it can be managed. If you think you have this condition, see a dermatologist, like one from the Southwest Dermatology Institute, right away.
Share4 August 2015
After watching my mother navigate treatment for breast cancer in my early teens, I knew pretty much what to expect from my dad's diagnosis with prostate cancer. What I didn't know was how different chemotherapy and radiation can affect different people. My mother became very ill while my dad seemed to weather the treatments with few ill effects. I spent a long time researching the differences in treatments, types of chemotherapy, and how each one can react differently with the body. I created this blog to help others understand the same things, because I knew I couldn't be the only one unfamiliar with it. I hope it helps you if someone you love is facing treatment for any type of cancer.
