Neurodermatitis


What does neurodermatitis look like?
Neurodermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by paroxysmal severe itching and lichenoid changes in the skin. Its early symptoms mainly manifest as flat papules the size of pinheads or grains of rice, with a small amount of coagulation on top. These generally are distributed over areas such as the neck, sacral region, elbows, knees, inner thighs, perineum, perianal region, and eyelids. Over time, the rashes may merge into large patches, and the affected skin becomes thickened and rough, accompanied by intense itching.


Can laser treat neurodermatitis effectively?
Neurodermatitis is a type of allergic disease, mostly developed from dermatitis, eczema, or common allergic reactions. It is generally treated with oral and topical medications, which can control or cure the condition. There is generally no need for laser treatment. Although the skin of neurodermatitis may thicken and proliferate, and the treatment results may be slow, laser treatment can cause extensive damage to the epidermis, making it more difficult to heal later. It is essential to receive proper treatment in the dermatology department of a regular hospital for neurodermatitis. Instead of using laser, treatment can include oral and topical medications, along with options like red or blue light therapy or liquid nitrogen freezing. After recovery, it's important to regulate your diet and lifestyle habits, avoid staying up late, exercise appropriately, and not wash with hot water.


Early symptoms of neurodermatitis
The early symptoms of neurodermatitis primarily manifest as small, flat polygonal papules the size of pinpoints or rice grains on the skin of the neck, sacral area, elbows, inner thighs, perineum, and around the anus. These can appear red, light red, or light brown and are relatively hard in texture. The surface may have a small amount of coagulated blood. Due to episodic severe itching, a vicious cycle of itching, scratching, more itching, and more scratching occurs during the course of the disease, which can lead to the merging of rashes into large patches.


Is neurodermatitis a fungus?
Neurodermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by episodic intense itching and lichenoid changes in the skin. The main causes are likely related to neuropsychiatric factors, diet, local skin irritation, gastrointestinal dysfunction, endocrine disorders, and many other factors. It has no relationship with fungi. If the skin is infected by fungi, common diseases include tinea capitis, tinea pedis, tinea unguium, tinea cruris, tinea corporis, and so on.


Difference between allergic dermatitis and neurodermatitis
Neurodermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by episodic severe itching and lichenoid skin changes. Its causes may be related to various factors including neuropsychiatric factors, diet, local skin irritation, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and endocrine disorders. It commonly occurs in the neck, elbows, knees, sacrococcygeal region, perineum, and around the anus. The lesions are characterized by pinhead- or rice-grain-sized polygonal flat papules, which are pale red, pale brown, or normal skin colored, with a hard and glossy texture. They may be covered with a small amount of scale, and over time, the lesions can merge into large plaques, with the local skin becoming thickened and rough, showing lichenoid changes. Allergic dermatitis is an allergic reaction disease caused by contact with allergens. Its lesions are diverse, which can be erythema, papules, vesicles, swelling, and accompanied by itching. Therefore, localized allergic dermatitis due to improper treatment, lack of timely treatment, or repeated scratching, can develop into neurodermatitis.


Can neurodermatitis turn into cancer?
Neurodermatitis, also known as chronic simple lichen, is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by episodic severe itching and lichenoid skin changes. It is a neurofunctional dermatosis, and its causes may be related to various internal and external factors, including neuropsychiatric factors, diet, gastrointestinal dysfunction, endocrine disorders, and local skin irritation. Currently, there are no clinical reports of neurodermatitis transforming into cancer, so it generally does not become cancerous.


Symptoms of scrotal neurodermatitis
Neurodermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease characterized by episodic severe itching and lichenoid skin changes, frequently seen in young and middle-aged adults. It often occurs in areas such as the neck, lateral sides of both elbows, sacral region, thighs, perineum, and around the anus. When it affects the scrotal area, its base layer can appear as pinpoint or rice-grain-sized polygonal flat papules, in light red, light brown, or normal skin color, generally firm and shiny. The surface may have small amounts of scale. Due to repeated scratching and rubbing, the lesions can gradually merge into large patches, and the local skin becomes thickened and rough, forming lichenoid changes accompanied by severe itching.


What medicine is used for neurodermatitis of the eyelid?
Neurodermatitis, also known as chronic simple lichen, is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by paroxysmal severe itching and lichenoid changes in the skin, which are symptoms of a dysfunctional neurogenic disorder. The causes of the disease may be related to various internal and external factors such as neuropsychiatric factors, gastrointestinal dysfunction, endocrine disorders, local foreign body irritation, diet, etc. For neurodermatitis occurring on the eyelids, our first advice to patients is to avoid scratching and rubbing as much as possible, as these actions are major triggers or aggravating factors; secondly, use mild, minimally irritating topical medications such as moisturizing and anti-itch drugs, tar-based medications, and herbal ointments. It’s recommended to use corticosteroid creams sparingly or not at all. When applying medication, use them thinly and sparingly to minimize absorption due to the thin and highly vascular nature of the eyelid skin. In severe cases, oral antihistamines and calcium supplements can be used in combination.


Does garlic treat neurodermatitis?
Neurodermatitis, also known as chronic simple lichen, is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by episodic intense itching and lichenification. The causes may be related to various internal and external factors, including neuropsychiatric factors, gastrointestinal dysfunction, endocrine disorders, diet, and local irritation. Clinically, treatment involves the careful selection of topical medications based on the characteristics, location, and type of skin lesions. Common topical medications include corticosteroid ointments, tar ointments, and moisturizing anti-itch ointments. Folk remedies often use garlic to treat neurodermatitis. In traditional Chinese medicine, garlic is known for its insecticidal and itch-relieving properties, but it is quite irritating. Intense irritation on the skin can cause redness, blisters, swelling, and itching, leading to allergic dermatitis. Therefore, it is not recommended to use garlic for treating neurodermatitis.


What vitamins should be taken for neurodermatitis?
The clinical characteristics of neurodermatitis primarily include lichenoid changes on the skin and episodic severe itching. Therefore, clinically, we generally administer oral antihistamines and calcium supplements. However, since the etiology might be related to neuropsychiatric factors, we often also combine these with oral vitamin B1, vitamin B12, complex B vitamins, vitamin C, and glutathione, among others.