Eczema on the face is an inflammation of the skin that is chronic and neuro-allergic in nature. The disease is accompanied by the appearance of polymorphic rashes on the face, passing through several stages.
Eczema is an extremely common disease, which among all skin diseases is diagnosed in 15-40% of cases. Eczema is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another. Eczema affects men and women equally. In childhood, eczema in one form or another is diagnosed in every 15 children.
Types and stages of eczema on the face
Eczema on the face can be of several types, the most common of which are as follows:
True (idiopathic) eczema. This type of eczema is characterized by a chronic course, has a tendency to frequent exacerbations. The foci of inflammation are symmetrical.
The stages of true eczema are as follows:
The skin of the affected area is very red and swollen.
Small vesicles and nodules (papulovesicles) appear on the skin.
Papulovesicles open after a short period of time, leaving behind punctate erosions.
Serous exudate begins to stand out from the erosions, eventually forming an extensive weeping area of the skin of the face.
The exudate tends to dry out, forming yellow-gray crusts.
Under the crust, a new epithelium is formed.
Affected areas of the skin itch and flake.
The whole process, starting from hyperemia of the skin and ending with the formation of a new epithelium, occurs in waves. Repeatedly repeated, an eczematous lesion leads to thickening of the skin of the face, an increase in the skin pattern on it, and the formation of infiltrated areas.
In addition to the face, true eczema often affects the skin of the feet and hands. Subsequently, the disease passes to the trunk, to the lower and upper limbs.
seborrheic eczema. This type of eczema also quite often affects the skin of the face and scalp in general. The rashes are mainly located on the forehead, in the area of the eyebrows, along the hair growth zone, in the folds of the nasolabial triangle behind the ears, around the mouth. Even if seborrheic eczema is localized only on the scalp, it will still capture the hair growth zone and forehead over time. In this case, the red border, which experts call the seborrheic crown, will stand out with a bright stripe.
In addition, seborrheic eczema of the scalp also captures the neck with behind-the-ear folds. After confluence, an extensive focus is formed, which is called an eczematous helmet.
The stages of seborrheic eczema of the skin of the face can be distinguished as follows:
In the beginning, pinkish-yellow nodules appear on the skin of the face. They are small in size.
As the disease progresses, the nodules merge with each other, forming infiltrated plaques. The plaques are disc-shaped.
The size of the plaques can reach 10 mm, on top they are covered with oily skin scales that fit tightly to each other.
If the scales are removed, then a wet surface will be found under them.
Pronounced weeping is not observed.
Seborrheic eczema does not acquire clear boundaries, has uneven edges.
If the initial stage of the disease is characterized by a dry surface of eczema, then later it becomes greasy.
The resolution of seborrheic eczema occurs from the middle of the focus. As a result, plaques form into arcs or into rings.
When the treatment of eczema is carried out correctly, the patient’s skin does not undergo any radical changes and is completely restored.
For seborrheic eczema, itching is not typical, if it does appear, it does not cause severe discomfort to the patient.
In addition to the skin of the face, seborrheic eczema can capture the chest, armpits, elbow and knee folds, the back area, and the skin between the shoulder blades.
Microbial eczema. Considering microbial eczema with localization on the face, it is worth noting separately the sycosiform variety of the disease. It is this form that most often affects the beard and upper lip.
The disease goes through the following stages:
There is a pustular lesion of the hair follicles, which is often provoked by Staphylococcus aureus.
The skin swells and turns red, itching appears.
Hyperemic areas covered with pustules begin to get wet.
As the disease progresses, it is possible for the inflammatory process to go beyond the areas of hair growth.
Often, microbial eczema on the face occurs against the background of an already existing sycosis.
Other forms. Occupational eczema, atopic eczema and other forms of microbial eczema (nummular, varicose, etc.) on the face are extremely rare.
[Video] Eczema. Causes, symptoms, treatment: