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Redness, irritation and itching are symptoms that can be caused by a variety of causes, ranging from improper care to serious conditions. In the event of unpleasant ailments, if we know the factor that caused them, e.g. a new washing powder or cosmetic, and the changes are not serious, it is enough to stop using the preparation. However, if the changes persist and the skin condition worsens, it is worth consulting a dermatologist.
Take a look at your skin
The skin is our largest organ and the main barrier that protects our internal organs from external influences. Unfortunately, we don’t pay enough attention to her and often underestimate the signals she sends (if you want to know them, see HERE). Most often we explain that we do not have time for care, that we do not like lubricating ourselves, that we have to wait for the balm to be absorbed in order to be able to get dressed. Or we just don’t want to take care of it. Meanwhile, we should take care of our skin every day – only then will it be able to protect us as much as possible.
Atopic dermatitis (AD)
One of the diseases characterized by dry, flaky epidermis, redness, swelling, itching and burning is atopic dermatitis. Although the causes of atopic dermatitis are not fully understood, it is known that it is associated with abnormal skin functioning. The skin of people with AD is different in structure from the skin of healthy people: it lacks water-binding compounds and intercellular lipids – the binder of cells. This means that it cannot perform its basic function well – a barrier between the organism and the external environment. In addition, it is less able to prevent water evaporation, it allows microorganisms and allergens to pass through it more easily, it is very dry, tense and hypersensitive. In addition, at the time of exacerbation of AD, the patient’s skin is inflamed, which is intensified by scratching difficult to control, leading in turn to bacterial and fungal infections.
Treatment of AD is a long-term process that requires a lot of patience and regularity. The basis of treatment, apart from pharmacotherapy, is daily care with emollients, soap-free cleansers and dermocosmetics intended for people with atopic skin. If this issue may be happening to you or your loved ones, find out more on the Atopy With My Heart page.
Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD)
It is a common skin disease in which skin lesions form as a result of direct and frequent contact with an allergen. It can be ingredients of perfumes, hair dyes, cosmetics, washing powders, certain medications, chemicals used in the production of clothes or shoes, and even everyday items. The most common allergens are: nickel, cobalt, chromium, rubber, formaldehyde.
Allergic dermatitis usually takes the form of vesicles or lumps; there is also peeling of the epidermis. It should be noted that skin lesions do not have to be limited to the area exposed to contact with the allergen, but can cover the entire body. They also often appear after the next contact with the allergen.
The skin around the eyelids and around the eyes is a particularly sensitive area. Its thin stratum corneum and exposure to more frequent sweat can increase allergen absorption. People who develop contact allergic dermatitis in this area complain of lesions around the edges of the eyelids, itching and conjunctival redness. The most important rule of procedure in such an event is to avoid contact with the allergen and absolutely not rubbing the eyes, which causes additional irritation.
Appropriate emollients should be used on the eyelids and around the eyes, and on bloodshot conjunctives – preservative-free drops or artificial tears. When choosing the appropriate treatment and care, it should be remembered that the more chronic the nature of the blepharitis, the richer the consistency of the preparation used should be.
Contact eczema with irritation
Eczema can also appear as a result of the action of irritants (e.g. strong alkaline, acidic compounds, etc.). Contrary to allergic contact eczema, non-allergic skin lesions occur in a non-specific way, after contact with an irritating substance without prior sensitization. Symptoms are pale to dark red erythema, which may be accompanied by the appearance of erosions, scabs, blisters and urticarial eruptions.
The efflorescence is asymmetrical and clearly delimited. Depending on the severity of the reaction, itching, burning and pain may occur. Importantly, in the course of non-allergic contact eczema, eczema lesions are limited to the place of contact with the irritating factor, and their occurrence depends both on the duration of action and concentration of a given irritant, as well as individual predispositions.
Exposure to irritants is possible both in the workplace and at home. The most vulnerable are people working in such professions as: hairdresser, nurse, cook or mechanic. Unfortunately, the disease may be chronic and recurrent. Usually, local treatment is implemented, such as for allergic dermatitis. Emollients play an important role in supportive therapy, as they alleviate subjective symptoms such as itching of the skin and support epidermal regeneration. If used early, they can prevent further development of symptoms.
Psoriasis
Its main symptom is skin lesions in the form of eruptions that look like reddish-brown spots covered with silvery scales. These are psoriatic plaques. In addition, there is often redness, burning, itching, cracking of the skin and its bleeding, as well as pain. The location of the lesions can vary: typical locations are around the knees, elbows and scalp. Koebner’s symptom is also characteristic of psoriasis, ie the occurrence of psoriatic lesions along the epidermal scratch line after 6–12 days.
Unlike AD, which usually appears early in life, the disease usually appears in adults. Due to its genetic condition, psoriasis remains an incurable disease with periods of exacerbation and remission. Local treatment, general treatment or phototherapy is used to relieve symptoms. In patients, an important role is also played by proper body care with dermocosmetics, which help to keep the epidermis in good condition.
Chronic diseases and medical therapies
Excessive dryness and itching may also appear in the course of chronic diseases and medical treatments. For example, diabetic skin is characterized by excessive dryness, a tendency to eczema changes and a tendency to exfoliate. Among the long-term complications of diabetes, dermatological complications occupy third place. The changes are diverse, from harmless and not very specific, such as itching of the skin or bacterial infections, to more dangerous and very typical for diabetes, such as fat skin dying.
Skin problems may be related to the disease itself (excess blood sugar leads to degenerative changes in capillaries, arterioles and veins, resulting in impaired vascular system and skin malnutrition) or a side effect of insulin use. Similar symptoms (excessive dryness and itching) also occur in the course of kidney disease or may be a side effect of dialysis therapy. Most cancer patients also suffer from dry, red and cracked skin.
Bad habits
The condition of our skin also largely depends on the daily diet. For example, the deficiency of proteins or essential unsaturated fatty acids (EFAs) may cause its dryness, cracking and the occurrence of pigmentary changes. In turn, a deficiency of biotin (vitamin B7) leads to flaking, seborrhea and is the cause of erythema.
Numerous studies have shown that changing eating habits by following an easily digestible diet, rich in fresh vegetables and fruits, improves the clinical course of dermatoses. Undoubtedly, stimulants have a negative impact on the condition of our skin, especially alcohol, which flushes vitamins and minerals from the body, and also leads to dehydration, or nicotine, which causes blood vessels to contract, leading to skin hypoxia.
Also, insufficient amount of water in the body affects the condition of the skin of the body and face – it becomes sallow, dry, unpleasant to the touch and prone to excessive drying. In addition, the skin’s protective barrier is weakened, so that the hydrolipid coat is not able to protect it against harmful external factors.
How to take care of your skin?
A symptom that many of us have probably experienced is excessively dry skin. This is the first symptom that may signal more serious diseases. However, it can also be a consequence of insufficient skin care and inadequate care. It may also result from external factors. Fortunately, at this stage, we can moisturize and nourish it ourselves. To meet such expectations, the Bioderma brand has created the Atoderm line, which includes cleansing and care products for the skin of the face and body, which are a unique solution to the problems of normal, dry, very dry and atopic skin.
Thanks to the patented complexes, the Atoderm series helps the skin with low lipids to rebuild the hydro-lipid coat. When we notice that our skin is moderately dry, we should reach for Atoderm Crème. This product increases its hydration by 80% after the first application. The cream moisturizes, softens and firms the skin for a long time from the very first use. It soothes even very dry skin and brings relief and comfort without feeling sticky. It is very well tolerated and odorless.
Very dry, red and flaky skin requires more care and systematic care. When there are symptoms of atopy, you should reach for even more advanced products, such as Atoderm Intensive baume – a balm that has been used by people with AD for years, and its effectiveness has been confirmed by many clinical studies. The balm reduces itching and permanently rebuilds the skin’s protective barrier. And if we are talking about itchy skin, you should reach for the special product Atoderm SOS Spray, which eliminates intense itching in just 60 seconds!
Therefore, it is worth remembering that in any case, red, dry and flaky skin requires special, dedicated care. If we ignore the symptoms and signals it sends us, the problem may worsen and effectively make our daily functioning uncomfortable.