Wat is Asteatotisch Eczeem op het Onderbeen?

Diagnosis

Asteatotic eczema is diagnosed by a doctor during a physical exam. The doctor will ask questions about how your symptoms started and what makes them worse.

Asteatotic eczema produces fissures or patterned lines in the affected area, which makes it easier to identify. However, additional testing might be performed to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms, such as allergies.

Allergy testing is performed in a few different ways. Patch testing involves placing a small amount of a variety of possible allergens, or substances that could trigger your symptoms, on patches that are then placed on the skin of your back. This type of testing takes several days.

The prick test is the most common type of allergy testing performed. This is not usually needed in the evaluation of rashes like eczema. Instead, skin prick testing is often used to diagnose other types of allergies like environmental allergies that cause itchy eyes and a runny nose.

The doctor will scratch a small amount of the suspected allergen into your skin and observe for a response. This test is much quicker and provides results within about 30 minutes.

Blood tests can also be performed to look for other causes of skin itching. It could be caused by liver disease, kidney disease, and certain types of cancer.

Asteatotic eczema: Symptoms, causes, and treatment

People with asteatotic eczema often experience the condition during colder months, when their skin may be dehydrated. A 2022 paper published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) explains that central heating reduces air humidity, which can cause dry skin.

Most people can treat their asteatotic eczema with moisturizers, but doctors may prescribe topical steroid creams if the symptoms are severe.

This article looks at asteatotic eczema and how to treat it. It also describes potential complications and ways of preventing flares.

People with asteatotic eczema usually have patches of dry, itchy, inflamed skin on their shins. They may notice cracks in their skin that form irregular polygonal patterns similar in appearance to a dried-up riverbed.

The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD) notes that although people with asteatotic eczema usually have a rash on their shins, they may also have patches on their thighs, arms, and belly or back.

Sometimes, the cracks in a person’s skin split open and bleed or ooze a watery liquid. Other symptoms include rough, scaly patches and swelling.

According to the NCBI , central heating is a major cause of asteatotic eczema, with more people developing symptoms during winter. Central heating dries the air in a person’s home, and the lack of humidity can dry out their skin.

Age also plays a part. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) explains that as people grow older, they lose sweat and oil glands, which makes their skin drier.

Some lifestyle factors can also affect a person’s skin. Prolonged soaking in a hot bath, washing with some soaps, smoking, and not drinking enough water all contribute to drier skin.

The biggest risk factor for asteatotic eczema is age. According to the NCBI , the median age at which doctors diagnose people is 69 years, although people can develop the condition at any age.

When to seek emergency care for asteatotic eczema

Asteatotic eczema is rarely dangerous. However, when eczema causes cracks or breaks in the skin, bacteria and other infectious organisms can easily enter. Infected eczema develops when these harmful organisms lead to an infection in the skin.

If you’re exhibiting symptoms of infected eczema, you should seek medical treatment right away, especially if you have:

In most cases, asteatotic eczema can be prevented with a few simple lifestyle changes.

If you live in an area that’s frequently cold or dry, make sure to keep your skin moisturized year-round and consider investing in a humidifier.

If you take frequent baths or showers, consider bathing less, turning down the heat, and using natural products instead.

If you’re at risk of developing asteatotic eczema as a symptom of another condition or as a side effect of a medication, speak with your doctor about how to prevent flare-ups.

Here are some home remedies that may help reduce the symptoms and severity of an asteatotic eczema flare-up at home:

Reach out to a healthcare professional or dermatologist for more suggestions on easing your asteatotic eczema symptoms at home.

Asteatotic eczema generally responds well to treatment and tends to resolve in a matter of days or weeks, depending on severity and treatment.

For asteatotic eczema caused by other underlying conditions, those conditions may need to be treated before treatment for the asteatotic eczema becomes effective.

For asteatotic eczema caused by medications, your doctor may want to discontinue or change these medications to treat the eczema.

Although asteatotic eczema isn’t permanent, it can persist and recur unless special care is taken to reduce the underlying triggers.

Asteatotic eczema develops from dry skin, most commonly as a result of environmental factors.

This type of eczema is characterized by dry, itchy skin that develops into scaly patches surrounded by thin, red fissures.