Alles wat je moet weten over Nummulair Eczeem volgens NHG-richtlijnen

What does nummular eczema look and feel like?

People with lighter skin usually develop red or brown areas on their skin. People with darker skin can develop dark brown patches, or they may develop patches that are lighter than their surrounding skin.

The rash appears as a round, coin-shaped, or oval patch in both cases. “Nummular” comes from the Latin term for “coin.”

These spots or patches can appear on the arms, hands, legs, or torso. They may be present in clusters or join up to form larger patches. As a result, they can range in size from a fraction of an inch to about 4 inches .

Other symptoms of nummular eczema may include:

• dry skin
• burning and itching of the skin, which is often worse at night
• open spots that may crust over

With treatment, the spots can heal and rarely scar over. On lighter skin, they may leave temporary areas of pale skin. On darker skin, the lesions can leave areas of hyperpigmentation or darker patches.

If the affected skin is open, it can become vulnerable to a bacterial infection. Infected nummular eczema may cause:

• redness
• swelling
• foul-smelling discharge
• fever

What Causes Nummular Eczema?

Eczema is characterized by the immune system's overreaction to substances or stimuli that result in an inflammatory skin reaction.

Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis because it involves atopy , meaning a genetic tendency to develop allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, and eczema.

With that said, scientists have only begun to identify the gene mutations associated with the disease. What they do know is that certain triggers—such as allergies, irritants, environmental changes, and even emotions—can instigate or aggravate symptoms.

The triggers most commonly associated with nummular eczema include:

Nummular eczema is more common in males than females. Males tend to develop symptoms between the ages of 55 and 65, while females generally develop them between the ages of 15 and 25.

Children rarely get nummular eczema and, when they do, it tends to be very severe.

Emollients

Emollients are moisturising treatments applied directly to the skin to reduce water loss and cover it with a protective film. They are often used to help manage dry or scaly skin conditions such as eczema.

Choice of emollient

Several different emollients are available. You may need to try a few to find one that works for you. You may also be advised to use a mix of emollients, such as:

• an ointment for very dry skin
• a cream or lotion for less dry skin
• an emollient to use instead of soap
• an emollient to add to bath water or use in the shower
• one emollient to use on your face and hands, and a different one to use on your body

The difference between lotions, creams and ointments is the amount of oil they contain. Ointments contain the most oil so they can be quite greasy, but are the most effective at keeping moisture in the skin. Lotions contain the least amount of oil so are not greasy, but can be less effective. Creams are somewhere in between.

Creams and lotions tend to be more suitable for red, inflamed (swollen) areas of skin. Ointments are more suitable for areas of dry skin that are not inflamed.

If you have been using a particular emollient for some time, it may eventually become less effective or may start to irritate your skin. If this is the case, your GP will be able to prescribe another product.

How to use emollients

Use your emollient all the time, even if you are not experiencing symptoms as they can help limit the return of your condition. Many people find it helpful to keep separate supplies of emollients at work or school.

To apply the emollient:

If you are exposed to irritants at work, make sure you apply emollients regularly during and after work.

Don’t share emollients with other people.

Side effects

Occasionally, some emollients can irritate the skin. If you have discoid eczema, your skin will be sensitive and can react to certain ingredients in over-the-counter emollients. If your skin reacts to the emollient, stop using it and speak to your GP, who can recommend an alternative product.

How do you know if you have ringworm?

Ringworm often creates a ring-shaped rash with a raised, scaly border that snakes its way around the edge like a worm. Some experts believe that the appearance may be where it got its name.

Nummular eczema and ringworm are skin conditions that can cause round patches of itchy skin that vary in color depending on the tone of a person’s skin.

However, these conditions have different causes and treatments, so it is important to be able to differentiate between them.

Ringworm is a fungal infection that can spread between people. It is usually treatable with antifungal medications and should clear up within a couple of weeks.

Nummular eczema is an inflammatory skin condition. There is currently no cure for nummular eczema, but keeping the skin hydrated, avoiding known triggers, and using eczema medications can relieve symptoms and help prevent future flare-ups.