Atopic and Seborrheic Dermatitis
What is it?
Atopic dermatitis is an eczematous disease. It is an inflammatory reaction of the skin, which is clinically visible with erythematous and scaling patches, sometimes moderate in size but sometimes very extended to several skin areas.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic relapsing erythematous-desquamative disease. It appears with erythematous patches covered by greasy squamo-crusts, most often localized on the head, in the center of the face and/or in the presternal area.
Which are the symptoms?
Atopic dermatitis is very itchy, as opposed to seborrheic dermatitis. In both dermatitis, erythematous patches are present, with typical localizations. Seborrheic dermatitis has typical localizations.
- Itching
- Scaling
- Erythema
How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis is primarily clinical. Atopic dermatitis is more itchy and spares the center of the face. Among infants, atopic dermatitis predominantly affects face, forehead, central face area, and large folds, and always resolves by the sixth month. Among adults, atopic dermatitis affects folds of arms and legs, neck and sometimes face. Sometimes pyogenic complications due to staffilococcus aureus are frequent, with formation of pustules and purulent serum exudation.
Seborrheic dermatitis affects young adults, but also children. Among adults, atopic dermatitis affects folds of arms and legs, neck and sometimes face. Sometimes pyogenic complications due to staffilococcus aureus are frequent, with pustules formation and purulent serum exudation.Seborrheic dermatitis affects young adults, but also children. Seborrheic dermatitis is a scarcely itchy disease, influenced by stress and seasonality, with a chronic-recurrent course. It develops in areas rich in sebaceous glands, giving rise to seborrheic dermatitis of the face characterized by erythematous and desquamative lesions with clear-cut margins. The most affected sites of the face are the forehead and the border of the hairline, sometimes the pinnae and the sternal region.
Histopathologic examination is not necessary. Increased IGE levels and IGE-specific antibodies are markers of atopic status with purely biological significance.
Suggested exams
How is it treated?
UVB narrow-band phototherapy can be used. Medical treatments include topical steroids, calcineurin inhibitors and emollients. As systemic, steroids, cyclosporine, biologics.
Suggested procedures
Where do we treat it?
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