Nummular dermatitis
Encyclopedia
Nummular dermatitis is one of the many forms of dermatitis
. Also known as discoid dermatitis, it is characterized by round or oval-shaped itchy lesions. (The name comes from the Latin word "nummus
," which means "coin.")
condition, is not related to food allergies
, and is not contagious.
The coin-shaped patches can affect any part of the body, but the legs and buttocks are the most common areas. Flare-ups are associated with dry skin, so the winter season is a particularly bad time for those with this condition.
Other forms of dermatitis are at risk of developing.
s, creams, and bath oils may help prevent an outbreak. If the condition flares up, a common treatment involves the application of topical corticosteroid
s. Oral antihistamine
s may help lessen itching. More severe cases sometimes respond to ultraviolet light treatment.
Dermatitis
-Etymology:Dermatitis derives from Greek derma "skin" + -itis "inflammation" and genetic disorder.-Terminology:There are several different types of dermatitis. The different kinds usually have in common an allergic reaction to specific allergens. The term may describe eczema, which is also called...
. Also known as discoid dermatitis, it is characterized by round or oval-shaped itchy lesions. (The name comes from the Latin word "nummus
Nummus
Nummus , plural nummi is a Latin term meaning "coin", but used technically for a range of low-value copper coins issued by the Roman and Byzantine empires during late Antiquity....
," which means "coin.")
Presentation
The disorder is recurrent and chronic, and may appear at any age, although it is most common in people in their 60's. Nummular dermatitis does not appear to be a geneticGenetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
condition, is not related to food allergies
Food allergy
A food allergy is an adverse immune response to a food protein. They are distinct from other adverse responses to food, such as food intolerance, pharmacological reactions, and toxin-mediated reactions....
, and is not contagious.
The coin-shaped patches can affect any part of the body, but the legs and buttocks are the most common areas. Flare-ups are associated with dry skin, so the winter season is a particularly bad time for those with this condition.
Other forms of dermatitis are at risk of developing.
Other causes
Nummular eczema can also be worsened by stress and caffeine, which dehydrates the body and thus the skin.Treatment
One of the keys to treatment and prevention involves keeping the skin moisturized. LotionLotion
A lotion is a low- to medium-viscosity, topical preparation intended for application to unbroken skin. By contrast, creams and gels have higher viscosity.Lotions are usually applied to external skin with bare hands, a clean cloth, cotton wool or gauze...
s, creams, and bath oils may help prevent an outbreak. If the condition flares up, a common treatment involves the application of topical corticosteroid
Corticosteroid
Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress response, immune response and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte...
s. Oral antihistamine
Antihistamine
An H1 antagonist is a histamine antagonist of the H1 receptor that serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions...
s may help lessen itching. More severe cases sometimes respond to ultraviolet light treatment.
External links
- http://hardinmd.lib.uiowa.edu/dermnet/eczema6.html
- http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/derm/pages/desy_23.htm
- http://www.dermnet.com/Eczema-Nummular/ - Photo gallery on dermnet.com