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Skin Disorders and Treatment
Acrochordons
Acanthosis Nigricans
Actinic keratosis
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
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Erythroderma
Erythroderma is the term used to describe intense and usually widespread reddening of the skin due to inflammatory skin disease. It is also known as erythrodermatitis, generalized exfoliative dermatitis, and red man syndrome. The erythema tends to decrease in later life and may disappear in middle age, but the scaling persists and may even worsen with age. Small stature, mental retardation, ocular defects and other developmental abnormalities are occasionally associated.
It is not a specific disease and can be seen in both benign and malignant diseases. Idiopathic (unknown cause) cases may persist longer than other types. Erythroderma is the term used to describe intense and usually widespread reddening of the skin due to inflammatory skin disease. The condition usually develops slowly, but may be of acute onset. It often precedes or is associated with exfoliation (skin peeling off in scales or layers) when it may also be known as exfoliative dermatitis (ED). It is sometimes called the 'red man syndrome' when no primary cause can be found (idiopathic erythroderma). It is not a specific disease and can be seen in both benign and malignant diseases.
Erythroderma Causes
- Erythroderma can arise from a variety of causes, most often as an extension of a pre-existing skin disorder.
- It may be an extension of a pre-existing skin disorder. Especially atopic dermatitis, may lead to the condition of erythroderma.
- The various skin disorders like eczema, Hodgkin's disease, leukemia etc. may also lead to erythroderma.
- A low calcium diet may also induce erythroderma.
- This can also be caused by the side effect of some medicines like Cromolyn, Clofazimine, and Fenoprofen etc. Almost 60 medicines are found to be creating this disease.
- Internal malignancies e.g. carcinoma of rectum, lung, fallopian tubes, colon.
- Erythroderma may also be due to an adverse drug reaction.
- The causes of erythroderma in this age group are different from that in adults and distinctive, but maybe difficult to establish due to poor specificity of clinical and laboratory findings. Careful monitoring and management of the patient may improve the final outcome.
Erythroderma Symptoms
Erythroderma sometimes begins quite explosively and suddenly. Or sometimes it develops slowly, after a person has had a skin disease that gradually gets worse over time. The entire surface of the skin becomes red, scaly, thickened, and sometimes crusted. A person with Erythroderma may:
- Experience severe itching.
- Develop swollen lymph nodes.
- Skin patches.
- Nails become ridged and thickened or may shed.
- Increased heart rate.
- Have a fever.
- Internal malignancies eg carcinoma of rectum, lung, fallopian tubes, colon.
ErythrodermaTreatment
Systemic or potent topical steroids: These steroids are very effective in curing erythroderma fast. But, these should be used very carefully and only under supervision of a renowned doctor. Topical Steroids: are the primary category of medications used to treat erythroderma. Topical tar preparations and photo therapy should also be avoided in the early treatment of erythroderma. Other treatment options are:
- Institute systemic antibiotics if signs of secondary infection are observed. Antihistamines help reduce pruritus and provide needed sedation.
- Apply wet dressing and change it every two or three hours. Apply intermediate-strength topical steroids beneath wet dressing. Suggest a tepid bath once or more daily between dressing changes. Reduce frequency of dressings and gradually introduce emollients between dressing applications as Erythroderma improves.
- Emollients and topical steroids may also be used.
- Preexisting malnutrition may become more marked and require nutritional intervention in older patients.
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Skin Treatments