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Dermatitis (Eczema)

» What is dermatitis and why is it so important?
» What is atopy?
» Why is atopic dermatitis becoming more common?
» What are the diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis?
» What is the underlying defect in patients with atopic dermatitis?
» In atopic dermatitis, which comes first - the itch or the rash?
» Why does atopic dermatitis itch?
» Why do people like to scratch an itch?
» Does psychological stress worsen atopic dermatitis?
» Did John Phillip Sousa write the “Atopic March?”
» How does atopic dermatitis present at different ages?
» What physical findings are associated with atopic dermatitis? 
» What factors provoke or exacerbate atopic dermatitis? 
» How can your atopic patients relieve their pruritic agony and discomfort? 
» What is the role of antihistamines in atopic dermatitis?
» Describe the “two-pajamas treatment.”
» Is “hand dermatitis” a specific entity?
» What is pompholyx?
» How can pompholyx be managed?
» Describe the typical presentation of nummular eczema.
» What causes nummular eczema?
» Is there a cure for nummular eczema?
» How does seborrheic dermatitis present in children?
» How does seborrheic dermatitis present in adults?
» What causes seborrheic dermatitis, and with what disease states is it commonly found?
» Discuss the treatment approaches to seborrheic dermatitis. 
» What is an “id” reaction, and what does it have to do with Sigmund Freud?
» What are the most common settings for an id reaction and how should you treat it?
» What do you call dermatitis that covers virtually the whole cutaneous surface?
» How can you determine the cause of a patient’s exfoliative dermatitis?
» What general treatment measures are used to treat patients with exfoliative dermatitis?

 
 
 

Discuss the treatment approaches to seborrheic dermatitis.

  • Like all forms of dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis can be controlled, not cured.
  • Wash hair and scalp daily with anti-Malassezia shampoos containing ketoconazole (best combination of price and effectiveness), selenium sulfide, or zinc pyrithione.
  • For scalp with moderate scale, use shampoos containing keratolytics, such as tar, salicylic acid, or sulfur to debride scale.
  • For extremely thick scalp scale, massage Baker’s P&S Liquid or Derma-Smoothe F/S oil into the scalp at bedtime and remove by shampooing in the morning.
  • Apply a corticosteroid scalp solution or foams, after shampooing, to reduce inflammation.
  • For blepharitis, use warm water compresses, gentle cleansing with diluted nonirritating shampoo (such as baby shampoo), and topical sodium sulfacetamide ointment.
  • Treat the face and trunk with mild steroid lotions or creams such as 1% hydrocortisone or desonide 0.05%, pimecrolimus, or antiyeast products such as ketoconazole or ciclopirox.