In spring, when the temperature rises, all kinds of bacteria, viruses and substances that can easily cause human allergies become active. When the skin is irritated by these substances, a series of allergic reactions can occur, which in turn can lead to various skin diseases. Here, the author summarizes some prevention and treatment methods for skin diseases prone to spring and shares them with you.
Seasonal contact dermatitis
Seasonal contact dermatitis, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a skin inflammation caused by skin contact with allergens, and the main symptoms are erythema, papules, dry scaling on exposed areas such as the face and back of the hands, often accompanied by itching. Although some people do not have obvious rashes, they will experience ant walking and tightness after local skin irritation.
Standardized treatment can reduce the symptoms of seasonal contact dermatitis and keep the skin in a healthy state. If there is only mild dryness and scaling, minimize external irritants (such as sudden temperature changes and dry environments) and apply a topical moisturizer. If you have erythema, itching and other discomforts, you can follow the doctor's instructions to take oral second-generation antihistamines, such as cetirizine, loratadine, ebastine, etc., and a small amount of topical calcineurin inhibitors (pimecrolimus cream or tacrolimus ointment). Pimecrolimus cream is generally recommended for patients with oily skin and tacrolimus ointment for patients with normal or dry skin. At the beginning of use, the skin may experience slight irritation, burning and other discomfort, but after 3~5 days, the skin will slowly establish tolerance. Do not self-use hormonal drugs, otherwise it is easy to induce hormone-dependent dermatitis.
If the medication is not standardized and the protection is not in place, the local skin may seep and scab, and the boric acid solution, compound cork solution or normal saline can be used to relieve the symptoms. Fold the gauze 6~8 layers, soak it in the solution, soak the gauze in the solution but not drip water, it is recommended to apply a wet compress for 15~20 minutes each time. After the skin is free of exudation and crusting, topical calcineurin inhibitors can be used.
To prevent atopic dermatitis, you can start from the following aspects.
Take precautions. If pollen allergy is identified, contact with the allergen should be avoided. Comrades-in-arms with pollen allergies can wear masks when going out, and nasal mucosal blockers can be used during outdoor training to reduce the irritation of floating objects such as pollen.
Pay attention to sun protection. When training outdoors, try to wear long-sleeved clothing, wear a hat, and apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside to protect against direct UV rays.
Drink plenty of fluids. Water in the human body has the role of transporting, replenishing nutrients and participating in the body's metabolism. As the temperature rises and metabolism accelerates in spring, water intake should be ensured. It is recommended that adults supplement 2~3 liters of water every day to meet the needs of the body's tissues and organs. Drink water in small amounts, many times, and frequently, and do not drink too quickly or too quickly.
Adjust your diet. Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables and animal liver rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B2 and β-carotene, and eat less photosensitizing foods, such as amaranth and celery.
Get enough sleep. Skin stability is fundamental to maintaining skin barrier function. From 10 p.m. to 4 p.m., it's time for skin repair. It is recommended that everyone try to go to bed before 10 p.m. Cleanse your skin properly before bed and apply a moisturizer to the top.
Seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin disease that occurs during the active sebaceous glands and is common on the head. At present, the etiology of seborrheic dermatitis is not clear, and it is generally believed to be related to Malassezia infection, lipid metabolism, immune factors, genetic factors, and skin barrier damage. Young officers and soldiers have active sebaceous gland function and vigorous lipid metabolism, and are often exposed to sunlight or high temperatures during training, so the scalp skin is more easily irritated, which in turn causes seborrheic dermatitis.
There are two main manifestations of seborrheic dermatitis: one is non-inflammatory changes, generally without obvious erythema, itching and other uncomfortable symptoms, only white dandruff of different sizes between the scalp; Some also have similar rashes on the face, chest and back.
There are many drugs for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis, and both Chinese and Western medicines can achieve good results.
Traditional Chinese medicine pays attention to syndrome differentiation and treatment. If you have the above symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis, accompanied by irritability and thirst, dense stool, red urine, red tongue, etc., you can take drugs to clear heat and cool blood, relieve wind and relieve itching, and use upside down and skin lotion externally. Traditional Chinese medicine methods such as acupuncture point embedding, acupuncture and plum blossom needles also have a certain effect on the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.
Western medicines include keratolytics, antifungal treatments, and anti-inflammatory drugs. People with seborrheic dermatitis can wash their hair with keratolytics. Antifungal treatment is mainly to wash hair with 2% compound ketoconazole lotion, and topical azole antifungal drugs, and in severe cases, oral itraconazole can be used (avoid staying up late and drinking alcohol while monitoring liver function). Anti-inflammatory drugs are mainly glucocorticoids. If the hair is short, you can choose a hormonal ointment, and be careful not to use it in large quantities for a long time, otherwise it will cause folliculitis. In addition, the dose can be tapered gradually after symptoms have resolved. Seborrheic dermatitis is very stubborn and prone to recurrence, and a combination of these drugs can be used as prescribed. Physiotherapy may also be an adjunct to medical conditions. Physical therapies include red light, narrowband UVB light, Ella photodynamics, etc.
How to prevent the occurrence of seborrheic dermatitis? It is recommended that comrades-in-arms pay attention to the following points in their daily life.
Pay attention to how often and how you wash your hair. People with dandruff and itchy problems can wash their hair frequently. When washing your hair, wash it with lukewarm water, not a shampoo that is too alkaline. Long-term use of alkaline shampoo can easily keratinize the skin and induce dandruff. Blow dry your hair in time after washing your hair, and don't wet your hair for a long time, otherwise it will easily cause clogged sebaceous glands of hair follicles and aggravate the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis.
Eat a light diet. A large intake of foods with high fat content will cause the body to secrete more oil, which will aggravate the symptoms of itchy and dandruff.
Have a regular schedule. Not staying up late and exercising properly can keep the internal environment of the body stable, which is good for preventing seborrheic dermatitis.
Cholinergic urticaria
Hiveting, also known as "wind bumps", is characterized by pruritic erythema and wheals, which resolve spontaneously within minutes or hours, but tend to recur. In spring, the temperature difference between morning and evening is large, and the floating matter in the air increases, which makes people more likely to develop urticaria symptoms.
There are many types of hives. Among them, cholinergic urticaria is more common among officers and soldiers. Cholinergic urticaria is mostly caused by an increase in the core temperature of the body, which provokes a punctate wheal (1~2mm in diameter) surrounded by redness, accompanied by stinging, itching or burning. Although the symptoms of cholinergic urticaria resolve spontaneously, triggers are common and difficult to avoid, leading to recurrent episodes that severely affect the patient's quality of life. In addition, some patients may also have angioedema, respiratory symptoms, and even anaphylaxis.
The general principle of treatment of cholinergic urticaria is to effectively avoid the trigger and actively treat the symptoms. Patients with urticaria are advised to pay attention to the following: avoid eating spicy and irritating foods and drinks, avoid eating excessively hot foods and drinks, avoid alcohol, avoid hot baths above the inducing threshold temperature, keep away from heat sources (such as radiators, open flames, electric blankets, hair dryers, etc.), try to avoid contact with excessively hot objects, and try to avoid sweating and factors that cause body temperature to rise, such as nervousness, emotional agitation, etc.
If symptoms associated with cholinergic urticaria occur, the body temperature can be lowered by calming down or moving to a cooler environment. If you feel itchy and unbearable, you can take levocetirizine by mouth as prescribed by your doctor. If there is a sudden aggravation of symptoms during the course of urticaria, such as cardiovascular symptoms (such as palpitations, blood pressure drops, etc.) or respiratory symptoms (such as breath-holding, dyspnea, etc.), there may be a severe allergic reaction, and epinephrine or short-term systemic glucocorticoids should be given for emergency treatment.
Spring is the season of high incidence of skin diseases, and it is recommended that comrades-in-arms take good protection in spring. Once there are symptoms related to skin diseases, do not panic too much, do not blindly use drugs, and should go to the dermatology department of a regular hospital in time to receive professional and effective diagnosis and treatment. (Wang Gang, Liu Rongrong)
Source: People's Liberation Army Daily
Forward: Wei Shujing
Review: Hao Lin