Disease: Nummular dermatitis

Nummular dermatitis

Also called discoid eczema

People who get this skin problem often see distinct, coin-shaped (nummular) or oval sores on their skin. Nummular dermatitis often appears after a skin injury, such as a burn, abrasion (from friction), or insect bite. A person may see 1 or many patches. These patches can last for weeks or months.

Your dermatologist may refer to this skin condition as:

  • Nummular dermatitis.
  • Nummular eczema.
  • Discoid eczema.

Nummular dermatitis is not contagious.

Men get nummular dermatitis more often than women get it. Men often have their first outbreak between 55 and 65 years of age. When women get it, they are usually younger.They tend to be teenagers or young adults.

Source: https://www.aad.org

Signs, symptoms

Patches on the skin tend to begin as a group of tiny, reddish spots and blister-like sores that weep fluid. Then the sores enlarge and grow together to form a coin-shaped patch.

The patches tend to have these signs and symptoms:

  • Range in size from smaller than 1 inch to bigger than 4 inches.
  • Occur most often on the legs but also occur on the torso (middle of the body), arms, hands, and feet.
  • Be pink, red, or brown and well-defined.
  • Itch and burn: These symptoms range from very mild to severe. The itch may be worse at night, disturbing sleep.
  • Become crusty after the blisters leak fluid and, after a long time, become scaly.

A yellowish crust may develop on the patches if a Staphylococcus aureus (staph) infection occurs. This may require treatment with an antibiotic.

The skin between the patches often remains clear, but it can be dry and easily irritate.

Source: https://www.aad.org

Who gets, causes

Who gets nummular dermatitis?

This skin problem is more common in men than in women. Men tend to have their first outbreak between 55 and 65 years of age.Women are more likely to get it between the ages of 15 and 25 years. It is rare in children.

What causes nummular dermatitis?

While the cause is unknown, researchers think that sensitivity plays a role in some cases. A person may be sensitive to:

  • Metals, including nickel and rarely mercury, such as from dental fillings.
  • Formaldehyde.
  • Medicines, such as neomycin (an antibiotic that you apply to the skin).

If the personhas a sensitivityto something, the skin will only clear when the person avoids that substance.

A cold, dryclimate can make nummular dermatitis worse and increase your risk of getting this skin condition.

Research also suggests that your risk of getting nummular dermatitis increases if you live in a cold, dry climate or have:

  • Very dry skin (xerosis).
  • Another type of eczema, mainly atopic dermatitis or stasis dermatitis.
  • Poor blood flow and/or swelling in the legs.
  • Injured your skin (insect bite, contact with chemicals, or abrasion).
  • A skin infection caused by bacteria.
  • Taken certain medicines, such as isotretinoin and interferon. Isotretinoin, a prescription medicine sometimes used to treat severe acne, seems to increase the risk for this skin problem. Interferon can cause severe widespread nummular dermatitis.

Source: https://www.aad.org

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