Nummular eczema
Alternative names:
eczema - nummular
Treatment:
The health care provider should be consulted for diagnosis of nummular eczema, as it can be difficult to differentiate from other skin disorders. Treatment should be guided by the health care provider.
Treatment is focused on relief of the symptoms. Anything that aggravates the symptoms is avoided whenever possible. Frequent bathing and eating foods rich in bromides or iodides is not advised. Other possible allergens are avoided, including foods and environmental irritants such as wool and lanolin.
Dry skin often makes the condition worse, so bathing and the use of soaps may be reduced. Temperature changes and stress may cause sweating and changes in the blood vessels of the skin, also aggravating the condition.
Topical treatment of weeping skin areas may include soothing lotions, soaps, or wet dressings. Mild antipruritic lotions or topical (applied to a localized area of the skin) steroids may be used to soothe scaly, dry, or less acute or healing areas. Chronic areas may be treated with ointments or creams that contain tar or corticosteroids, or lubricating, skin softening, or other ingredients. Systemic corticosteroids may (rarely) be used for severe cases.
Expectations (prognosis):
Nummular eczema is a chronic condition, but it may be controlled with treatment and avoidance of irritants.
Complications:
Calling your health care provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms indicate that you may have nummular eczema.
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms persist despite treatment and avoidance of allergens, or if signs of infection (such as fever, or redness or pain around a lesion) occur.
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