Even decades after it was first described, erysipelas remains a mystery to modern medicine. Nonetheless, no one needs to be afraid of her; As mysterious as it appears, rosy lichen disappears just as enigmatically.
What is a ringworm?
The ringworm is a skin disease. The development of a “mother cell”, which is also referred to as the primary medallion or primary spot, is characteristic of the lichen lichen. For everything about carcinoid (neuroendocrine tumor), please visit foodezine.com.
This is a circular, closed, reddish discolored change in the skin. In addition, a ruffle of scales can occur, i.e. a scaly surface of the primary medallion, which – in contrast to the reddish change – is not a mandatory feature of lichen planus. Starting from the mother cell, the lichen lichen spreads to other parts of the body in the first two weeks after infection.
In the next phase, depending on the severity of the disease, slight to severe itching of the reddish areas can occur. Judging from patient observations, the severity of the itch correlates with the outside temperature. Finally, it is statistically remarkable that the majority of those affected are adolescents and young adults between ten and 35 years old.
Causes
The causes of erysipelas are still unknown today. It is assumed that the human herpesvirus types 6 and 7 could play a role here. Although there have been various studies in the past that have investigated the possible causality between infection with the said viruses and the outbreak of erysipelas, none of the studies to date have been able to establish a connection.
Already the fact that the human herpes virus type seven occurs on every skin raises doubts. If he were responsible for the outbreak of erysipelas, the question would inevitably arise as to why not every other person also suffers from erysipelas.
This is linked to another thesis that assumes a genetic susceptibility of those affected. In this respect, this approach does not exclude the theory about the causality of the human herpesvirus type seven as a further factor for erysipelas.
Symptoms, Ailments & Signs
In most cases, the symptom of erysipelas is a slightly raised, round or oval reddening in the chest area, on the abdomen, on the back or on the pelvis, which is referred to as the “mother plaque” (primary medallion). It can grow between two and six centimeters, in some cases even ten centimetres.
After two weeks, further spots (plaque) form on the skin around the mother plaque, which are slightly raised, reddish and have a scaly edge (collerette – scaling). They appear on the upper arms, thighs and upper body, and in rare cases also on the face, hands and feet. These spots appear particularly frequently along the skin crevices. The spots have a diameter of 0.2 – 1 centimeter.
The rash is accompanied by severe itching and may be preceded by flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue and nausea. Most sufferers are women and men between the ages of 10 and 35.
Often especially in autumn or spring. The disease heals spontaneously after four to six weeks; a relapse is untypical. An inverse form of erysipelas is observed particularly in young children and African Americans. It’s called pityriasis rosea inversa.
Diagnosis & History
Experienced dermatologists can already recognize erysipelas from the clinical picture. The genesis of the mother cell is characteristic enough to recognize it as erysipelas. However, for reasons of differential diagnosis, it should not be assumed prematurely that it is erysipelas.
Especially when the reddish skin changes occur in the genital area, it speaks in favor of first ruling out sexual diseases such as syphilis before assuming erysipelas. To stay with the example of syphilis: In the second stage of this disease, which if left untreated can be fatal in the worst case, syphilides form. Syphilids are reddish skin lesions that are very similar to erysipelas except for their relatively small size.
Likewise, possible fungal diseases should be excluded by laboratory swab tests. Precisely because erysipelas is not caused by a pathogen, diagnostic tests must be carried out in reverse order. This means that all other (more dangerous) skin diseases with an identical picture must first be ruled out before erysipelas can be assumed if the external appearance gives reason for doubt.
Complications
If the diseased skin is treated incorrectly or misdiagnosed, erysipelas can cause a number of complications. First of all, the disease leads to symptoms such as sweating, headaches and tiredness – complaints that reduce well-being and thus represent an enormous burden for those affected. In some cases, the skin changes can become inflamed and cause severe itching with noticeable reddening of the skin.
This cosmetic blemish is usually perceived as unpleasant by those affected – it leads to social withdrawal and a decrease in quality of life. Rhinitis in pregnancy can lead to developmental disorders in the child and other complications. Especially if the skin disease occurs before the 15th week of pregnancy, this can have a negative impact on the development of the child or even lead to premature birth or miscarriage.
Complications rarely occur when treating dandruff. However, the use of home remedies can lead to further skin irritation and worsen the symptoms. If anti-inflammatories or painkillers are used, they can cause side effects and interactions. In the case of allergy sufferers, the corresponding preparations can sometimes lead to serious complications.
When should you go to the doctor?
Ringworm should always be treated by a doctor. This disease cannot heal itself, so the patient is always dependent on medical treatment. In most cases, however, there is complete healing and thus a positive course of the disease. The life expectancy of those affected is not negatively affected by the lichen. The doctor should be consulted if the person concerned suffers from redness all over the body.
This redness mostly occurs without any particular reason. There is also a severe rash on the skin, which is associated with itching. Fever or headaches can also indicate rhinitis and should be examined by a doctor. The sufferer is often tired or has no appetite. The ringworm can be treated by a general practitioner or by a dermatologist. The earlier the disease is detected, the better the further course. Complications usually do not arise.
Treatment & Therapy
The special thing about erysipelas is that it heals on its own within six to eight weeks. For this reason, the dermatologist’s first advice is to wait and only act if spontaneous healing does not occur.
Because in individual cases, treatment may very well be necessary. This is the case if, after the twelve-week period has elapsed, the ringworm still does not appear to want to recede. In some cases, erysipelas can last up to six months before resolving if left untreated. As a rule, however, it is sufficient not to irritate the affected areas and thus to protect the skin as much as possible.
It is also advisable to wear “airy” clothing, i.e. not tight-fitting, in which the skin can easily sweat, which would unnecessarily irritate the affected areas of the skin. A well-known skin remedy against erysipelas are oil baths, which counteract the drying out of the skin.
Prevention
Due to the fact that the cause of ringworm is not known, there can be no reliable advice on how to prevent ringworm.
You can do that yourself
In addition to medical treatment, some home remedies and measures help in the treatment of erysipelas. First of all, the skin must be protected. Avoid hot showers and saunas. Exposure to sunlight should be reduced as sweat and UV rays increase painful scales. Airy clothing helps to avoid profuse sweating.
Sport is allowed in moderation, because physical exercise stimulates the immune system and thus helps to quickly defeat pathogens. Sports such as swimming or walking that don’t sweat much are recommended.
Skin care products with preservatives are best replaced with natural skin care products such as aloe vera or coconut oil. Poultices with lavender or black cumin oil have a pain-relieving effect and help with itching and redness. If stress is avoided at the same time and attention is paid to a balanced diet, the ringworm should subside quickly. Otherwise you have to go to the dermatologist again.
In the case of chronic complaints associated with hyperpigmentation of the skin, cosmetic measures make sense. Dermatological make-up from the pharmacy covers the conspicuous skin areas. At the same time, approaches from homeopathy can be tested to alleviate the causal disease.
