Monday, April 25, 2005
Treating Asteatotic Eczema
This is also known as asteatotic eczema and it occurs in older people who have thinner and dryer skin. Large dry scales may form on the skin giving a "crazy-paving" appearance to the skin. It is extremely common in communities of elderly people and may be triggered by soap remaining on the skin after a bed bath. Using a good moisturizing routine and switching from soap to a cleansing bar for dry sensitive skin (such as Cetaphil “moisturizing gentle cleansing bar or Dove) can alleviate it. Steroid creams are generally best avoided because the underlying skin is already very thin and delicate.
Fair-skinned, sensitive or elderly people who bathe a lot in hot showers or tubs can develop an asteatotic eczema that can be extremely intractable. Remembering that the skin's pH is acidic, around 5.0, and all water is slightly alkaline, especially if there are many calcium and magnesium salts in it, it is easy to see how this happens. Cessation of bathing and showering for a while may be necessary to clear the skin of these unfortunate patients. An alkaline skin is increasingly susceptible to the irritant effects of water alone, and the hyper-irritability of the skin can be prolonged; it takes 3 months for a fracture to heal, similarly with the skin. The skin must be put at rest and allowed lubrication for that length of time before it recovers.
Fair-skinned, sensitive or elderly people who bathe a lot in hot showers or tubs can develop an asteatotic eczema that can be extremely intractable. Remembering that the skin's pH is acidic, around 5.0, and all water is slightly alkaline, especially if there are many calcium and magnesium salts in it, it is easy to see how this happens. Cessation of bathing and showering for a while may be necessary to clear the skin of these unfortunate patients. An alkaline skin is increasingly susceptible to the irritant effects of water alone, and the hyper-irritability of the skin can be prolonged; it takes 3 months for a fracture to heal, similarly with the skin. The skin must be put at rest and allowed lubrication for that length of time before it recovers.
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