Eczema is a common inflammatory skin disease, so named because of the tendency of the rash damage to ooze moisture. The disease has a long and difficult course and is prone to recurrence. Clinical manifestations The clinical symptoms of eczema are variable and are divided into three types: acute, subacute and chronic, depending on the performance of the lesions during the onset of the disease. Acute eczema has polymorphic damage, initially erythematous, with burning and itching. Following the appearance of scattered or dense papules or small blisters on the erythema, after scratching or rubbing, scratching breaks and forms vesicles and oozing surface. The acute inflammation decreases with time or after treatment, the lesions dry, crust and scale, and enter the subacute phase. Chronic eczema evolves from acute and subacute recurrent episodes that do not heal, or begin with chronic inflammation, often characterized by confinement to the same area for a long time, manifested by gradual thickening of the skin, deepening of skin lines, infiltration, hyperpigmentation, etc. The main self-conscious symptom is intense itching. Although eczema has the above-mentioned common clinical manifestations, there are some differences in the pattern of lesions in different parts of the eczema. For example, eczema of the external ear canal is prone to fungal infections, and breast eczema is common in lactating women, often with chafing and pain. Anal and scrotal eczema is often caused by scratching, hot water soap and acute swelling or erosion. The eczema on the lower legs often leads to ulceration, which does not heal easily, etc. In addition to the above, there are some unusual clinical manifestations of specific types of eczema, such as infectious eczema-like dermatitis secondary to bacterial purulent skin diseases such as otitis media, ulcers, fistulas and decubitus ulcers, and autosensitive eczema caused by allergy to substances produced by the internal skin tissue of the body. Infantile eczema occurs in infancy after the first month of life and is often symmetrical on the back of the hands, extensor surfaces of the limbs and buttocks. The lesions are shaped like coins in coin-shaped eczema. Etiology and pathogenesis The etiology and pathogenesis of eczema are quite complex, involving a variety of internal and external factors. It is a late-onset allergic reaction that occurs in the skin. The disease often occurs in individuals with allergic qualities. Anyone with this quality is more prone to allergic reactions to various allergenic substances inside and outside the body, such as proteins in food, especially fish, shrimp, eggs and cow’s milk, as well as chemicals, plants, animal leather and feathers, parasites in the intestinal tract, and foci of infection. In some cases, even physical stimuli such as sunlight, heat, cold, and climate change can trigger eczema. In addition, the occurrence of eczema, sometimes may also have some relationship with neurological dysfunction, endocrine disorders, indigestion, intestinal diseases, metabolic abnormalities, etc. In short, the onset of eczema is the result of the interaction of various factors. Clinically, it can also be seen that adherence to physical exercise or changes in the environment, so that eczema lesions reduce or naturally subside. The reasons for the ease of recurrence are closely related to the increased sensitivity of the patient and the multiple sources of allergenic substances. The name of the disease varies from site to site in Chinese medicine, for example, “dipping sores” is equivalent to generalized eczema, “facial travel wind” is equivalent to facial eczema, “whirling ear sores” is equivalent to ear eczema, and “nipple wind” is equivalent to eczema. The “nipple wind” is equivalent to nipple eczema, the “umbilical sore” is equivalent to umbilical eczema, the “hydrangea wind” and “kidney capsule wind” are more than scrotal eczema, and the “four bends wind” is equivalent to eczema of the scrotum. “Some palm eczema is mainly manifested by cracking, and the heavy ones can crack the skin and flesh, and the itch is so unbearable that even the hands cannot bend and curve, which is called cracked eczema. The “wet polyp” is equivalent to calf eczema, also known as bruised eczema. “Anal ringworm” is equivalent to anal eczema. According to the ancestral medicine, eczema is due to the endowment of intolerance, wind-heat, external wind evil, wind-damp-heat evil fight each other, soaked skin and become. Among them, “dampness” is the main factor. Because dampness is sticky, heavy and changeable, the disease is prolonged and variable in form. Chronic eczema is caused by deficiency of blood and damp heat, resulting in blood deficiency and yin injury, dryness and wind, wind-dryness and damp-heat stagnation, and loss of skin nourishment. In the palm of the eczema skin open flesh, itching, even the hand can not bend “and other symptoms Diagnosis and differentiation mainly based on the history and clinical features, the diagnosis is easier. Acute eczema rash is polymorphic, symmetrical distribution, tendency to exudate; chronic type lesions are mossy; subacute damage between the above two. Itching is intense; it is easy to recur. The diagnosis of specific types of eczema should be noted for their unique clinical symptoms and is not difficult. Chronic eczema needs to be differentiated from neurodermatitis, which has pruritus followed by a rash. The lesions are dry, generally non-exudative, and non-pigmented. The lesions are dry, generally non-exudative and non-pigmented. They are more likely to occur on the neck, sacral region and extensor surfaces of the limbs. It can tolerate a variety of medications and physical and chemical stimuli. General treatment There is no specific treatment for eczema in Western medicine, but mostly symptomatic treatment is used. The most important thing is to take antihistamine medication internally, such as Benadryl, fenugreek, paracetamol, and cycloheximide, which can be used alone or in combination with sedatives and vitamin C. The topical dosage form depends on the performance of clinical lesions, such as erythema and swelling, exudation should be selected solution cold wet compress, erythema, papules available lotion, emulsion, mud cream, oil, etc.; blisters, vesicles need to use oil; performance of scales, crusts with ointment; if moss-like changes more choice of mud cream, ointment, emulsion, coating agent, tincture and hard cream, etc.. Attention: Try to find the cause and remove it, pay attention to adjust the diet, avoid spicy stimulation, avoid eating allergenic items, such as alcohol, seafood and shellfish should be banned, and take a light diet; try to reduce external bad stimulation, such as hand scratching, external soap, hot water scalding, etc.; dress should be loose, light and soft, avoid wearing woolen products or nylon fabrics. Try to avoid the use of corticosteroid drugs for a long time or a short time in large doses, because a long time or a short time in large doses of external hormone preparations, but also addiction to lead to hormone-dependent dermatitis. There are more than 20 kinds of side effects: the most common one is that the condition improves rapidly after using the drug, and continues to be used externally for a period of time. Once the drug is stopped, within a day or two, ruddy, painful, itchy, cracked and flaky areas (especially the face) can occur, resulting in pustules and aggravation of the primary lesion, which is also called rebound dermatitis. When the hormone is reapplied, the above condition quickly improves or disappears; if the drug is stopped again, rebound dermatitis recurs and is more serious than before. Patients rely entirely on the application of hormones to avoid the pain of stopping the medication. After a few months or years, the skin becomes noticeably thinner, capillaries dilate, and sometimes purpura appears, especially on the face, where deeper persistent erythema may appear. The longer the application period, the more severe the rebound dermatitis. It can make the skin thin, fragile, atrophy, capillary dilation, purpura, fungal infection, acne-like dermatitis, etc. Becomes susceptible to damage; may also appear mildly hairy, sweaty, subcutaneous bleeding and wound healing difficulties.