Neurodermatitis is a highly pruritic skin
disease in most cases passed on to descendants through hereditary
predisposition. The disease often appears together with other allergic
illnesses such as hay fever, asthma, urticaria, or food allergies. The
conditions can appear simultaneously or consecutively.
In early childhood, neurodermatitis (formerly called cradle cap) is very
common; up to ten percent of all children are affected. The condition often
improves or disappears completely by the time the child reaches school age. In
adulthood, there is still an incidence of three to six percent of the
population. Up to now, the cause of neurodermatitis still remains only
partially elucidated. Significant contributing factors are heredity, an altered
skin structure with tendency to dryness, environmental factors such as
allergies or infections, as well as psychological factors. The triggers vary
from patient to patient and are distinctly personal.
Symptoms
Patients with neurodermatitis exhibit three main
cutaneous symptoms: marked pruritus, especially nocturnally, dryness of the
skin, and recurrent eczemas. These complaints are variably intense, and are
characterized by recurrent exacerbations and remissions. Pruritus in particular
can be very distressing; moreover, scratching often contributes to even greater
cutaneous inflammation, so that a vicious cycle can effectively develop.
Diagnosis
We establish the triggering factor(s) that
contribute to disease outbreak by extensive interviews, physical examination,
and allergy testing of skin and/ or blood tests; if need be, we identify
concomitant allergic disorders such as hay fever, allergic asthma, or food
allergies.
Treatments
Together with you, the parents of an affected
patient and the patient, we establish the individual treatment plan. We
instruct you on how to avoid specific stimuli that may trigger new disease
outbreaks. An extensive range of skin care substances and medications for
topical and internal use is available, including both traditional as well as
innovative substances (both classic therapy with cortisone preparations and
well as non-steroidal therapies), as well as occasional use of light therapy.
Patient Education
Together with Swiss Allergy Center aha!, we offer
regular educational programs for parents of affected children, with the
collaboration of psychologists and nutritional counselors.
Details / link aha!
Patient Brochure
Availble in German, Brochure and order (free of charge).
Patientenorganization (s)
