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Chronic eczema
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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[ Causes of Chronic Eczema
Possible causes of chronic eczema are atopic dermatitis, chronic allergic or irritant dermatitis, scratching habit, simple chronic lichen, cracked soles, nummular eczema, dry (asteatotic) eczema, fingertip eczema, hyperkeratotic eczema. The disease evolves as a result of a chronic process.
Symptoms of Chronic Eczema
Intense itching leads to excoriations. The inflamed, itchy skin thickens, and the superficial skin lines become more pronounced. Thick plaques with deep parallel skin lines (lichenification) appear. Easily accessible areas and fold zones are most typically affected. Typical localization is the back of the neck, popliteal fossa, shins, eyelids, and ano-genital area. The affected skin may be hypo- or hyperpigmented.
Treatment of chronic eczema
Chronic eczema is often resistant to treatment; the key to success is to interrupt the itch-scratch cycle during treatment and to eliminate the causes or sources of worsening of the disease. A cool, wet compress on the affected skin for 20 minutes helps to soothe and reduce itching; it may be effective for nighttime scratching. Group I or II steroid creams or ointments applied twice daily are effective in the treatment of chronic eczema. Group II-IV steroids are applied with polyethylene occlusion for 2-8 hours.