Neurodermatitis: pictures of the skin disease

Neurodermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. The symptoms are varied. Eczema, dry skin and itching often occur. For many sufferers, neurodermatitis occurs as early as infancy. It runs in waves and can even disappear in the meantime and only break out again years later. In Germany, more than six million people are affected by the skin disease. Medically, it is also referred to as endogenous eczema and atopic dermatitis.

Typical symptoms of neurodermatitis

The symptoms of neurodermatitis depend on the stage of the disease. A distinction is made between the acute development phase, the chronic phase and the final state of the skin. The symptoms and manifestations of atopic eczema vary from dry patches of skin to the formation of nodules. A cradle cap is often the first sign of neurodermatitis in infancy. In older children and adults, eczema spots are often found on the arm’s crook and the knee’s back.

Other commonly affected body parts are:

• Lips:  People with neurodermatitis often suffer from dry lips, especially in the cold season. They tend to lick their dry lips more, which further promotes dehydration.
• Eyelids: Eczema on the eyelids is expected during the spring and summer pollen season.
• Pityriasis alba:  Physicians understand this to be light patches of skin the size of a coin, with fine, bran-shaped scales typical. The skin change has no disease value and is usually only a cosmetic problem.
• Rhagades are painful tears in the skin on the earlobe, at the corner of the mouth or between the toes.

The pictures in the photo series show you what neurodermatitis looks like and how you can recognize the skin disease!

Milchschorf

If neurodermatitis occurs in infancy, the skin disease often manifests as a cradle cap. These are brownish crusts that form on your baby’s head. In addition to the color, it is characteristic that the crusts persist and are not as easy to remove as, for example, scales. Since the brown skin crusts are reminiscent of burnt milk, the skin change is called cradle cap.

Cradle cap as the first sign of neurodermatitis

As a rule, cradle cap does not occur before the third month of life. It can, but does not have to be a warning sign for neurodermatitis. If scaly redness also forms on the cheeks or other parts of the face in the first few months, neurodermatitis is probably present. In babies, atopic eczema usually first appears on the face and scalp.

Kopfgneiss

Cap gneiss is often confused with cradle cap: in contrast to the hard crusts of cradle cap, soft, fatty scales are behind the cradle cap. They form on the baby’s scalp in the first few weeks after birth. They usually go away on their own over time. You can soak the scales and gently loosen them from the scalp with a damp washcloth and some baby oil. 

Head gneiss is in itself a harmless skin lesion that does not itch. While other symptoms are usually associated with the cradle cap as a sign of neurodermatitis, dandruff occurs alone in the cranial cradle cap.

Neurodermatitis on the legs

It is typical for atopic dermatitis that eczema appears on specific body parts depending on age: in infancy, for example, eczema spots often appear on the arms and legs. The skin areas are usually dry, red, itchy and flaky.

Neurodermatitis on the elbows and behind the knees

A typical spot for eczema is the inside of the elbows and the back of the knees. Neurodermatitis is particularly common in older children and adults. Atopic eczema is characterized by red, dry and itchy spots on the elbows and behind the knees.

lichenification

Over time, the skin on the eczema spots can change: it often becomes calloused and thicker. This skin change in neurodermatitis is medically referred to as lichenification. The picture shows lichenification on the face, neck and shoulder girdle. The thickening of the skin is also typical on the crook of the elbow, the back of the knee, and the hands.

Neurodermatitis on the neck

The neck and décolleté are susceptible skin areas for many people with neurodermatitis. After all, clothing often rubs against the skin affected by the eczema foci. Many of those affected perceive tight-fitting clothing and shirts with a collar or turtleneck sweater as uncomfortable. Textiles made of wool usually increase the existing itching, while clothing made of silk and linen is often comfortable on the skin.

Neurodermatitis in the eyes

The area around the eyes and forehead is also often affected by neurodermatitis. Many people with neurodermatitis develop dry and itchy eczema spots between the eyebrows or on the eyelids during the hay fever season.

Dry lips from neurodermatitis

Many suffer from dry skin, especially in winter when cold outside and dry heating air prevails inside. Atopic dermatitis often makes itself felt with dry lips. A lot of care is called for here to keep sensitive skin supple. Also, ensure you drink enough in winter – this is another way to moisturize your lips.

Lick eczema in children

Children with neurodermatitis suffer more often from perioral licking eczema: Since the skin on the lips is so dry due to atopic eczema, they constantly lick and moisten their lips. However, this irritates the sensitive skin, resulting in redness and open spots on the lips and around the mouth.

Torn corners of the mouth in neurodermatitis

In addition to dry lips, corner cheilitis can occur in people with neurodermatitis. Doctors understand this to mean cracked and inflamed mouth corners, often accompanied by crusting, fissures and even ulceration.

In addition to neurodermatitis, a lack of vitamin B12, iron deficiency, infections with viruses, bacteria or fungi, diabetes, psoriasis or allergies can be behind torn corners of the mouth.

Hand cream

Atopic hand eczema is also typical of neurodermatitis: Here, eczema foci appear between the spaces between the fingers, and in some people, the itchy, red eczema is also on the palms of the hands or the backs of the fingers. For many sufferers, hand eczema is terrible because the skin on the hands is constantly exposed to external stimuli, from cold to wet clothing or gloves in winter. If you are tormented by severe itching, you often find it difficult not to scratch your hands.

Hands are commonly affected in older people.

If neurodermatitis only occurs in old age or breaks out again after a long break, the hands and feet are often affected.

Neurodermatitis on the feet

Rhagarden can form at the corners of the mouth and on the earlobes, between the fingers and the feet. These gap-like tears in the skin often occur in people with neurodermatitis. They form mainly in the spaces between the toes on the feet.

Neurodermatitis all over the body

If there is a particularly severe case of neurodermatitis, the eczema spots can also appear on the entire body. Then there are reddened and itchy areas of skin on the face, scalp, trunk, arms and legs. It is characteristic of neurodermatitis that it does not occur in the diaper area.

The good news for affected children and their parents is that in most children, neurodermatitis disappears again at the onset of puberty. However, what remains is a predisposition for allergic reactions, which later often appear as pollen allergy and hay fever. It is also possible that children with neurodermatitis will later develop bronchial asthma.