Xerotic eczema

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Xerotic eczema is a form of eczema that is characterized by changes that occur when skin becomes abnormally dry, red, itchy, and cracked. It tends to occur more often during the winter and in dry conditions. The lower legs tend to be especially affected, although it can appear in the underarm area as well. Xerotic eczema is common in elderly people, though it is not uncommon for people in their 20s. It can appear in red, bumpy, pimple-like irritations. Shaving can cause it to become inflamed. The first method that should be taken when treating xerotic eczema is attempting to re-hydrate the dry skin using a humidifier and bathing/showering less frequently in warm water. Mild and moisturizing soaps should be used to prevent further irritation. Avoiding scratching the affected area and applying anti-itch or moisturizing lotion frequently would also help in reducing dryness. If the re-hydration process does not alleviate the symptoms, moisturizers such as Lac-Hydrin 5% or 12% moisturizer containing urea can be used; furthermore, if the skin becomes inflamed or cracked, mid- to high-potency corticosteroids can be used. A study published in 2005 found positive results from soaking the affected area in water for twenty minutes and then applying mid- to high-strength corticosteroid ointment.In accordance with the involvement of androgens in seborrhoea, antiandrogens, such as cyproterone acetate, spironolactone, flutamide and nilutamide, are highly effective in alleviating the condition. As such, they are used in the treatment of seborrhoea, particularly severe cases. While beneficial in seborrhoea, effectiveness may vary with different antiandrogens; for instance, spironolactone (which is regarded as a relatively weak antiandrogen) has been found to produce a 50% improvement after three months of treatment, whereas flutamide has been found to result in an 80% improvement within three months. Cyproterone acetate is similarly more potent and effective than spironolactone, and results in considerable improvement or disappearance of acne and seborrhoea in 90% of patients within three months.

Systemic antiandrogen therapy are generally used to treat seborrhoea only in women, and not in men, as these medications can result in feminization (e.g., gynecomastia), sexual dysfunction, and infertility in males. In addition, antiandrogens theoretically have the potential to feminize male fetuses in pregnant women, and for this reason, are usually combined with effective birth control in sexually active women who can or may become pregnant.

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