Neurodermatitis in the genital area

What is atopic dermatitis in the genital area?

Neurodermatitis is also known as atopic dermatitis. It is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that can occur on many different parts of the body, including the genital area. The intimate area is not one of the main manifestations of neurodermatitis, but it is exposed to some trigger factors that can trigger the skin disease. The main symptoms are itching, dry skin and a rash called eczema. The disease often manifests itself in childhood. In many cases, puberty improves. However, adults can also be affected by the skin disorder.

causes

The cause of atopic dermatitis has not been conclusively clarified. However, it is known that there is immunological sensitization. Certain trigger factors can trigger the symptoms of skin diseases. For example, textiles, excessive sweating or intensive skin cleansing can lead to skin irritations. These are also triggers that can lead to symptoms of neurodermatitis in the genital area. Overweight people in particular are predisposed because they have skin folds caused by fat, in which sweat and heat can build up.

Read more about the here Causes of atopic dermatitis.

Concomitant symptoms

The main symptom of neurodermatitis is itching. The skin is often dry, which can make itching worse. Frequent scratching often leads to open skin areas in those affected, which can become infected and inflamed by the penetration of bacteria. The skin lesions can appear on different parts of the body; the most common locations differ in different age groups. In children, for example, the head, face and the extensor sides of the arms and legs can be affected, whereas adults tend to suffer from skin symptoms on the flexor sides and neck. In the course of the process, the skin can thicken and coarsen, known as lichenification.

Numerous other symptoms can occur in the course of neurodermatitis. For example, cracks can appear at the corners of the mouth or fine flaking can form on the toes and fingertips. The symptoms can be very changeable, but the focus is always on itching as a continuous symptom.

Read here: You can recognize atopic dermatitis by these symptoms

itching

As mentioned above, itching is the most prominent symptom of atopic dermatitis. This can lead to high levels of suffering, particularly in the genital area. In addition, frequent scratching increases the risk of infection, which can be particularly problematic in the genital area, as numerous bacteria occur naturally in this region. If these get into the bloodstream through an open area of ​​skin, this can lead to an infection with fever, which must be treated with antibiotics. Care should therefore be taken not to scratch in the presence of itching, but to cool it or use creams that relieve itching.

diagnosis

First, a thorough medical history should be taken. The presence of allergies, asthma or skin rashes in childhood can indicate neurodermatitis. If a family member is known to have neurodermatitis, this also makes the diagnosis more likely. The doctor should then examine the skin symptoms and identify trigger factors. If the intimate area is irritated by clothing, for example, or if the person concerned describes excessive intimate hygiene, neurodermatitis could be present. The diagnosis is more likely if the skin symptoms also occur on other parts of the body, since the genital area is not a typical localization of the atopic dermatitis manifestation. Typical body regions in adulthood include the flexor sides of the extremities, as well as the neck and décolleté. In children and adolescents, other areas, such as the face, are more often affected.

In addition to the rash, there are other typical external signs that are often present in neurodermatitis. These include, for example, a double lower eyelid fold and a thinning of the side eyebrows.

Since atopic dermatitis often occurs together with allergies, an allergy test can also be helpful in making a diagnosis.

therapy

First of all, general measures should be taken. This particularly includes avoiding trigger factors. In the case of neurodermatitis in the genital area, it should be kept as clean and dry as possible, for example sweat should be removed immediately after exercise. However, care should be taken not to overdo the care and not to use aggressive products. This also destroys the skin barrier, which has already been damaged by the neurodermatitis. Clothing that does not irritate the skin should also be worn.

Further therapy depends on the severity and appearance of the skin disease. If the skin in the genital area is particularly dry and itchy as a result, soothing lotions can be applied in moderation to counteract the loss of fluid. If there are already open skin areas, these should be treated with local antiseptics to avoid infection. Since this disease is triggered by an immune response, cortisone cream can also be used. However, you should always try to keep the dose as low as possible.

When do i need cortisone?

If itching and dry skin are the only symptoms of neurodermatitis in the genital area, the application of cortisone-containing products should be avoided. If mild eczema occurs, a low-dose cortisone cream can be applied to these areas. In the case of more pronounced eczema, the dose of cortisone can be increased. Only when the symptoms persist even after local therapy and the skin symptoms are very pronounced can systemic immunomodulating therapy, e.g. oral ingestion of glucocorticoids.

In general, care should be taken to use glucocorticoids sparingly. In addition to the systemic side effects, local, regular application can lead to thinning of the skin. In particular on sensitive skin areas, e.g. In the genital area, cortisone cream should be applied cautiously.

forecast

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease. The symptoms can be sudden, i.e. there can be long periods without symptoms. Atopic dermatitis, which occurs in the genital area, can also run at intervals. If skin folds in this area are reduced, for example by weight reduction, the region is kept dry and trigger factors such as irritating clothing and aggressive hygiene are avoided, the prognosis that atopic dermatitis will no longer occur in the genital area is significantly better.

In general, it applies to neurodermatitis that more than half of the children affected who suffer from this disease no longer show any symptoms in adulthood.

This is the best way to shave myself with neurodermatitis in the genital area

If there is atopic dermatitis in the genital area, the skin is usually dry and irritated, and there may also be eczema and open skin areas. It is therefore particularly important not to irritate the skin further. In the best case scenario, you should avoid shaving. Any additional damage to the skin increases the risk that bacteria from the genital region will enter the circulation or local inflammation will develop. If you cannot do without shaving, this should be done as gently as possible. In this case, you should not shave against the direction of hair growth in order to damage the skin barrier as little as possible. In addition, care should be taken to ensure adequate moisture supply and, if necessary, disinfection with local antiseptics. Shave should only be done with a clean razor.