The sores , also called tinea alba or eczematides, skin lesions are common, especially in winter and in children . They are considered a minor sign of atopy(= skin condition that predisposes to allergies and eczema).
Symptoms of scars
Scars predominate on the convexities of the body and face (cheeks, extension of the thighs and arms, areas of trunk friction, shoulders, convexities of the abdomen, etc …).
They are more common in winter and late summer.
Scars occur in the form of plates of a few centimeters , usually round or oval , which evolve in two phases :
- The erythematous phase : appearance of rosy or discreetly red and scaly patches (presence of small dry skin), which can be itchy ;
- The clear phase : desquamation causes a loss of tanning or natural pigmentation of the skin. The scars then appear as dry patches lighter than the surrounding skin.
People at risk
Scars are common in children , but they can also affect adults, especially those with matte skin.
They are considered a minor sign of atopy. There is sometimes a personal or family history of eczema.
Risk factors for scars
Scars usually appear because of:
- an acceleration of the renewal of cutaneous cells, especially because of the sun, which is why we often see the appearance of dartres in late summer;
- a predisposition to dry skin and environmental conditions worsening this condition: the cold, the wearing of synthetic or woolen clothes that attack the skin, the toilet with hot water, hence the appearance of scabs in winter , but also the pool water and sea water .
Prevention
The prevention of scars requires the fight against risk factors :
- Limit the acceleration of skin renewal related to the sun by following the sun protection tips : avoid exposure between 11 am and 4 pm, look for shade, wear loose clothing and cover, apply sunscreen with a high protection factor on the exposed areas.
- Limit the dryness of the skin by using lukewarm water and soap-free or soap-free breads , moisturizing the skin with a suitable cream and rinsing the skin with clean water after swimming or swimming in the pool. .
Medical treatment of scabs
During the erythematous phase , the treatment of scabs requires creams containing corticosteroids .
When the clear phase is initiated, the moisturizing cream treatment is only effective if the affected person can regain his natural skin color through exposure to the sun.
Anglo-Saxons are happy to use both phases of Tacrolimus(Protopic) or Pimecrolimus (Elidel), which do not have a marketing authorization to treat scurf in France and Canada unless they are part of an atopic dermatitis with eczema present. Calcitriol (Silkis) has recently been studied to show efficacy equivalent to Tacrolimus (Protopic), but further studies need to be done to confirm this effect.
Complementary approaches to dartres
Aloe (Aloe vera). Aloe gel is a mucilage (vegetable substance that swells on contact with water) clear extract of the heart of large leaves of this plant. It has emollient (soothing) properties and is very often used in dermatology.
Note : Aloe may cause dermatitis (skin irritation) in some people.
Evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis). The gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) it contains is an essential omega-6 fatty acid. Evening primrose oil therefore has emollient properties.
Shea butter. From a nut that grows wild in West Africa, shea butter has emollient and moisturizing properties.