Nummular Dermatitis Information
Nummular dermatitis is one of the many forms of dermatitis, or irritation of the
skin. Also known as discoid dermatitis, it is a medical condition characterized
by round or oval-shaped itchy lesions. (The Latin word "nummus" means "coin.")
The disorder is recurrent and chronic, and may appear at any age, although it is
most common in people in their 60's. Nummular dermatitis does not seem to be a
genetic condition, is not related to food allergies, and is not contagious.
The coin-shaped patches can affect any part of the body, but the legs and
buttocks are the most common areas. Flare-ups are associated with dry skin, so
the winter season is a particularly bad time for those with this condition.
One of the strong keys to treatment and prevention involves keeping the skin
moisturized. Lotions, creams, and bath oils may help prevent and treat an
outbreak. If the condition flares up, a common treatment involves the
application of topical corticosteroids. Oral antihistamines may help lessen
itching. More severe cases sometimes respond to ultraviolet light treatment.
Synonyms and related keywords include discoid eczema, nummular eczema, nummular
dermatitis, coin-shaped eczema, coin-shaped dermatitis, nummular pruritus,
Staphylococcus aureus, Staph aureus, staphylococcal skin infection and
staphylococcal dermatitis The ailment is equally found in people of all races,
but is more common in males than females. Itching is often worse at night and
may cause difficulty in sleeping (insomnia).
Conclusion
Effective treatments do exist for winter itch.