Knowledge Corner

Discoid eczema is also known as nummular or discoid dermatitis. It has a distinctive coin shaped, circular or oval patches of eczema. It can affect any part of the body, although it rarely affect the face or scalp. It is a long-term skin condition that causes skin to become itchy, reddened, swollen and cracked in circular or oval patches. Without treatment, discoid eczema can last for weeks, months or even years. It may also keep recurring – often in the same area that was affected previously.

(Discoid eksema juga dikenali sbg nunmular atau discoid dermatitis. Ia mempunyai rupa berbentuk bulat atau bujur. Ia boleh melanda kesemua bhg badan tapi jarang di bhg muka atau kepala. Ia adalah keadaan kulit yg menyebabkan kulit gatal, merah, bengkak dan rekah dalam bentuk bulat atau bujur untuk jangkamasa yg lama. Tanpa rawatan, ia boleh melarat hingga berminggu, berbulan atay bertahun. Ia juga boleh sering berulang di kawasan yg sama.)

SYMPTOMS 

The first sign of discoid eczema is usually a group of small red spots or bumps on the skin that quickly join up to form larger pink, red or brown patches that can range from a few millimetres to several centimetres in size. Initially, these patches are often swollen, blistered (covered with small fluid-filled pockets) and ooze fluid. They also tend to be very itchy, particularly at night. Over time, the patches may become dry, crusty, cracked and flaky. The centre of the patch also sometimes clears, leaving a ring of discoloured skin that can be mistaken for ringworm. You may just have one patch of discoid eczema, but most people get several patches. The skin between the patches is often dry.

Patches of discoid eczema can sometimes become infected. Signs of an infection can include:

• the patches oozing a lot of fluid
• a yellow crust developing over the patches
• the skin around the patches becoming red, hot, swollen, and tender or painful
• feeling sick

(Tanda awal discoid eksema adalah sekumpulan ruam atau biji berair yg merah pada kulit yg bergabung utk membentuk satu ruam bulat yg lebih besar yg berwarna merah jambu,merah atau perang yg bersaiz antara beberapa mm ke cm besarnya. Ruam ini biasanya bengkak dan berair (spt belon berair) pada mulanya dan berair. Ia juga boleh menjadi sangat gatal terutama pada waktu malam. Dengan masa, ruam tersebut boleh menjadi kering, berkerak, rekah dan bersisik. Bhg tengah ruam juga boleh menjadi “bersih” menyerupai tompok tompok bulat spt fungus. Seseorang boleh mempunyai satu ruam sahaja tapi kebanyakan orang mempunyai lebih dari satu discoid eczema. Kulit disekitarnya biasanya adalah sangat kering. Ruam discoid eksema boleh menjadi terjangkit. Tanda tanda ia telah ada jangkitan adalah:

-ruam tersebut sangat berair

-kerak kuning muncul pada ruam tersebut

-kulit sekitar ruam menjadi merah, panas, bengkak dan sakit.

-tidak sihat/demam

TREATMENTS 

See a doctor if your skin may be infected. You may need to use antibiotic cream or, in severe cases, take antibiotics. 

Discoid eczema is usually a long-term problem and treatments include:

• emollients – moisturisers applied to the skin to stop it becoming dry
• topical corticosteroids – ointments and creams applied to the skin that can help relieve severe symptoms
• antihistamines – medications that can reduce itching and help you sleep better

 (Berjumpalah dengan doktor jika anda rasa ruam anda telah mendapat jangkitan. Anda mungkin perlu menggunakan krim antibiotik dan dalam keadaan teruk, mengambil antibiotik oral. Discoid eksema merupakan masalah jangka panjang dan rawatannya termasuklah:

-pemakaian emolien utk elak kulit dari kering

-kortikosteroid sapuan utk mengawal keradangan

-antihistamine utk mengurangkan kegatalan supaya dapat tidur dgn lebih mudah)

CAUSES

Discoid eczema doesnt seem to run in families. The cause of discoid eczema is unknown, although it may occur as a result of having particularly dry skin. Discoid eczema may sometimes be triggered by a minor skin injury, such as an insect bite. Some medicines may also be associated with discoid eczema, as patches of eczema can appear in people taking:

• interferon and ribavirin – when they're used together to treat hepatitis C 
• tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) blockers – used to treat some types of arthritis
• statins (cholesterol-lowering medication) – which can cause dry skin and rashes

(Discoid eksema bukan disebabkan oleh sejarah keluarga. Penyebabnya masih tidak diketahui, tapi biasanya disebabkan oleh keadaan kulit yg kering. Discoid eksema boleh disebabkan oleh kulit yg luka spt gigitan serangga. Setengah ubatan juga boleh menyebabkan discoid eksema spt mereka yg mengambil ubat:

-interferon dan ribavirin yg digunakan utk merawat penyakit hepatitis C

-penghalang tumour necrosis factor alpha  yg diguna utk merawat sakit sendi

-statin (ubat kolesterol) yg boleh menyebabkan kulit kering dan naiknya ruam.)