What Neuro Dermatitis Really Is

A lot of people understand that a skin rash is red, itchy, and can hurt but they may not all know the different types of skin conditions that are out there. One of the ones that not a lot of people understand is that of neuro dermatitis which is also sometimes referred to as lichen simplex and this is a chronic skin condition that someone could have off and on for years or for the rest of their lives. Neuro dermatitis can come about because of a person wearing garments that are too tight to where it rubs or scratches the skin.

The most common area to show signs of neuro dermatitis is the wrists, the outer forearms, the back of the neck, and the ankles. Too much scratching of the skin that is affected can end up causing the skin to thicken and have a texture like leather. There are signs that nerve fibers changing could be a cause of an outbreak along with a lot of stress. Neuro dermatitis generally leads to what is called a scratch-itch cycle. This means the more a person scratches, the more they are going to itch and the cycle continues around and around.

Some Common Triggers

There are a lot of different things that can be irritants, or triggers, for a person and what affects one person with neuro dermatitis does not always affect someone else. Everyone is different so that is why it is so important to pay close attention to what is going on in your life when you experience outbreaks of this nasty skin condition. By noticing what your particular triggers are, you are able to better control the outbreaks. Some common neuro dermatitis triggers can be looked at though to see if there are causing you outbreaks.

A lot of people tend to get worse during the winter months because of the skin drying up. Also, some people are finding that emotional stress can play a big role in their neuro dermatitis outbreaks and can making the itching a lot worse then normal. Also, be careful of what you eat as some people have found that foods such as cheese, chocolate, nuts, fish, shellfish, milk, kiwi, wine, and tomatoes can trigger the problem. Watch what perfume you wear and if you are around a lot of cigarette smoke, as these things are known for causing someone with neuro dermatitis problems and make the itching a lot worse.