The lesions tend, sooner or later, to disappear, but are usually replaced by others, the disease thus persisting for weeks or months; in places where closely crowded, a solid, thickened, scaly sheet of eruption may result—eczema squamosum.
Describe the symptoms of vesicular eczema.
Vesicular eczema (Eczema vesiculosum) usually appears, on one or several regions, as more or less diffused inflammatory reddened patches, upon which rapidly develop numerous closely-crowded pin-point to pin-head-sized vesicles, which tend to become confluent and form a solid sheet of eruption. The vesicles soon mature and rupture, the discharge drying to yellowish, honeycomb-like crusts. The oozing is usually more or less continuous, or the disease may decline, the crusts be cast off, to be quickly followed by a new crop of vesicles. In those cases in which the process is markedly acute, considerable swelling and œdema are present. Scattered papules, vesico-papules and pustules may usually be seen upon the involved area or about the border.
The face in infants (crusta lactea, or milk crust, of older writers), the neck, flexor surfaces and the fingers are its favorite localities.
What course does vesicular eczema pursue?
Usually chronic, with acute exacerbations. Not infrequently it passes into eczema rubrum.
Describe the symptoms of pustular eczema.
Pustular eczema (eczema pustulosum, eczema impetiginosum) is probably the least common of all the varieties. It is similar, although usually less actively inflammatory, in its symptoms to eczema vesiculosum, the lesions being pustular from the start or developing from preëxisting vesicles; not infrequently the eruption is mixed, the pustules predominating. There is a marked tendency to rupturing of the lesions, the discharge drying to thick, yellowish, brownish or greenish crusts.
Its most common sites are the scalp and face, especially in young people and in those who are ill-nourished and strumous.
What course does pustular eczema pursue?