Burning of the skin occurs with burns, allergic lesions, dermatoses of a viral, bacterial or fungal nature. The symptom is observed in chronic dermatological problems: psoriasis, eczema. Occasionally, burning develops as a component of the clinical picture of senestopathy. To diagnose the etiological factor, dermatoscopy and examination under a Wood's lamp, microscopy of skin scrapings, and histological examination are performed. To stop the burning sensation, external agents with a cooling effect help. Comprehensive treatment includes local and systemic drugs, physiotherapy methods.
Burning usually occurs in people with sensitive skin, even in the absence of a pathological factor. An unpleasant symptom is provoked by wearing prickly clothes or things made of synthetic materials. Women may feel a burning sensation on their face after applying skin care or color cosmetics, even if these products do not cause allergies. A typical cause of tingling and burning sensations in the skin of the legs is fatigue after a long walk.
Most often, the symptoms are due to exposure to high temperature or sunlight. Any burn is accompanied by a strong burning sensation of the skin, which begins even during the action of the damaging factor and lasts from several days to several weeks. The skin looks pink or bright red in color, with a deeper lesion, blisters are formed, filled with transparent or cloudy contents.
Burning worries a person constantly. The symptom becomes more noticeable when touching the affected area, applying medicinal ointments and sprays. Discomfort is sharply aggravated if the burn area is exposed to warm or hot water (for example, when bathing). As the healing progresses, the burning sensation subsides, replaced by periodic tingling and itching of the skin.
Chemical and electrical burns are characterized by deep penetration of the damaging agent - up to the hypodermis, muscles and underlying tissues. With such injuries, burning fades into the background, since the main complaint is unbearable pain in the area of \u200b\u200bthe destroyed epidermis and dermis. Burning sensations in the skin occur immediately at the time of damage, when massive tissue destruction has not yet occurred.
burning skin
A skin hypersensitivity reaction is the second most common cause of skin burning. The symptom is determined in predisposed people upon contact with allergens: plant pollen, cosmetics, animal hair, food. Allergic burning is combined with urticaria, itchy rashes on the skin in the form of papules and vesicles. Often joins lacrimation, sneezing, secretion of clear mucus from the nose.
Burning can be one of the components of seasonal allergies (hay fever). Sometimes this symptom becomes a harbinger of an attack of bronchial asthma: in this case, unpleasant manifestations are localized in a limited area, accompanied by the presence of red spots on the skin. Often, burning sensations are accompanied by pseudo-allergies while taking histamine liberators (chocolate, citrus fruits, strawberries).
Skin burning is typical of the acute erythematous form of contact dermatitis provoked by exposure to an irritant. The patient experiences painful and burning sensations, tingling, itching in the affected area. The skin becomes bright red. In the bullous variant of the disease, burning is complemented by the formation of blisters filled with a clear liquid. A slight severity of the symptom occurs in the chronic form of dermatitis.
Moderate itching and burning of the skin develop with the exudative form of the disease, which is manifested by the formation of scales and severe weeping. A burning sensation in the affected areas is disturbing during exacerbation of psoriasis. Symptoms are aggravated by combing damaged skin, bathing. As a rule, the exudative process is detected in those suffering from endocrine pathologies (diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism).
Painful symptoms with externally intact skin are characteristic of herpes zoster. Patients complain that the skin constantly burns to reduce discomfort, it wants to be scratched. Unpleasant sensations arise suddenly, last 12-24 hours, then specific bubble rashes form at this place. At the same time, severe burning pains persist until recovery, and can disturb a person for a long time after the disappearance of the rash.
With herpes simplex, burning of the skin is not so intense. Symptoms develop simultaneously with the appearance of bubbles filled with transparent exudate. Patients note itching, unpleasant tingling in the affected area. Soreness is moderate, in contrast to herpes zoster. The burning sensation stops when the elements of the rash heal and disappear.
Burning is one of the main symptoms of bacterial (impetigo, erysipelas), viral (molluscum contagiosum, HPV) or fungal (dermatophytosis, rubromycosis) skin lesions. Taking into account the etiology of the disease, burning sensations are accompanied by various local symptoms: vesicular and pustular rashes, peeling, lichenification.
Pathology is noted in mental disorders: Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome, hysterical neurosis, bipolar psychosis. Patients feel an intense burning sensation, sometimes there is a feeling that the whole body is "burning". To cope with painful symptoms, the patient constantly scratches the skin, tries to apply ice. In some cases, the burning sensation is so intense that the person rushes around the room, screams or moans.
Burning of the skin appears with drug dermatitis. Unpleasant symptoms develop both when drugs are applied externally (ointments, gels), and when administered orally or parenterally. On the skin, areas of rashes or weeping are formed, which are accompanied by unpleasant burning sensations. With each subsequent use of allergenic drugs, the affected area increases.
A specialist in the field of dermatology is engaged in finding out the cause of the symptom; if necessary, doctors of a different profile are connected to the examination. The dermatologist conducts a visual examination of the skin areas where the patient feels a burning sensation, after which he takes the material for laboratory tests. Diagnostic search includes the following research methods:
In the period of remission of allergic dermatoses, prick tests are recommended to determine provoking factors and select ASIT. When burning the lower extremities in elderly patients, duplex scanning of peripheral arteries and arteriography are mandatory. If complaints of burning skin are combined with inappropriate behavior of the patient, a psychiatric examination is prescribed.
Bandaging for skin burns
If the burning sensation is caused by a slight burn of the skin (only redness, no blisters), it can be managed with dexpanthenol sprays. Medicines quickly relieve symptoms, soothe the skin and promote healing. In case of severe burns, rashes or other symptoms, you should consult a doctor. For quick relief of burning sensations, experts prescribe gels and sprays with a soothing and cooling effect.
Therapy is determined by the underlying disease. Often, skin burning is caused by dermatological pathologies, for the elimination of which an integrated approach is practiced. With a mild course of the disease, local remedies are sufficient: lotions and wet-drying dressings for getting wet, ointments and fatty creams for peeling. Use drugs with antiseptics and antibiotics, topical steroids, antimycotics.
In case of allergic dermatoses, systemic detoxification therapy is prescribed: antihistamines, sedatives, methods of extracorporeal hemocorrection. For the treatment of common mycoses, antifungal drugs in tablets are recommended. Herpes zoster requires intravenous or oral acyclovir.
In a complex treatment scheme, physiotherapy methods are effective. To eliminate rashes, accelerate skin healing and stimulate immune defenses, laser therapy, magnetotherapy, and ozone therapy are prescribed. In the remission phase of chronic dermatoses, skin irradiation with ultraviolet radiation and mud therapy are used. With senestopathy, patients need the help of a psychiatrist.