What is the difference between eczema and urticaria? I want to know the pathophysiology and most common causes to understand why they are different !
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I'm thinking the opposite. What do the two have in common? What leads you to ask this question and what research have you done to investigate it?– Carey Gregory ♦Nov 9, 2019 at 1:54
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I am studying medicine and I saw this 2 cutaneous anomalies so much which lead me to know more and exactly the mechanisms of them !– user16752Nov 9, 2019 at 5:33
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I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. I didn't mean what motivated you to ask the question; I meant what research have you done? What leads you to think these two things are connected? Doing some basic research before asking a question is a requirement here.– Carey Gregory ♦Nov 9, 2019 at 6:00
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1 Answer
Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, itchy skin condition that is very common in children but may occur at any age. It is also known as eczema and atopic eczema and was formerly known as Besnier prurigo. It is the most common form of dermatitis.
The pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis is complex and multifactorial, involving elements of barrier dysfunction, alterations in cell mediated immune responses, IgE mediated hypersensitivity, and environmental factors. Loss of function mutations in filaggrin have been implicated in severe atopic dermatitis due to a potential increase in trans-epidermal water loss, pH alterations, and dehydration. Other genetic changes have also been identified which may alter the skin's barrier function, resulting in an atopic dermatitis phenotype.
The causes of eczema are multifactorial, it relate to a breakdown in the barrier function of the skin, dehydration and an associated immune response and inflammation. For this reason, emollients and topical steroids are commonly used in its management.
Urticaria
Urticaria is characterised by weals (hives) or angioedema (swellings, in 10%) or both (in 40%). There are several types of urticaria. The name urticaria is derived from the common European stinging nettle Urtica dioica.
Urticaria is dermal edema resulting from vascular dilatation and leakage of fluid into the skin in response to molecules released from mast cells. The major preformed mediator histamine produces a prototypic, short-lived urticaria. However, the clinical spectrum and pattern of lesions indicate that other molecules, including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, cytokines, and chemokines, produced at different times after mast cell activation contribute to the polymorphism of this symptom and the variable evolution of this disease.
The Pathophysiology link goes into some detail about the different forms of urticaria, both immunological (e.g. allergy, infection, vaccination) and non-immunologcial (e.g. aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
The underlying issue is release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells. Histamine is one of the most common of these molecules, which is why antihistamine drugs are an effective treatment for urticaria.
In summary, eczema is localised to the skin, whereas urticaria represents the cutaneous manifestation of a more systemic process.
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