How to distinguish lichen from allergies? Photo, comparison table
Content
- What is lichen?
- What is allergy?
- How to distinguish between allergies and shingles?
Allergy symptoms can be easily confused with symptoms of other diseases. Rashes on the skin at the beginning of any pathology are often similar in color, shape and location. But the symptomatology of each of these diseases is not limited only to a skin rash, that is, there are still fundamental differences. How to distinguish lichen from allergies is the topic of today's article.
What is lichen?
Lichen is a skin infectious disease that belongs to the group of dermatoses. A whole list of skin pathologies that are of viral or fungal origin are simultaneously suitable for the diagnosis of lichen. At the same time, the mechanism of transmission of the infection is still unknown, that is, not all people who fall into the risk group for infection with this pathology fall ill with shingles. But it was found that the predisposing factors for the development of the disease are a decrease in the defenses of the immune system, stress situations, hereditary predisposition, psychoemotional and physical stress, hypothermia and frequent infectious diseases.
There are several forms of lichen:
- shearing;
- pityrious;
- shingles;
- scaly;
- pink.
Since there are several types of lichen and the causative agents of infection differ in this case, it is important to determine the diagnosis in individually, and, depending on the nature of the disease (fungal or viral), select the appropriate effective treatment. Most often, children are ill with deprivation.
Infection usually occurs from sick animals, usually ringworm, which is often found in cats and dogs that live outdoors. This disease is the result of a fungal infection. In adults, shingles or vesicular lichen is more often diagnosed, which develops as a result of the pathogenic activity of the herpes virus.
A rash with lichen looks like large spots that have a pink color, regular shape and strict borders. The rash is flaky and discolored. Foci of pathology usually appear in the abdomen, back, forearms and legs, less often in the genital area and on the scalp. The accompanying symptoms of lichen can be enlarged lymph nodes and hyperthermic syndrome. Lichen is cured quite easily and successfully, usually the course of treatment lasts no more than 2-3 weeks, provided that the disease has not turned into a neglected process.
What is allergy?
Allergy is currently considered the most common disease on Earth. According to the World Health Organization, every fifth inhabitant of the planet suffers from one or another allergic disease.
Allergy is a kind of protective reaction of the body, its individual sensitivity to certain substances - environmental factors. Allergens can be food, dust, drugs, and more. Most people react to these factors quite calmly, but a certain group of people develop an increased resistance to them.
Allergy symptoms are dryness and flushing of the skin, as well as rashes, swelling and severe itching. An allergic rash tends to move from one part of the body to another, combine into large spots, their borders have a vague indeterminate outline.
How to distinguish between allergies and shingles?
The disease can be recognized by the clinical manifestations that are characteristic of it. How to distinguish allergies from shingles based on their symptoms, consider in the following table.
| Symptoms | Lichen | Allergy |
|---|---|---|
| Skin rash | The spots on the skin have the correct shape and clear boundaries. Usually they are located at a sufficient distance from each other, or they are single. The rash is diagnosed strictly on certain areas of the body: the abdomen or back, shoulders, lower limbs, in the genital area or on the scalp. | The rash spreads over the body quickly and chaotically, and can appear anywhere on the body. The spots can grow in size and merge with each other. Their shape is not definite, the edges are blurred. Swelling of the skin is almost always noted. |
| Itching | Itching occurs only with ringworm and lichen planus. In other cases, it does not arise. | Allergic diseases almost always cause the development of excruciating itching, which can only be relieved by symptomatic treatment. |
| Increased body temperature | With shingles, body temperature almost always rises, which is associated with a general weakening of the immune system. | Hyperthermic syndrome in allergic diseases is extremely rare, mainly in childhood. |
| Swollen lymph nodes | The lymph nodes are enlarged. | The lymph nodes are usually calm. |
Another difference between these diseases is their DURATION. In most cases, the allergy disappears after taking an antihistamine or a short course of antiallergic drugs (of course, if we are talking about uncomplicated cases). The lichen treatment will be longer; a certain therapeutic course will take at least several weeks.
In any case, no matter what the disease looks like, it is better to consult with a specialist who can accurately recognize whether his patient has a lichen or an allergy. First of all, you need to consult a dermatologist, who, based on the examination, will prescribe the necessary laboratory tests or analyzes. If lichen is excluded and the disease is allergic, he will refer the patient to an allergist.
You should not resort to self-medication, especially if a child has the disease. The danger of allergic diseases is that in the absence of proper treatment, a banal urticaria or rash can over time develop into atopic dermatitis or eczema of a chronic nature, and treatment in this case will be much more difficult and longer.
