Eczema historical perspective

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1], Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Edzel Lorraine Co, D.M.D., M.D.

Overview

Over the years, dermatological conditions have become manifested in individuals. It was in the earlier part of the 20th century when the term atopic dermatitis was coined. The evolution of concepts from the standpoint of historical perspectives was observed, wherein significant insights as to the nature of the disease were derived.

Historical Perspective

• Over the years, dermatological conditions have become manifested in individuals.
• It was in the earlier part of the 20th century when the term atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema was coined.
• The evolution of concepts from the standpoint of historical perspectives was observed, wherein significant insights as to the nature of the disease were derived.

• Listed below is a summary of the evolution of eczema through the ages.

Table 1. History of Eczema Through the Ages.

Period	Highlights	Treatment
Ancient History	Ebers Papyrus (1500 BCE) This is the earliest medical document about dermatology that was compiled in Egypt.	Wind-heat or damp-heat were used to treat eczema Nai hsien, tai lien chung, and Hsin-san-miao-san are herbal remedies for infantile eczema that was known to have anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effects.
	Hippocrates (400 BCE) He explained the importance of skin manifestations in the identification of internal humoral medical conditions.
	Celsus (AD) He is a Roman physician who described the existence of a dermatological condition as a: " certain degree of hardness of the skin with pustules, some humid and some dry "
	Suetonius (AD) atopic syndrome found in Emperor Augustus was described in The Twelve Caesars
	Avicenna (980-1037 CE) He described the association of skin dryness and bathing
Premodern Era	Girolamo Mercurialis (1572) He is an Italian physician who wrote the very first dermatological text De morbis cutaneis which pertained to an oozing and pruritic condition on infant's head.
Twentieth Century and Beyond