What general treatment measures are used to treat patients with exfoliative dermatitis? - Treat the underlying disorder, if known.
- Wet-to-dry dressings with desonide 0.05% ointment, a mild topical corticosteroid, reliably, significantly, and rapidly improves almost any case of exfoliative dermatitis.
- Problems arising from the erythema and exfoliation such as dehydration, high-output heart failure, and hypothermia must be treated empirically.
- Stop all nonessential drugs.
- Systemic corticosteroids can exacerbate psoriasis and should not be used unless the underlying disease is clearly steroid responsive.
- Phototherapy may be helpful in selected patients, particularly if psoriasis is suspected.
- Oral antibiotics should be used for secondary infections.
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