Synergie of internal/external products for the treatment of summer dermatitis in horses by ESC Laboratory

Summer dermatitis can be extremely disabling and difficult for the affected horse. There are dermatitis treatments that help relieve the horse and limit itching and the loss of the associated crins.
We offer in this article a natural treatment, synergy of external care as well as internal care. (plant mix)

Summer dermit: definition and causes

The DERE, or Dermatitis Estivale Recidivant of Equids, better known as dermit, is a common skin condition in horses. It is due to a hypersensitivity of certain equidae to allergens in the saliva of flies of a gender Culicoids. The culicoid females sting the horse with their blood. The prevalence (number of equidae with the disease compared to the total number of equidae) is 1 in 10 horses in France.

This hypersensitivity causes very strong itching in specific areas of the body. The pruritus appears in spring and disappears spontaneously in autumn. As its name indicates, DERE is a disease repeater, which means that once it appears, it will reappear every year and worsen a little more each time. All equidae can develop this hypersensitivity at any age. This skin pathology appears to have a hereditary character. There is usually an attack by lines.

The main observable symptoms are: lesion related to itching sometimes very intense. These lesions occur in the form of wounds, pimples, diffuse redthemes, irregular alopecia or squams. Some areas are particularly affected: mane and tail in particular. The crins, but also the hair, will be broken, or ripped. In recidivism-prone horses, lesions are marked with lichenification and skin hyperkeratosis, a tail called "rattail", weight loss and frequent bacterial overinfections. However, this pathology is neither contagious nor infectious.

Diagnosis and treatment of DERE

The diagnosis is essentially Clinical. In front of a very marked pruritus followed by the appearance of such scratching lesions one will usually lean for the summer dermatitis but one must nevertheless be vigilant and not to confuse with scabies, lice, moth or even urticaria related to a cause allergy any other... The onset season as well as possible family history can also direct the diagnosis to DERE.

The itching causes lesions that are quite unsightly and can even cause a permanent discomfort even prevent the horse from being mounted. As a result, it is important to diagnose this disease in order to relieve the horse as best as possible.there is no effective curative treatment on the cause.

Thus, the purpose of the treatment against summer dermatitis is primarily the removal of insects from the skin of the horse, the control of secondary infections, the restoration of skin integrity and the control of pruritus. Many measures can be taken to improve the comfort of the horse and to reduce or even avoid the appearance of lesions.

This dermite treatment is based primarily on the use of emollient, calming and also antiseptic shampoos. Our antibacterial shampoo, enriched with cade essential oil, helps to remove parasites from the horse's epidermis and calm itching. It is suitable for frequent use and is not irritating.

In a second stage, in case of bacterial disease of the epidermis, you can apply an external gel with dermo-caustic properties. At ESC Laboratory, we created Bacticade, a complex formula that combines the benefits of the aloe vera with the recognized antibacterial and antifungal properties of 3 essential oils (cade, thyme and eucalyptus). Indeed, once removed from its impurities, the epidermis is regenerated thanks to the softening properties of the vera aloe very rich in vitamin B, folic acid, vitamin C and carotene. In order to strengthen the restorative action of the aloe vera, Bacticade also contains vegetable oils (grape oil, macadamia oil) and an oily macerate of calendula that will accelerate the cell regeneration of the epidermis. This gel helps treat skin allergies such as summer dermatitis and soothe itching.

(If the horse has already scratched heavily and you see lesions you can also use our new healing cream. )

To strengthen the action of these external care products, it is possible to associate them with an enriched phytonutrient supplement: Dermaphyt +. Dermaphyt +, developed from a mixture of plants, sea algae and enriched with minerals and trace elements, helps to treat parasitic infections of the epidermis and reduce itching.

On the other hand, the best weapon against the summer dermatitis remaining the prevention of bites, we advise you to use Fly neutral, our natural repellent against insects existing in spray or gel. Its very complete formula includes a mixture of 9 very fragrant essential oils that neutralize the odours attracting insects, making this product very effective. Of the 9 essential oils, 3 are particularly renowned for their repellent properties:

• The essential oil of garlic, which is commonly used in market gardening and arboriculture due to its wide range of action
• The essential cade oil comes from the cade wood that has been used for a very long time to remove insects. Its many other properties (anti-allergic, anti-fungal, disinfectants...) make cade essential oil an ingredient frequently used in dermatological products
• The essential oil of lemonella owes its effectiveness to its content of lemonellal and geraniol, two molecules which act naturally against mosquitoes. It disrupts the nervous system of insects who prefer to move away.

There are also Summer blankets (to be associated with a insect mask protect the eyes and ears) which allow to protect the horse as much as possible when it is outside. For maximum effect, the shirt can be impregnated with the repellent lotion Fly neutral. 

In order to complete the action of Fly Neutral, you can also add to the ration of your horse'sgarlic, which has a natural repellent effect against insects. In addition, garlic is recommended to strengthen the respiratory system and blood circulation. You can use pure plant or mixture in Garlic Mix. This mixture of dehydrated plants (garlic, artichoke, nettles) that contribute to the well-being and vitality of the horse. Garlic Mix promotes immune defenses and helps activate depurative and diuretic functions.

Finally, you can moisturize the contours or areas of the skin of your horse where lesions have appeared with fatty products like our vegetable vaseline, a 100% natural treatment that combines the moisturizing and emollient properties of 3 vegetable oils combined with the protective virtues of shea butter and bee wax. In fact, fatty ointments create a protective barrier between the insect's mouth and the horse's skin and can prevent the insect from stinging. In addition, this plant care nourishes the skin deeply and soothes irritations.

Note : All products must be used with care and the method of use must be followed. The skin of a horse with a summer dermatitis is often very sensitive and some horses are extremely reactive. Even natural-based products can cause significant irritation.

Source : Thesis "Common Cutaneous Pathologies in Horses and Compendial Therapeutics" by Mathilde Saumont