Eczema:
Getting the facts
People from all
walks of life and all ages live with eczema; however,
it typically appears in infants. Also called contact
dermatitis, eczema is actually a group of skin conditions.
Although it may sometimes look like a contagious condition,
eczema is not contagious.
Symptoms related to eczema depend on the causes and
severity of the form of eczema. A person with mild eczema
has dry, hot, and itchy skin. Severe eczema causes the
skin to crack, bleed, and often takes a long time to
heal. Inflammation in the area is common depending on
the type of eczema.
Type of eczema
More information
Atopic eczema
- Most common form of eczema; affects children and adults.Symptoms
include:
- extreme itchiness
- dryness of the skin
- redness
- inflammation
Irritant contact dermatitis
- Occurs when skin becomes irritated by detergents and
other chemicals (e.g. perfumes, soaps, bubble bath powder
and more).
Varicose eczema
- Affects skin on the lower legs and is caused by poor
circulation of blood.
Allergic contact dermatitis
- Body's immune system attacks a substance in the skin.
- Symptoms are similar to those listed for atopic eczema.
Infantile seborrhoeic eczema
- Found on infants under one year old.
- Often looks unpleasant but does not affect the infant's
comfort and may appear on the scalp or bottom.
Discoid eczema
- Typically associated with adults.
- Found on upper body and lower legs.
Dealing with eczema
In order to deal with eczema, you need to figure out
what type of eczema you have. A doctor can help a person
living with eczema or someone caring for a child with
eczema manage the condition.
Diagnosis of eczema is not simple. A doctor must look
at the person's medical history, when they first recognized
the condition and what triggers the condition. Some
people with atopic dermatitis have allergies and may
need allergy testing, especially if treatment with medication
is not working.
Reducing the number and frequency of outbreaks is the
goal of any eczema treatment. To reach this goal, a
person living with eczema may need to:
- make certain lifestyle changes (e.g. avoid certain
irritating products)
- use medication to control the outbreaks
- kidneys
- follow a regular skin care routine
Lifestyle changes are often useful in reducing and
preventing the symptoms of eczema. However, some of
these lifestyle changes work for some people and not
others. Some changes to consider include:
- wearing cotton clothing and using cotton bedding
to reduce the itchiness associated with the condition.
Synthetic fibres don't allow the skin to breathe and
wool can irritate the skin.
- using biological laundry detergents, also avoid using
fabric softeners. Synthetic laundry detergents, and
fabric softeners may increase itchiness and cause a
person to scratch more often. As a result, not using
them may help reduce the skin's itchiness.
- vacuuming, dusting, and changing bedding regularly.
This is extremely important because it reduces the number
of house dust mites and the droppings from dust mites
that are found in bedding, mattresses, curtains, and
carpets.
- possible changes to the foods you eat. Even though
the link between diet and eczema is not conclusive,
making changes to certain foods consumed in some severe
cases of eczema, especially in babies and young children
seems beneficial. Always ask your doctor before making
dietary changes to ensure the foods eaten will include
all necessary nutrients for growth and development.
Common treatments for people with eczema require moisturization
of the skin and use of medications, if necessary. Treatment
is usually based on a person's age, health, medical
history as well as the type and severity of eczema.
Possible treatments consist of:
- lotions and creams: These products are applied directly
on the skin to keep in as much moisture as possible.
Using organic lotions and creams may be a good alternative
to non-organic moisturizers since the non-organic moisturizers
contain synthetic chemicals that may cause an outbreak.
Moisturizing the skin after showering helps lock in
moisture.
- medications such as topical steroids, oral steroids,
and topical immunomodulators: Prescription and non-prescription
corticosteroids come in the form of creams and ointments
that can be applied to the skin. Prescription corticosteroids
are more potent than non-prescription ointments but
both have potential side effects, especially if used
for long periods of time. Oral steroids are usually
prescribed for severe outbreaks. Topical immunomodulators
do not contain steroids and are available by prescription
to treat atopic eczema.
Other tips that may help people with eczema improve
the skin's condition include:
- keeping nails short
- avoiding sudden changes in temperatures (e.g. going
from cold environments to hot environments)
- relaxing to reduce stress
References:
- www.skincarephysicians.com/eczemanet/whatis.aspl
- www.eczema.org
- www.skincarephysicians.com/eczemanet/treatment.aspl
- www.skincarephysicians.com/eczemanet/preventing.aspl
About the Author
Lori Stryker has been researching and developing all
natural skin care and make-up for the purpose of offering
men and women safe, natural cosmetics for everyday use.
She brings to her research a specialist in human biology
from the University of Toronto, coupled with a professional
home economics degree and an education degree from the
University of British Columbia, fusing chemical and
biological knowledge with food, family and textile sciences.
|
