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:
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.
You may use this
article but any modification or publication of this
article for fiancial gain must be approved of by the
author. The author's name, Lori Stryker and her
company's name, The Organic Make-up Company, needs to by
noted when used.
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