Eczema Gone

by maz.nu

Eczema is a genetic predisposition toward dry skin that manifests itself in extreme itchiness. This intense scratching in turn disturbs the fluid filled sacs within the infected area, causing oozing and further discomfort. The issue of dry skin is central here, as those with the eczema condition have skin that struggles to maintain a proper water content, becoming dry and open to infection. Dry skin, in large areas or smaller patches are the reasons that sufferers scratch, further worsening the situation.

Being a genetic disorder, sadly there is no cure (yet) for eczema, but there are various remedies that can help manage and limit the condition, and may even bring relief to those with it.

Tackling the issue of dry skin is the first issue. Hydrating the skin is of paramount importance. Using a moisturiser (twice daily at the very least) as part of your daily routine is a must if you are to manage the condition in your life.

Other methods of helping the epidermis re-hydrate are bathing in lukewarm water.

Hot water is no good, and a luke-warm temperature will help the skin absorb lost moisture. Do not use scented products or bubble baths. When drying, pat dry rather than scrubbing abrasively with a towel.

Sweat is an irritant to the epidermal layer so if you or your child is involved in a sport that makes you sweat, be sure to bath or shower after,

An assessment of your clothing is necessary. Abrasive products such as wool and harsh synthetic materials are best avoided due to their scratching of the skin (this goes for bed clothes as well)

Try to ascertain any food triggers that might exist in your diet. This is easier said than done, but could be worth the effort. Try to eliminate, in turn, and for a fortnight each, all of the following wheat products, dairy, eggs, soy products and of course peanuts. Thees are the most common allergy causing products, and and linking them to your personal circumstances is a well worthwhile exercise.

In children, keep their fingernails cut short in odder to stop abrasive itching, and if looking to use medication to help with the itching, look for Benadryl (diphenhydramine), which can cause drowsiness or Zyrtec if you are looking for a non-drowsy causing solution.

Creams containing the steroid cortisone are more effective than those mentioned above in the treatment of itchiness. They come in varying strengths, from the mild to the strong (which are not recommended for children. There are side effects from these, but if used under constant vigilance, then they can be managed well and effectively. Always look to reduce the dose or strength of the cream once you see that the worst of the condition has passed. Moving back through the various strengths of steroid creams will lessen the chance of side effects.

Remember, the condition will improve as a child grows older, and if one treatment does not work, approach your healthcare provider for another solution.

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by maz.nu

You get that bump on your itchy skin and begin to think of what it could be. Then you further inquire of yourself what you have eaten that could have triggered it or if your skin has touched a possible irritant. Even though the facts are pointing to a generalized allergic reaction, what you have is actually a more specific skin reaction named eczema. A lot of people have eczema but are not knowledgeable of it, only because they don’t know the specific details of the symptoms when you have eczema.

Eczema is an “umbrella term” for several medical conditions that cause skin irritation or inflammation of the skin’s outermost layer – the epidermis. In any such instance where the skin’s epidermal layer becomes irritated or inflamed, then it is properly referred to as eczema. Dermatitis is another term that people and health professionals often interchange with eczema because there’s not really much difference to them. Dermatitis is a general term that refers to skin inflammation while eczema is a form of dermatitis which affects the epidermis. Since eczema is basically a type of dermatitis, these two terms can be used in place of each other and all types of eczema can be considered as types of dermatitis too.

Four main types of eczema affect people. One is dermatitis atopica which is the common infantile eczema. This is the most common kind of eczema which affects up to 30% of Americans. It is called infantile eczema because its symptoms primarily appear during infancy and childhood. The three other prevalent types of eczema are contact dermatitis (otherwise known as allergic eczema), xerotic eczema or the “winter itch,” and seborrhoeic dermatitis (also called sebaceous dermatitis as it affects the sebaceous glands of the skin).

Apart from the top four main types of eczema, there are also those types that are less prevalent and common. These are dyshidrosis eczema, discoid eczema, venous eczema, dermatitis herpetiformis, neurodermatitis, and autoeczematization.

In eczema, there is usually the presence of even a single itchy bump on the skin. But not all eleven types of eczema share the same symptoms. The rashes that appear depend on what type of eczema a person has. Age is a factor that can decide how an eczema rash appears.

* People that suffer from infantile eczema will most likely see the typical itching red bumps characteristic of eczema. The same kind of eczema on babies and children does not have similar symptoms in adults and instead looks like red patches of dry skin that may flake and ooze.

* Those that have contact dermatitis usually manifest more severe symptoms compared to dermatitis atopica with the presence of large red blotches on the skin that are burning, painful, and itchy.

* The eczema symptoms of a winter itch can be likened to infantile eczema. That is because the rashes associated with this type of eczema are either dry and scaly or red and bumpy. The adult population is more likely to develop dry itching skin which could crack and scale. Meanwhile, it is the elderly who might find red bumps on the skin that look like pimples – itchy pimples.

* Sebaceous dermatitis is like dermatitis atopica and the winter itch in terms of eczema symptoms. It usually presents with red itchy sores. The only difference between sebaceous dermatitis and these two eczema types in terms of symptoms is that it shows up in the scalp. This is why people afflicted by this have itchy scalps.

* Eczema dyshidrotic produces the unique symptom of red itchy blisters on the feet and hands, which causes the fingertips and foot skin to peel. Dermatitis herpetiformis also has the same symptoms, appearing in areas other than the hands and feet. The red itchy sores associated with dermatitis herpetiformis are also extremely itchy.

* Discoid eczema can easily be identified by these red itchy dots that are characteristically round or oval in shape. If you see an itchy bump on your skin which has a clear round or oval border and turns into a whole group of itchy bumps, then you might have discoid eczema.

* At its worst, venous eczema appear as red itchy sores that are open. Initially though, these start as simple red skin spots.

* The symptom for neurodermatitis is reddish brown spots on the skin.

* Autoeczematization or atrophic dermatitis is a severe form of dermatitis atopica where symptoms are widespread so there is more than one itchy bump on the skin.

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