Eczema Gone

by PhylB

Article by Kim Archer

It’s all too common for people to pay attention to rumor when it comes to eczema and then believe the worst. Everyone has their own stories and their own experiences but educating yourself can go a long way in eliminating some of those concerns and fears you might have regarding this skin condition. Here are some key facts about eczema.

To start with, eczema is a term used for an assortment of skin ailments. The commonest kinds of eczema are atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis (which explains the reason why the terms eczema and dermatitis are frequently used interchangeably). Contact dermatitis is triggered when your skin is exposed to some form of irritant. Atopic dermatitis is believed to have a hereditary nature. It can be mild or it can be persistent. It is most common in babies and children yet it can sometimes show itself in adulthood.

If you’ve ever been told that eczema is not unlike acne then it is time to clear the air – it most definitely is not. Acne and eczema are both skin conditions but are quite different in their characteristics. There are medications, though, that can result in acne and subsequently worsen an existing case of eczema. If you are afflicted with acne and eczema it’s always essential to work directly with your physician to seek out pharmaceutical drugs that won’t exacerbate either of your skin ailments.

Perhaps you have thought that eczema is a disorder that is triggered by emotional issues? This was once the theory accepted by medical experts. It is now known that eczema isn’t caused by emotions, but excessive stress can cause aggravation of the symptoms. That’s why it is advisable that those who are afflicted with eczema learn some effective means to relax and settle themselves in order to prevent outbreaks.

Are you concerned that eczema could be contagious? Did you get it from another person and can you pass it on to someone else? That is absolutely not the case. Eczema simply isn’t infectious at all. Rather it is related to heredity, allergic hypersensitivity and environmental irritants.

It is thought by some that because eczema is a disease which affects the skin it will therefore leave lasting scars. Most of the time this is not the case. Eczema can be unpleasant, uncomfortable and rather unsightly, but it is not likely to leave you scarred permanently. But it’s essential to be aware that some kinds of conventional treatment (such as prolonged use of corticosteroids) can potentially bring about discoloration and thinning of the skin and striae, which are shiny white stretch marks. At all times make sure you understand the potential negative effects of any course of treatment for eczema before you undergo it.

At this point in time there is no cure for eczema, yet there is a number of forms of treatment that are able to enable you to control it to the point where it will not get in the way of your way of life. Consult your physician about the options.

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Irritant Contact Dermatitis and Hand Eczema (Dermatology Atlas)

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by Jeff the Trojan

Aside from the general definition of eczema which is the inflammation of the first layer of the skin, the epidermis, it also has specific types and divided into sub categories or types of eczema. This article provides you with the most common and less occurring classes of eczema.

Most common:

*Atopic eczema. This type of eczema is theorized to be a hereditary disease common among infants. It is believed to be an allergic reaction and goes along with asthma. The redness appears in the butt, cheeks, knees, and elbows.

*Contact dermatitis. This one among the types of eczema is classified in to two classes, the allergic and the irritant type. The allergic type is caused by allergens such as dust mites while the irritant type is caused by a reaction to chemicals like detergents.

*Xerotic eczema. This condition is more of a kind that developed from having dry skin and aggravated by exposure to extremes of temperatures. The skin can be observed as a scaly, flaky and over dried skin that resembles a drought torn land.

Less common types

*Dishydrosis eczema. Vesicles or bumps with cracks and thickening that overly itch in the night are commonly found in the hands, palm of the hands, sides of the fingers and in the fingers.
Discoid eczema. A disc shaped pustule found in the knees, elbows and in the trunk is the manifestation of this skin disease. Like all the other types of eczema, it is also a very itchy type with scaling and bleeding.

*Varicose eczema. Red blisters and patches appear around the varicose veins which make a diseased appearance of the affected part. The affected parts are usually the lower legs and this eczema is common among obese people.

These are the types of eczema that vary in characteristics but can be very disturbing, unpleasant to the eyes and may complicate if not treated right away.

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by stosturms

Eczema is a kind of dermatitis, that occurs in any piece of the body covered by skin. However it most frequently happens in the hands, legs and scalp. There are lots of sebaceous glands secreting sebum which grease the scalp. And along with that many people apply oil to the hair and the follicles themselves secrete fluids. All these factors make scalp eczema one of the most typical skin diseases. The scalp is also the most susceptible part because of its actual exposure to direct sunlight, rain, humid temperature etc.

The scalp eczema belongs to a type called Seborrhoeic dermatitis and is strongly related to dandruff. It is distinguished by high degrees of irritation and itching and ill-defined dry pink coloured patches with yellowish or white bran like scalp. It spreads over the entire scalp and also causes a flaking of the scalp and a peeling of the eyebrows, forehead and sides of the nose too. These regions which are susceptible to eczema are together known as the T-zone of the face. There is another heavy kind of eczema that occurs as a yellow crust in the scalp of newly born infants called cradle cap. This is because of a deficiency of Vitamin H and is easily curable. Though scalp eczema occurs in both males and females, it is commoner in males than females.

Scalp eczema is split into environmental eczema and internal eczema. Irritant and allergic contact eczema, herpericum eczema are kinds of environmental eczema whereas atopic, seborrhoeic, nummular, asteototic are types of internal eczema. Hormonal imbalance is the oft quoted reason for eczema. That is the reason why teens suffer with a lot from eczema. But, some people feel that it is caused by a fungus, which is contrary to what researches suggest.

Common medical drugs which are prescribed by paramedics for curing eczema in the scalp are anthralin, pyrithione, adrenal cortico steroids and salicylic acids. While getting treatment for eczema, it is extremely important to constrain oneself to a strict diet by avoiding irritant and allergic food stuffs. Intake of large amounts of water together with natural, raw foodstuff like raw- vegetable salads and fruits prove a handful in curing eczema. Green plants, sprouts and fruits contain plenty of fiber and generate anti-oxidating agents which get rid of the harmful germs that exacerbate irritation. You can gradually feel the subsidence of the irritation on switching to natural food.

The omega-3 trans-acids present in fish oil help in disintegrating the enzymes that cause eczema and therefore included in all prescriptions for curing eczema. Fish oil can be consumed by immediately consuming fish or through pills. While cooking fish, it is very important to chop out the spices and use meagre amounts of oil. Because fish oil tablets are cheap, it’s a commonly prescribed treatment for scalp eczema.

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by PhylB

Eczema is a very common condition, and it affects all races and ages, including young infants. About 1-2 percent of adults have eczema, and as many as 20 percent of children are affected. It usually begins early in life, even before asthma or hay fever. Most affected individuals have their first episode before age 5 years.

The term eczema refers to a number of different skin conditions in which the skin is red and irritated and occasionally results in small, fluid-filled bumps that become moist and ooze. The most common cause of eczema is atopic dermatitis, sometimes called infantile eczema although it occurs in infants and older children. Eczema is term for a group of medical conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed or irritated.

The most common type of eczema is known as atopic dermatitis, or atopic eczema. Atopic refers to a group of diseases with an often inherited tendency to develop other allergic conditions, such as asthma and hay fever.

Causes

The exact cause of eczema is unknown, but it’s thought to be linked to an overactive response by the body’s immune system to a bacterium that normally lives on the skin or an irritant.

In addition, eczema is commonly found in families with a history of other allergies or asthma.

Some people may suffer “flare-ups” of the itchy rash in response to certain substances or conditions. For some, coming into contact with rough or coarse materials may cause the skin to become itchy. For others, feeling too hot or too cold, exposure to certain household products like soap or detergent, or coming into contact with animal dander may cause an outbreak. Upper respiratory infections or colds may also be triggers. Stress may cause the condition to worsen.

Although there is no cure, most people can effectively manage their disease with medical treatment and by avoiding irritants. The condition is not contagious and can’t be spread from person to person.

Herbal Remedies for Eczema

Add 1 tsp camphor to 1 teaspoon sandalwood paste and apply on the affected eczema areas. Rub a nutmeg against a smooth stone slab with a little water and make a paste. Apply to affected eczema area.

Apply a teaspoon of sandalwood paste mixed with a teaspoon of camphor to the affected areas.

Boil 200 grams of mustard oil in an iron vessel. In the boiling oil add 50 grams of fresh clean leaves of neem. When the leaves turn black, stop heating, cool the oil and sieve it. Apply this oil 4 times a day. If applied for a year the problem will never occur again. This is good herbal remedy for eczema.

Rosemary: is an aromatic evergreen mint that grows to a height of about three feet (one meter). It bears narrow, thick, needle-like green leaves and pale blue to violet flowers. The leaves and the essential oil distilled form the leaves are used in herbal medicine.

Herbal remedies: for eczema can come from all over the world. Burdock root and the Chinese herb, bupleurum, both cause improvement in your skin. The liver herb, Milk Thistle, is a great help with eczema and liver related problems. Gout Kola, the Indian plant, usually applied as a salve on cracked or broken skin is also a good healer. The Rudolf Stiftung Hospital in Vienna, Austria uses these herbs as injections and salve to hasten the healing process.

Burdock: has long played an important role in Native American herbal medicine, and American herbalists have used the roots and seeds of this plant for centuries as well.

The most common traditional uses of this herb are as a “blood purifier” used to clear the bloodstream of toxins, as a diuretic to promote the excretion of urine, and as a topical remedy to relieve skin problems.

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