Eczema Gone

by kadavoor

Eczema is basically a skin disease typical to youth, but Eczema may occur to the people at any age. Eczema is a specific type of allergic cutaneous manifestation of antigen-antibody reaction. It is characterized by superficial inflammatory oedema of the epidermis associated with vesicle formation. Eczema is characterized by itching, scaling and burning of the skin.

Although eczema can sometimes look unpleasant, it is not contagious. With treatment the inflammation of eczema can be reduced. However, the skin will always be sensitive to flare-ups and need extra care.The term ‘Eczema’ is a Greek word (Ee means out, and Zeo means boil). The whole word implies ‘boil out’. The Hindustani name for eczema is Chambal.

Types of Eczema (Dermatitis)

Allergic contact eczema (dermatitis): a red, itchy, weepy reaction where the skin has come into contact with a substance that the immune system recognizes as foreign, such as poison ivy or certain preservatives in creams and lotions

Contact eczema: a localized reaction that includes redness, itching, and burning where the skin has come into contact with an allergen (an allergy-causing substance) or with an irritant such as an acid, a cleaning agent, or other chemical

Dyshidrotic eczema: irritation of the skin on the palms of hands and soles of the feet characterized by clear, deep blisters that itch and burn

Neurodermatitis: scaly patches of the skin on the head, lower legs, wrists, or forearms caused by a localized itch (such as an insect bite) that become intensely irritated when scratched

Nummular eczema: coin-shaped patches of irritated skin-most common on the arms, back, buttocks, and lower legs-that may be crusted, scaling, and extremely itchy

Causes of Eczema

The cause of the Eczema is unknown. Exciting causes are varied, viz., chemicals, plants, clothing, cosmetics, medicaments, infections, drugs, diet, focal sepsis etc. This is caused by direct contact between the skin and the substance, which might be adetergent, soap, diesel or engine oil, strong chemical, cleaner, etc. Eczema can also be caused by contact with substances that the body has become allergic to, called allergic contact dermatitis. This type commonly involves nickel, poison ivy, cosmetics, and rubber products. Infantile eczema often affects young babies, and is caused by moisture from drool or inflammation of the scalp (cradle cap).

Treatment of Eczema

Following are the treatments for a eczema patient:

1. Use of creams, ointments and shower and bath oils which help to replenish the skin’s natural protective oils.

2. Cream or ointment containing a steroid (topical steroid)as prescribed by doctor. These are very effective at reducing inflammation and itch.

3. In moderate to severe atopic eczema, where topical steroid treatment has not worked, your doctor may prescribe a new type of treatment to be applied to the skin (topical treatment). The preparations are made from a type of drug known as immunomodulators (calcineurin inhibitors, eg tacrolimus and pimecrolimus)

4. Antihistamines taken by mouth may be helpful in reducing the itch. Your doctor will advise.

5. If the skin becomes obviously infected, which is more likely as its normal protective surface has been damaged, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics .

6. There are a number of older fashioned remedies which are still effective and may be suggested by your doctor or specialist. For example tars, menthol.

More Eczema Articles

by MadPole

Eczema is a serious yet extremely commonplace dermal problem from which around 15 million US citizens suffer. Those that suffer from eczema have to spend day after day with unbearable intense itching and irritation. Before we get in to details about eczema cures and eczema treatment we should properly know what eczema is and how it is caused.

There are two commonest sorts of eczema the atopic or hereditary eczema and the contact dermatitis eczema. There are other types of eczema like Xerotic eczema caused by harsh dry skin, seborrhoeic rash due to unwarranted dandruff, dyshidrosis, discoid eczema, venous eczema, rash herpetiformis, neurodermatitis and autoeczematization which are rather uncommon.

Our immune mechanism reacts to certain things know as ‘triggers’ which in turn sets off our allergy. Due to this allergy we experience swelling and the serious wish to itch. On scratching the affected area, we develop the rash we know as eczema. In contrast to general belief, eczema is not at all transmittable.

People afflicted with eczema experience a selection of symptoms from skin which is red, flaky, irritated and itchy to peel with blisters or vesicles that weep and crust. Infants have a tendency to have eczema on the scalp, face, elbow creases, knee creases, arms, legs, and diaper area. Children and adults can also frequently have eczema on the guts of the elbows, backs of knees, arms, legs, wrists, neck, and hands. But eczema isn’t restricted to these parts only since each part is susceptible to this allergic skin disorder.

Eczema treatment aims to seriously reduce swelling, minimize inflammation and moisturize dry skin areas. Steroid creams and balms which have hydrocortisone and desonide in them are one of the most generally used eczema cures when it is in the opening stage. More powerful steroid creams need to be utilized for more forceful cases. White blood cells give off histamines when a person’s system picks up an allergy. Since eczema is caused due to allergen, it leads to an abnormal development of histamines. These cause the inflammation, rosiness and itching that is observable with eczema sufferers. To relieve the patient’s inflammation, orally taken antihistamine can be employed.

As eczema is a lingering disease, using steroids for lengthy periods is not advisable as it can end up in epidermal discoloration, thinning and even frailness. There are lots of natural cures for eczema treatment which one can try. Using natural oils like olive, coconut or plant oil is a useful way of moisturizing eczema hands. Moisturized skin will prevent further itching and irritation which is due to dryness. Starch baths too help in relieving itching. A healthy diet with lots of water can also forestall the growth of eczema. Often food allergies trigger the start of eczema. Once the food item which causes the allergy is noticed it should right away be removed from the dishes.

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.

More Eczema Articles