Eczema Gone

by Niels_Olson

Eczema is a general term for many types of skin inflammation, also known as dermatitis. The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis (some people use these two terms interchangeably). However, there are many different forms of eczema.

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.

People with eczema often have a family history of the condition or a family history of other allergic conditions, such as asthma or hay fever. Eczema might look different in different persons, and may occur in different parts of the body to different person. In adults, eczema most often develops on the hands and elbows, and in “bending” areas such as the inside of the elbows and back of the knees. In young children, eczema most often develops on the elbows, knees, face, neck, and scalp.

Symptoms of eczema may include red, itchy skin and sores that ooze and crust over. One out of ten children develops eczema, but more than half of them lose it by the time they reach their teens. It is a chronic inflammation of skin categorized by scaly and itching rashes. Dermatitis is a common condition that isn’t life-threatening or contagious. But, it can make you feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. A combination of self-care steps and medications can help you treat dermatitis.

Causes of Eczema

In most cases there is a familial predisposition. Atopy ( allergic rhinitis , asthma and hay fever ) is the term doctors use to describe this predisposition. However, the environment plays a significant role as well (such as heat in the summer and dry winters). There are two types of eczema. Atopic eczema is thought to be a hereditary condition . People with atopic eczema are sensitive to allergens in the environment which are harmless to others. In atopic eczema there is an excessive reaction by the immune system. This type of eczema can worsen after eating certain foods or after being exposed to other allergens such as pollen or dust.

Treatment of Eczema

1. Avoid frequent use of soaps, hot water, and other cleansing procedures (especially if you have a dry skin type) that tend to remove natural oil from the skin.

2. Topical corticosteroids , reduce inflammation in the skin and are usually safe and very effective in curing eczema when used correctly. Mild corticosteroids are generally used for children and on the face and flexures, eg crease of the elbow, behind the knees etc.

3. A very common treatment for treating eczema involves – applying lotions, creams, or ointments to keep the skin as moist as possible.

Healing the skin and keeping it healthy are of primary importance as part of both preventing further damage and enhancing quality of life. Developing and sticking with a daily skin care routine is critical to preventing flares. Key factors are proper bathing and the application of lubricants, such as creams or ointments, within 3 minutes of bathing. People with atopic dermatitis should avoid hot or long (more than 10 to 15 minutes) baths and showers. A lukewarm bath helps to cleanse and moisturize the skin without drying it excessively. Because soaps can be drying to the skin, the doctor may recommend limited use of a mild bar soap or nonsoap cleanser. Bath oils are not usually helpful.

by Care_SMC

Eczema is very common skin disease found both in children and adults. It can affect various parts of our body, from legs, hands to the scalp. Eczema on the scalp or scalp eczema is very common form of eczema; since skin of the scalp is different from the skin anywhere else on the body. Because of this uniqueness, the skin of the scalp is easily vulnerable to eczema.

The gland present on the scalp, which is the sebaceous glands produce a large amount of grease and hair follicles are also present on the scalp. This is why skin present on scalp is different from anywhere else. The head is more exposed to other environmental factors like direst sunlight, heat and cold. So these environmental factors also make the scalp more vulnerable to eczema.

Eczema on the scalp is further categorized into environmental eczema and internal eczema. Environmental eczema is of three types, irritant contact eczema, allergic contact eczema and herpericum eczema. Internal eczema has many different types; atopic eczema, seborrhoeic eczema, nummular eczema, madidans eczema, ruburn eczema, pustulosum eczema and asteototic eczema.

Skin condition “Eczema on the scalp” is called as seborrhoeic dermatitis. This Eczema on the scalp is causes irritation and itching which results into oily, greasy scales of skin of scalp that eventually flake off. This leads to, what is called dandruff. Eczema on the scalp is commonly seen in adults aged 30-60 and it is common in men than women.

Symptoms of this eczema on the scalp are very prominent like itchy scalp, red and inflamed scalp, oily and yellowish scales that sometimes flake off and greasy skin patches on eyebrows and behind ears. Cause of this Eczema on the scalp are not certain, some dermatologists think that they might be related to hormonal imbalance. Another theory says that it could be caused by fungus.

There are many kinds of treatments that are available to treat Eczema on the scalp. Some treatments include anthralin, pyrithione, salicylic acid and corticosteroids. Other than mediation some form of treatments like eating fish oil, salads can help you in treatment against Eczema on the scalp.

Eating fish oil is recommended in treatment against the Eczema on the scalp. Omega 3 fish oil has effective healing effect on scalp eczema. But this treatment is very time consuming treatment and can take around 6 months to show sign of improvement. But advantage of this omega 3 fish oil supplements is that they are inexpensive and you can easily get them. Essential fatty acids present in fish oil help to cure Eczema on the scalp. These fatty acids are used by body to breakdown certain enzymes and particles.

Having lots of salads would also help in treatment against Eczema on the scalp. Green vegetables contain some ingredients, which are excellent for your skin. You can even include alfalfa sprouts in salsa the main advantage of them are that they are antioxidant. This will get rid of harmful bacteria and microbes, which cause irritation and discomfort.

Eczema is a term for several different types of skin swelling. Eczema is also called dermatitis. It is not dangerous, but most types cause red, swollen and itchy skin. Factors that can cause eczema include other diseases, irritating substances, allergies and your genetic makeup. Eczema is not contagious.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms?

Signs and symptoms of eczema can vary widely during the early phases. Between 2 and 6 months of age (and almost always before the age of 5 years), children with eczema usually develop itchy, dry, red skin and small bumps on their cheeks, forehead, or scalp.

While any region of the body may be affected by eczema, in children and adults, eczema typically occurs on the face, neck, and the insides of the elbows, knees, and ankles. In infants, eczema typically occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck.

Contact eczema usually affects adults. It’s caused by contact with an allergen, such as nickel, or substances that irritate the skin, such as detergents, soaps and perfumes.

Eczema Causes

Contact with the external trigger (allergen) causes the skin to become inflamed. The duration of the contact is not important. Eczema can develop on first contact (in days to weeks) or over time with repeated contact (in months to years).

Genetic defect in the epidermal barrier that makes the skin susceptible to breakdown by irritants such as detergents and dust mites. which may allow increased penetration of antigens.

Triggers for eczema can include skin irritants, such as chemicals, emotional stress, allergies, for example, to food and airborne allergens; and extreme changes in temperature. Paint thinners and pesticides, alcohol-containing products, astringents, and fragrances are chemicals that can trigger eczema in some individuals. Although paint thinners and pesticides can be avoided fairly easily, it is harder to avoid alcohol, astringents, and fragrances, which are ingredients in most cosmetics and household cleaners.

Diagnosis of Eczema

Eczema diagnosis is generally based on the appearance of inflamed, itchy skin in eczema sensitive areas such as face, chest and other skin crease areas. For evaluation of the eczema, a scoring system can be used (for example, SCORAD, a scoring system for atopic dermatitis).

Given the many possible reasons for eczema flare-ups, a doctor is likely to ascertain a number of other things before making a judgment:

An insight to family history

Dietary habits

Treatment of Eczema

Moisturizers help keep your skin soft and flexible. They prevent skin cracks. A plain moisturizer is best. Avoid moisturizers with fragrances (perfume) and a lot of extra ingredients. A good, cheap moisturizer is plain petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline). Use moisturizers that are more greasy than creamy, because creams usually have more preservatives in them.

Oral medications (by mouth) are sometimes helpful.

In rare cases, a doctor might recommend ultraviolet light treatments (putting skin under special lights).

Discourage your child from scratching her skin.

Dry skin often makes the condition worse. When washing or bathing, keep water contact as brief as possible and use less soap than usual. After bathing, it is important to trap the moisture in the skin by applying lubricating cream on the skin while it is damp.