Posts Tagged ‘Scaly Patches’

Are Alternative Eczema Treatments Really Effective?

July 20th, 2010

Are Alternative Eczema Treatments Really Effective?

Anyone suffering from eczema will attest that not only the skin disease is a painful one, but it also very depressing. On cannot help but think about how other people react upon seeing those unsightly red, swollen and scaly patches on the skin. Because of this, those afflicted by the disease will try any available eczema treatment to help lessen the symptoms at all costs.

There is really no cure for eczema; however, there are many treatments available that help lessen the symptoms. Doctors often prescribe topical and oral treatments that will help in alleviating inflammation and itchiness, but these do not come without side effects. Some of them potentially include nausea, vomiting, hypertension, glaucoma, growth retardation and many others. With all these side effects in mind, someone with eczema cannot help but look at some of the alternative ways of treating eczema.

Herbal Medicines

There are hundreds of herbal medicines out there that claim to have beneficial effects to the symptoms of eczema. Basically, what they do is try to control the hyperactivity of a persons immune system, control inflammation and relieve itchiness. There are a variety of preparations and mode of applications for such herbal medicines. Some of them may be in the form of oils, lotions, soaps, infusions, teas and even pills.

Herbal treatments for eczema may include and may be derived from the following popular plants and plant parts:

- Aloe Vera gel
- Babul tree bark
- Burdock root
- Butea seeds
- Chamomile
- Linseed oil
- Madhuca leaves
- Oat straw
- Rosemary
- Walnut leaves
- Witch Hazel

Just bear in mind that herbal medicines are still medicines. Although they may not be potentially hazardous to your health, they may still cause side effects, no matter how minor they may be. Also, before trying out any herbal treatment, it is best to consult your doctor first. This is particularly important if you are currently on certain medications, as these natural remedies for eczema may interfere with the drugs.

Aromatherapy and Massage

Aromatherapy treatment for eczema may include massaging of the affected skin with essential oils that give off strong smell, this being derived from aromatic plants. Studies conducted among children have shown that massaging the eczematous skin with ordinary oil yielded the same positive results obtained using essential oils. In both cases, the children achieved relief from the symptoms, as well as improved their sleep.

It has been found out that stress plays a major role in the flaring up of eczema. That is why many doctors recommend anyone afflicted with the skin disease to relax, get rid of stress and have a positive outlook in life. This is where aromatherapy works: the scent of the essential oils used helps the person achieve relaxation better; hence, diminished flare ups.

Biofeedback

Although stress does not directly cause eczema, it does have an effect on flare ups, as discussed earlier. Some experts might use a device attached to the body of the person suffering from eczema which evaluates different body signals. These signals include muscular tonicity, heart and respiratory rates. The information the device gives is called biofeedback an eczema treatment which is helpful to many.

The goal of this method is to let you sense the changes going on in your body when you are stressed, and learn how to control them right away. With less stress, less flare ups are likely to occur.

No comments »

Posted in Eczema Treatment

Tags:

Eczema – Dermatitis Skin Rash Treatment

December 1st, 2009

Cashew, Anacardium Occidentale tree ... Cy ?i?u, ?o l?n h?t ...

Defining eczema and dermatitis

‘Eczema’ and ‘dermatitis’ have similar symptoms characterised by skin flare-up, in which the skin becomes itchy, red and dry. The underlying cause of this is an excessive reaction by the immune system which:

*Causes blood vessels to swell, leading to redness
* Irritates nerve endings, causing itchiness
* Makes skin cells ‘leak’, resulting in skin swelling and dryness.

The pain and agony of eczema and dermatitis are well known to many people. The search for relief can often end badly with moisturizers that don’t work or strong creams that burn the skin. Eczema and dermatitis are common conditions that are characterized by dry scaly patches of skin that can become raw, cracked, and bleed. Just to make things worse, the conditions regularly itch uncontrollably.

The visible symptoms of eczema and dermatitis often produce less visible side effects such as loss of confidence and low self-esteem. Those cursed with such skin conditions constantly search for ways to ease the symptoms of inflammation, which include plain, scaling, and unsightly appearance.

What does eczema look and feel like?

Although eczema may look different from person to person, it is most often characterized by dry, red, extremely itchy patches on the skin. Eczema is sometimes referred to as “the itch that rashes,” since the itch, when scratched, results in the appearance of the rash.

Eczema can occur on just about any part of the body; however, in infants, eczema typically occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. In children and adults, eczema typically occurs on the face, neck, and the insides of the elbows, knees, and ankles. In some people, eczema may “bubble up” and ooze. In others, the condition may appear more scaly, dry, and red. Chronic scratching causes the skin to take on a leathery texture because the skin thickens (lichenification).

Natural Biological Skin Care Cream for Eczema & Dermatitis

Often, people just assume that the chemical options, such as steroid creams, are the best treatment available for eczema and dermatitis. Pharmaceutical options like steroid creams often create problems in their side effects. Many people see adverse reactions to the creams, which they sadly find out only after their faces have negatively reacted to those topical creams. Common side effects of pharmaceutical creams include infections, allergic reactions, burning; those creams can even cause adrenal gland damage. Fortunately, people who suffer from eczema and dermatitis have an option to treat their skin problems with products that contain all-natural ingredients that won’t further damage their skin.

There is a new line of all natural skin care balms that can biologically relieve and treat dry skin, eczema, dermatitis, rashes, and even psoriasis. They use 100% all natural ingredients to heal skin conditions from the inside. The products are incredibly effective and leave skin fresh and moisturized. The best thing for consumers is that the products do not cause any side effects. From newborns to octogenarians, anyone can feel confident applying these products to raw, peeling skin. Now is the time to move away from harsh steroid creams and start using natural and nourishing balms.

The balms have all natural ingredients and most are well known for their healing properties and have been used for centuries. They include ingredients like Rose Hip Oil and others known for their healing content and Hyaluronic Acid which helps the skin to retain water. There is also a new serum that is collected from a species of garden snail, that is packed with glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans, co-enzymes, oligoelements and natural enzymes. The brown garden snail that contributes this serum uses it to regenerate its own skin which is similar to human skin. Rose Hip Oil contributes Vitamin A and fatty acids that work with the Hyaluronic Acid to create a moisturizer for deep tissues.

The ingredients in this all-natural line of healing skin care products work to dissolve damaged tissue and encourage regeneration of healthier skin. How does this work? The ingredients fuse with your cells, working from the inside out. It increases the moisture deep inside your skin, repairing the DNA damage already done, and protecting your skin from outside sources that cause new damage. The healing balms can rapidly improve the texture of your skin, making it smooth and revitalized.

No comments »

Posted in eczema causes

Tags:

The Types of Eczema and Some Recommendations That Should be Followed

September 29th, 2009

Moor Mud Souffle

Eczema is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder which cannot be cured, but can be controlled and for this you must make some lifestyle changes, and also, find an effective eczema treatment. You should remember that the treatment must start as soon as the first symptoms appear. It is important that you go to the dermatologist when you experience symptoms that could be signs eczema is present.

There are a few types of eczema. Allergic contact eczema appears because of some substances the immune system recognizes as being foreign. For example, the contact with poison ivy or certain preservatives in creams and lotions. This eczema shows a red, itchy, weepy reaction where the skin has come into contact with that foreign substance.

The contact eczema occurs as a result of the skin contact with an allergen or the skin contact with an irritant like an acid, a cleaning agent, or other chemical.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disease, and its manifestation is an itchy, inflamed skin.

In what concerns dyshidrotic eczema, this appears like an irritation of the skin on the palms of hands and soles of the feet and is represented by clear, deep blisters that itch and burn. Neurodermatitis deals with scaly patches of the skin on the head, lower legs, wrists, or forearms. These appear because of a localized itch that becomes very irritated when scratched. That itch can be caused by an insect bite for example.

We must also mention nummular eczema, which consists in coin-shaped patches of irritated skin that can be found usually on the arms, back, buttocks, and lower legs. These can be may be crusted, scaling, and extremely itchy.

Generally related to circulatory problems, stasis dermatitis shows as a skin irritation on the lower legs; seborrheic eczema consists in yellowish, oily, scaly patches of skin on the scalp and face, but there are cases when it appears in other parts of the body as well.

It is recommended to be followed a diet that eliminates all dairy and all bread except gluten and yeast free bread. Sugar and caffeine should be suppressed, or reduced because they can lower the level of vitamins and minerals that are important to the health of the skin. Also, it is good to use moisturizers when the skin feels dry.

Seems that Vitamin E increases the protection and lessens the damaging effects to skin, but there is needed more research in what concerns its benefits and strength.

For more resources about eczema skin symptoms or even about eczema treatment please review http://www.eczema-info-guide.com

No comments »

Posted in Eczema Treatment

Tags:

Infantile Serborrhoeic Eczema: An Overview

May 7th, 2009

S-M-A s-26: Pictures of the cans

Your baby may be having a case of infantile seborrhoeic eczema when he has crusty, red or scaly patches all over your body. When this becomes severe the skin can actually break, grow raw and begin to bleed. While it does not look pleasant, it is useful to know that at least it is not contagious. When the symptoms are just confined to the scalp, it is known as cradle cap.

This condition afflicts babies less than 1 year old. A startling one out of every five babies will develop this condition at one time or another in their lives. This can also occur in 1 in 5 older children and 1 in 12 adults as well. However, although the cases that happen in older children and adults are not the same as infantile seborrhoeic eczema, these cases may have originated from previous cases that occurred when the sufferer was a child.

Some say that infant seborrhoeic eczema occurs because of overactive sebaceous glands (that produce the oil on the skin). There are other forms that can occur. These reasons include asthma, hayfever, genetics or an allergy to something that the skin comes into contact with.

If your baby develops the symptoms of dry and scaly skin, consult a pediatrician as soon as possible. Early and proper diagnosis can lead to proper treatment. However, it is likely that the skin of the baby is always going to be sensitive and prone to flare ups. For this reason, it is important to take special care of the skin with a good cleansing and moisturizing routine.

For cradle cap, you can try rubbing a small amount of warm olive oil mixed with a few drops of primrose oil onto your baby’s cradle cap in order to loosen it up. You should apply this mixture to your baby’s head before bedtime. Let it soak into her skin before you wash it off in the morning with a mild baby shampoo. Some other topical supplements that can help your baby include Aloe vera and Borage oil.

If you are breastfeeding and if your baby is also having infantile seborrhoeic eczema at the same time, then you should change your diet. Try to consume more biotin from liver and eggs. You should also begin taking evening primrose oil, emu oil or any supplements known to help in eczema skin. In addition, your baby may be allergic to some of the foods in your diet such as milk, wheat and eggs. Hence, do avoid these food triggers while you are breastfeeding your baby. Hopefully, these tips will help alleviate the inflammations that arise with this condition.

No comments »

Posted in eczema in babies

Tags:

Eczema – Types and Causes of Eczema

March 23rd, 2009

vagina-intimate hygiene

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.

No comments »

Posted in eczema causes

Tags:

Atopic Dermatitis, and Other Types of Eczema

February 22nd, 2009

DSC00118

Atopic dermatitis is a long lasting disease, which affects the skin. This illness belongs to the group of hereditary diseases, which tend to run in families, and many times they appear together. In this family of diseases we can find hay fever, asthma, and atopic dermatitis.When a person has atopic dermatitis, the skin will become very inflamed and itchy, and there will appear redness, swelling, weeping, crusting, cracking and scaling.

It was seen that the most affected by this disease are young children and infants, but atopic dermatitis can appear in the adult period as well, and it can even show up then for the first time. This disease has periods of flares and periods of remissions. When the disease gets worse, we say it is the period of flares, and when remissions come, skin improves or clears up entirely.It is known that in those who have inherited the atopic disease trait, the environmental conditions can activate at any time the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

It is important to make the difference between atopic dermatitis and eczema. Eczema is the general term for many types of dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis is the most common of the types of eczema.We will describe some types of eczema.

Atopic dermatitis provokes an itchy, inflamed skin, and it is known as being a chronic disease. Seborrheic eczema has unknown causes, and it is characterized by yellowish, oily, scaly patches of skin on the scalp, face, and sometimes on other parts of the body as well.

The contact eczema is characterized by redness, itching, and burning. It is a local reaction due to the contact of the skin with an allergen or an irritant (such as an acid or a cleaning agent for example). Neurodermatitis is caused by a localized itch, develops scaly patches of skin on the head, lower legs, wrists, or forearms, and it becomes very irritated when it is scratched.

Dyshidrotic eczema is known to provoke clear, deep blisters that itch and burn, and this eczema is an irritation of the skin on the palms of hands and soles of the feet.We can also mention stasis dermatitis which is a skin irritation on the lower legs, that usually is related to circulatory problems, and nummular eczema which presents like coin-shaped patches of irritated skin, usually appears on the arms, back, buttocks, and lower legs, and can be crusted, scaling, and very itchy.

For more resources about eczema skin symptoms or even about eczema treatment please review http://www.eczema-info-guide.com

No comments »

Posted in Eczema Treatment

Tags:

Eczema Treatment : Steroids Can Have Side-effects

September 1st, 2008

LightAir IonFlow 50 Ionising Air Purifier

Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis in medical jargon, is a condition characterised by skin flare-up, inflammations, in which the skin becomes itchy, red and dry. As in most cases of allergy, the underlying cause is the over-reaction of the immune system to certain substances in the environment, known as allergens.

Moisturising and cleansing the skin is the major means of eczema treatment.Since infants have more sensitive skin, it is found that they are more susceptible to eczema, generally called infantile eczema. In infants, the usual affected skin areas are the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck whereas in adults, it is usually the insides of the elbows, knees, and ankles.

The swelling of the blood vessels leads to redness of the skin, while irritated nerve endings causes itchiness. Dryness is a common feature of eczema. However, in some people, the red skin areas may ‘bubble up’ and start to ‘weep’. So it is usual to see eczema patients having dry scaly patches of skin that can become raw and cracked causing bleeding. Itching, the most irritable symptom of eczema, can further contribute to skin abrasion and bleeding. The scratching also causes very unsightly rashes and the skin takes on a leathery texture due to thickening.

Eczema treatment is usually done with steroids but they also bring side-effects in their wake. This is a worrying factor as apart from a burning sensation, these creams have also been known to cause adrenal damage. Herbal creams containing natural ingredients, are safer options in any case. In fact, there is a growing line of herbal skin care products and creams to treat eczema with a more holistic approach. These creams work to soothe damaged tissue, working from inside out to help the skin to regain lost moisture, thereby improving its texture.

No comments »

Posted in Eczema Treatment

Tags:

A Short Classification of Eczema

August 9th, 2008

Poor Phoebe's sore face

The appearance of eczema varies from person to person and according to the type of eczema.The first symptom in most persons with eczema is an intense itching.Eczema result in dry and scaly skin but sometimes may lead to blisters and oozing lesions.In children and adults, eczema occurs on the face, neck and the insides of the elbows, knees and ankles. In infants, eczema occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp and neck.

To describe specific forms of eczema, that may have very similar symptoms to atopic dermatitis some interesting facts are described below: atopic dermatitis which is thought to be the abnormal function of the bodys immune system.10% of infants and 3% of adults in the U.S. are affected by eczema.For infants the term of infantile eczema is used.People with a family history of allergic conditions presenting asthma or hay fever have atopic dermatitis.

Contact eczema (contact dermatitis) that includes redness, itching, and burning when the skin has come into contact with an allergen is a localized reaction. Eczema includes also reactions to laundry detergents, nickel (present in jewelry), cosmetics, fabrics, clothing and perfume.A form of skin inflammation of unknown cause is seborrheic eczema (seborrheic dermatitis) which include signs and symptoms like yellowish, oily, scaly patches of skin on the scalp, face, and occasionally other parts of the body.It is not necessary to associate the itching with seborrheic dermatitis.Emotional stress, oily skin, infrequent shampooing and weather conditions may increase a persons risk of developing seborrheic eczema.

Coin-shaped patches of irritated skin, most commonly located on the arms, back, buttocks and lower legs, that may be crusted, scaling and extremely itchy represent the nummular eczema (nummular dermatitis).It occurs most frequently in elderly men.Often nummular eczema is a chronic condition.The risk of developing nummular eczema is increased by atopic dermatitis, asthma or allergies. A chronic skin inflammation caused by a scratch-itch cycle that begins with a localized itch that becomes intensely irritated when scratched is neurodermatitis.Women are more affected by neurodermatitis than men and people between aged 20-50 are most frequent affected.In scaly patches of skin on the head, lower legs, wrists or forearms this form of eczema appear.The stress can grow the symptoms of neurodermatitis.

A skin irritation on the lower legs related to the circulatory problem known as venous insufficiency is statis dermatitis.Approximately 6-7% of the population over age 50 being affected by statis dermatitis.An itching and/or reddish-brown discoloration of the skin on one or both legs are the symptoms of stasis dermatitis.Statis dermatitis leads to the blistering, oozing skin lesions and ulcers which can develop in affected areas.The chronic circulatory problems may provide an increase in fluid buildup (edema) in the legs. Stasis dermatitis is associated also with a varicose eczema.

An irritation of the skin on the palms of hands and soles of the feet characterized by clear, deep blisters that itch and burn is dyshidrotic eczema (dyshidrotic dermatitis).It is also known as vesicular palmoplantar dermatitis, dyshidrosis or pompholyx. This kind of eczema occur more in the spring and summer months and in warmer climates. Unfortunately eczemas may appear at any age and it may lead to dangeruos problems, but medications have been found in order to cure them.

For more resources about dyshidrotic eczema or even about eczema please review http://www.eczema-info-guide.com

No comments »

Posted in eczema on face

Tags:

Types of Eczema – Part 1

August 2nd, 2008

orange cedarwood

Eczema is an inflammation of the skin, which results in itching. You will lose the smoothness and suppleness of your skin, to be replaced by a harder, flakier type. If you have an existing allergy then this may be the cause, or it could be something that is hereditary. However, there is no exact reason for this disease.

Eczema comes in many forms. Here are the types of eczema.

STASIS ECZEMA Those who experience varicose veins are prone to this, and it also affects the legs. The result is possible irritation, inflammation and staining.

ATOPIC ECZEMA This type of eczema is prone to babies that are between 2 and 18 months, though in rare cases sufferers may complain of this at different ages. It is caused by inheriting the condition and is, on the whole, the most common type of eczema. Weeping sores can appear when the infant scratches the small pimple that arises: affecting the face, the inside of the elbows and behind the knees. Apply petroleum Jelly in mild cases. Severe cases require corticosteroid ointments. A medical practitioner can prescribe medicines such as antihistamines, to reduce the itching and irritation. It is also advisable to keep the baby cool and only use cotton clothing to avoid irritation

NUMMULAR ECZEMA – In this type of eczema, circular scaly patches or spots may arise anywhere on the skin. Nummular eczema occurs mostly in older people as opposed to children or teenagers, and a reason is yet to be discovered. Application of Corticosteroid ointment on the affected skin may reduce the irritation, but this is unlikely to cure the condition. Symptoms can be seen on hands and legs. Itching is common in this disease. The skin will become a reddish colour, and rough.

HAND ECZEMA – This type of eczema will arise on your skin due to exposure to detergents or washing up liquids. A common preventative method can be to wear rubber gloves if you are likely to be exposed to such chemicals; this is also advisable for keeping hands in a good condition anyway. This may lead to burning and cracking of the skin. You can treat it with hand creams and, in severe cases, corticosteroid ointment.

Eczema can differ in circumstance and appearance. It can be mild, moderate or severe. The skin becomes red, dry, warm or itchy in milder cases. Creams and lotions are suitable remedies in the less serious cases. It can transform to being very inflamed, cracked, itchy, scaly, crusty or bleeding. Your skin will look worst at this stage. If you are suffering from wet eczema then you might experience bleeding and weeping fluid from the patches. This is also called as weeping eczema. Sufferers of this may feel a sense of shame or awkwardness.

Dandruff, or adult seborrheic eczema, can appear on other parts of the body. Those between 20 and 40 are the most probable victims of this.

The other type is varicose eczema, which is commonly found in elderly people. In middle age you may develop discoid eczema.

Contact eczema may arise when a person encounters an allergen. Acids or chemicals, especially those that are particularly harsh, may cause a bout of this. The name of the eczema suggests the method of developing it.

You may identify the type of the eczema you are facing. Consult a good doctor and go ahead with the treatment.

No comments »

Posted in eczema on face

Tags: