Posts Tagged ‘Skin Disease’

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Eczema and Smallpox:A Scary Combination

September 4th, 2010

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Bio terrorism has made vaccination of various diseases, including smallpox, a plausible solution to threats. In June of 2003, key military personnel, key emergency personnel (fire fighters, law enforcement, etc) and first line health care workers began receiving the vaccine.

In 2004, all American people who wanted it were able to get the small pox vaccination. Because the vaccine was discontinued in 1972, researchers have only historical records to study concerning the number of people who may be affected, but it is known that people who suffer from Atopic Dermatitis (AD) are at risk with this vaccination.

The reason that the impact is hard to determine is because people were not always accurately diagnosed before the smallpox vaccine was discontinued. There are no accurate records concerning the number of American people who suffered from AD and therefore, how they reacted to vaccinations. Because of this, it is important for all people who have AD (most people call this eczema, even though there are several forms of eczema) to be wary of the smallpox vaccination. Approximately 17 million American people have this disease.

Eczema patients have an immune deficiency within the skin which lets certain viruses into the body. Among a variety of viruses, the virus that causes smallpox is certain threat to people with this skin disease. Vaccinia is the virus which is used to immunize against smallpox and can create an infection called eczema vaccinatum in eczema patients.

The infection can spread very quickly both internally and externally and can become lethal when not treated. Patients with the form of eczema known as Atopic Dermatitis may have a lifetime risk associated with the smallpox virus, but other form of eczema seem to be safer when not having a flare up. AD patients seem to be susceptible whether they are even when their skin condition is in recession.

Eczema patients should not only opt against the vaccine, but they should stay away from close friends and family who have had it for a period of 24 to 48 hours. Immediate family members of eczema patients should not receive the vaccine.

With others who have had the vaccination, contact transmission is the main risk. The live virus used in vaccinating people is on the surface of the area where they received the vaccination and can be transmitted to others who touch the area. Airborne transmission is only a worry in cases of outbreak, not with vaccination.

If you have eczema and come in contact with the vaccine is it important to see your physician immediately, especially if you are in the midst of a flare up because the virus can easily enter the broken skin. While most people who get the smallpox rash recover easily with treatment, but eczema sufferers often end up with scarring or, in some cases, death.

You have been exposed if you touch an injection site before it has completely healed, if you come into contact with any other thing on which the virus remains live. Bandages, clothing, towels, and/or washcloths are all items that may have come in contact with the live virus and could still be carrying it.

Vaccinia Immune Globulin (VIG) is used in treatment if you are exposed to the virus. With prompt treatment, you should have little trouble, but patients who have been exposed become seriously ill, manifesting systemic symptoms and possibly death if treatment for the disease is still denied.

According to the Chief of the Division of Dermatology of King/Drew Medical Center, Los Angeles, and a member of the NEASE Scientific Advisory Committee, “People with eczema or atopic dermatitis tend to have a mild immune defect in their skin that can allow certain viruses such as Vaccinia (the live virus used in the smallpox vaccine) to spread both over the skin and internally, sometimes causing a lethal infection.” Vaccinated people are urged to keep the affected area covered with specialized bandages to reduce and possibly eliminate the risk of transmission.

The CDC has developed a questionnaire to determine people at risk from this vaccination as well as those who would impose danger on immediate family members. Since the world is currently free of smallpox cases, so precautions need only be taken in concern with vaccinated people.

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Special Signs and Tests That are Used to Diagnose the Dyshidrotic Eczema

August 23rd, 2010

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Dyshidrotic eczema can be mistaken for a harmless itchy rash that develops on the palms of the hands, sides of the fingers and sometimes the feet. Dyshidrotic eczema can be recognized by clusters of fluid-filled blisters that are small and itchy. Dyshidrotic eczema can appear out of the blue, but is commonly observed during warm weather conditions.

The most common location of Dyshidrotic eczema is on the hands and, less commonly, the feet. Taut fluid-filled blisters are observed on the surfaces of palms and soles and also at the sides of the fingers and toes. These blisters can appear deep-seated due to the thickness of the skin on the palms. In complicated cases, there can be a merger of the lesions that can eventually lead to large blisters. Redness that is also called as erythema is typically mild or absent.

This skin disease like Dyshidrotic eczema has various alternative names like dyshidrosis and Pompholyx. The patient has to face following symptoms of Dyshidrotic eczema. These are listed as below.

The vesicles that are called as little blisters filled with fluid appear on the hands and feet of the patient. These vesicles commonly occur on the finger edges, toes, palms and soles of the feet. In addition, there is a intense itching from these blisters on the body.

In addition, this type of skin itching and scratching affects various severe changes on the skin and skin becomes thick. Also huge amount of blisters cause severe harm to the body.

Special signs and tests are used to diagnose the Dyshidrotic eczema. A skin doctor first of all diagnose this skin disease by seeing at your skin. But in some cases, biopsy of the scraping of the skin becomes very essential to rule out other symptoms. The occurrence of such symptoms appear during certain seasons.as far as the treatment of the Dyshidrotic eczema is concerned, there are three options are available. First treatment contains intake of medicines by the mouth which do not cause itching. Second-one is use of moisturizers and third contains use of strong and effective steroid creams and ointments. Also remember one thing to not to itch blisters. For getting rid of Dyshidrotic eczema, you have to avoid continuous bathing and eliminate use of irritating material which makes your itching harmful.

Sometimes there is a reappearance of the symptoms of the Dyshidrotic eczema after the treatment also. It is because of the scratching in frequent ways which cause thick and irritated skin. This type of skin becomes more difficult to diagnose and it takes longer time to treat it.

Some general complications occurs through this skin disease. These complications are bacterial infection and rigorous itching, pain which cause some obstacles to use your hands for routine work.

There are some precautionary measures which should be remembered by the patient having this skin disease. So if you have a feeling of redness, warmth, tenderness and fever. Also you have a problem of scratching that does not remove away from easy home remedies, then that is the symptoms of the Dyshidrotic eczema. So you should quickly consult the skin specialist.

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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.

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Symptoms and Cure For Eczema

July 2nd, 2010

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Eczema is a very big problem for teenagers because they’re the age group that is most prone to their pores becoming clogged. Eczema is a condition in which your skin becomes irritated, red and itchy. Atopic eczema is the most common form and doctors don’t know exactly why it shows up in the first place.

This skin condition is genetic in a way because most people that have it have family members with eczema. It is most likely inherited genetically but it isn’t contagious. So, if you have it, you can’t give it to someone by touching or hugging them. Many people have eczema; it’s a fairly common skin problem that doctors see often.

People that have eczema may have allergies that worsen its symptoms. If you suffer from allegories to pet dander, dust or mildew, they might trigger an eczema episode in your skin. But, avoiding these allergens is a very hard thing to do. But, do the best that you can to help prevent a severe case of eczema.

The symptoms of this skin disease aren’t easy to miss. First, your skin will start to feel hot and very itchy. Then, if you begin to scratch or scrape your skin, it will blister or become every more red. Your skin will feel dry, scaly and very rough after this.

If you have these symptoms, visit your doctor. He or she will be able to diagnosis your rash or rough patches as eczema and provide treatment for you. You will probably want to see a dermatologist because they specialize in skin disorders.

Your dermatologist might give you creams, pills or both to take to clear up your eczema, depending on how severe your case is. This should help clear up the red, itchy patches in no time. There is no cure of eczema but you can try to avoid an outbreak by washing with hypoallergenic soaps, detergents and face washes. Ask your doctor for other ways to keep your skin feeling soft and eczema free.

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A Thing or Two About Atopic Eczema

June 24th, 2010

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An eczema is not a single skin disease, but a group of skin problems that have the same characteristics, like irritation and inflammation. The most common type of eczema is the atopic eczema. This type of eczema is found in almost one in six children, but the majority of those children get ride of eczema in their teen years. There are cases when eczema will continue in adulthood, as well.

All the different types of eczema have symptoms and causes that are different from a type of eczema to another, but the differences are slight. Here are the eczema types that one can have. First there is the allergic to contact eczema. This eczema develops when you make contact with some substances or even chemicals that irritate your skin and thus produce an allergic reaction. So you can see where the name allergic eczema comes from. Usually, this eczema appears on the site of the contact but it is possible that it spereads to other areas as well.

The second type of eczema is the irritant contact eczema, which is very similar to allergic eczema. This is caused by contact to substances that one uses every day. Seborrhoeic eczema is another type of eczema that is mostly found in children under one. However, adults can develop this eczema as well. Another case of eczema is the varicose eczema, which is mostly found in older persons. This type of eczema is found on the lower part of the legs. Last, but not least it is the discoid eczema which affects both legs and the arms of a person.

The last and the one type of eczema that we are going to talk about is the atopic eczema. As I have said before, symptoms for eczema depend on the type of eczema that you have. For atopic eczema, symptoms may include: a dry and red skin, itching of your skin, small blisters filled with water, found mostly in the hans and feet. The most affected parts of your body when suffering from atopic eczema are the back of your knees, the front part of the elbows, the neck , face and chest. The atopic eczema does not spread from a person to another. The main reason why people get atopic eczema is not known for sure. It is thought that people have a genetic tendency in developing atopic eczema.

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

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Learn How To Treat Eczema

June 24th, 2010

Finger that Will Not Heal

Your hands are peeling. Your scalp itches and dandruff flakes cover you shoulder. Your shoulders and knees are weeping with sores. You feel like your skin is falling apart. This is a dire situation. You go to the doctor worried that you have some unmanageable skin disease.

Your worries are lessened when you are diagnosed with eczema. Your Dermatologist informs you that eczema is an autoimmune skin condition. You feel devastated when your Dermatologist says that eczema cant be cured. However, eczema can be managed. You listen intently as your Dermatologist explains how to effectively treat eczema.

There are several ways to treat eczema. Following are ways to treat eczema based on the intensity and cause of the eczema.

Mild Cases of Eczema: It is fairly easy to treat eczema that is mild. It is a matter of changing your skin care regimen. Avoid using harsh soaps and opt for milder skin cleansers instead. Maintain skin moisture by using potent moisturizers on a daily basis. Cut down on the number of showers/bathes per week. Do not shower in hot water because it tends to dry out skin.

Moderate Cases of Eczema: You should take a moderate temperature bath to treat eczema that has created skin crusts. Adding oil to the bath can help add moisture and remove the skin crust. Lather the eczema infected areas immediately after your bath with heavy moisturizers. Your doctor can prescribe strong moisturizers and ointments to use.

To treat eczema you can also try hydrocortisone cream and corticosteroids creams prescribed by your Dermatologist. They provide the necessary moisture and healing properties.

Extreme Cases of Eczema: Ultraviolet light has been used to treat eczema that is extreme. Another way to treat eczema that is rampant is to take immune suppressing drugs. If allergies are a cause of the eczema then allergy shots may be used to treat eczema. Eliminating allergens and skin irritants in your environment can successfully treat eczema.

Handling stress properly can help treat eczema as well. Stress can be detrimental to your body and can show up in the form of eczema. Engaging in a stress management program such as therapy, exercise, and proper nutrition can make a world of difference.

It is crucial to try these therapies to triumph over your eczema. Your body and skin will thank you for taking the time to understand the cause and intensity of your eczema.

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Eczema: Symptoms and treatment – Part 10

April 20th, 2010

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Eczema is an inflammatory reaction of the skin caused by physical, chemical or biologic agents. The epidermis is inflammed or damaged by the repeated chemical or physical irritations. It falls under the classification of dermatitis that may be of irritant, non-irritant, allergic, phototoxic and photoallergic types. The type of eczema that arises after exposing to some kind of allergen is called as allergic eczema which is the most common type of eczema.

Eczema results from exposing to contact allergens or irritants.The common causes of irritant eczema are soaps, detergents, scouring compounds, and industrial chemicals. Pre-existing skin disease is the cause of non-irritant eczema. The predisposing factors of eczema include exposing to extremes of heat and cold, frequent contact with soap and water and the presence of any other skin conditions.

Eczema can affect anybody both adult and children alike. They also affect men and women equally since anybody can be allergic or sensitive to anything. It all depends on their own skin conditions. Men are more prone to produce eczematous reaction from the industrial chemicals because men tend to work in industries, while women are exposed to eczematous reaction when they come in contact with laundry or dish washing soaps and detergents.

Eczema begins when the causitive agent contacts the skin. The symptoms of eczema varies from person to person extending from itching to bleeding. The first reaction to eczema includes itching, redness, and burning, followed by edema, papules, vesicles, and oozing. Sooner the vesicles dries up, forms crust and finally peels. If the reaction occurs repeatedly, the person tends to scratch the skin which may lead to thickening of the skin and pigmentation. In course of time it may lead to bacterial infection.

The main aim of treating eczema is to rest the involved skin and protect it from further damage. Treatment for eczema includes,

* Application of bland, unmedicated creams or lotion over the inflammed skin to prevent them from further dryness.

* Application of a cool, wet dressing or Burow’s solution over the vesicles to reduce itching and promote soothing.

* Applying a thin layer of topical corticosteroid in the form of cream or lotion.

* Medicated baths at room temperature may be prescribed for eczema which is over larger area of the body.

* A short course of systemic corticosteroids like prednisone may be advised for 7-10 days for those with severe conditions.

* Antibiotics

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Is It Possible To Outgrow Eczema?

April 5th, 2010

DAY 20 - Back to the Doctors

Eczema is a chronic condition characterized by dry, red, swollen and extremely itchy skin. Eczema is not contagious but it is believed to have a hereditary connection. Research has identified the common trait that most of the time atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema, is inherited from one or both of an individual’s parents. If a person has one parent who suffers from eczema, they have a one-in-four chance of developing the condition. If both parents have eczema, the likelihood is increased to one-in-two chances. Most individuals who have two parents who suffer from eczema do indeed develop the skin disorder. Additionally, many people who develop eczema also have a genetic tendency to develop other allergy-related health problems such as hay fever and asthma.

Approximately thirty percent of infants will develop eczema. Luckily, many will outgrow it by the time they reach three to five years of age. In babies, it generally first appears between the ages of four to six months and it begins with the appearance of a red rash that might ooze fluid. It then spreads to the cheeks and the forehead and sometimes continues to the baby’s arms and legs. In the most severe of cases, a baby’s entire body may be covered with the skin disease. When a baby has cradle cap, or infantile seborrhoeic eczema, a great deal of scaling appears on the scalp although it does not itch.

Some infants are not lucky enough to outgrow their eczema; they carry it into their childhood years. For those who are predisposed to develop it for heriditary reasons, but did not do so in their infancy, they have the potential to develop it anytime between the ages of two and four years of age. In typical bouts of childhood eczema, the rash first appears behind the knees, the ankles, in the creases of the elbows and sometimes will even affect the child’s face, neck and ears. It is generally very itchy and subsequently requires a topical steroid cream. Childhood eczema normally disappears sometime between the ages of ten and twelve, although some children continue to suffer from it well into their teenage and adulthood years.

Adult atopic eczema often begins during a person’s twenties. In this case it often continues throughout the majority of a person’s life. It is normally characterized by large spots of itchy, swollen, red, and oozing skin. Adult eczema tends to affect people in the wrists, elbow creases, neck area, behind the knees and the ankles. Sufferers of adult eczema often see an improvement during middle age, particularly in their forties or fifties. Atopic eczema rarely begins in senior citizens. There is another form of eczema that shows itself in older people; it is called varicose eczema. This kind of eczema afflicts the ankles and is, for the most part, a result of poor circulation to the legs.

Despite the fact that many children outgrow their eczema, they commonly have a lifelong tendency to have skin problems. These problems include hand dermatitis; dry skin that chaps and gets easily irritated; skin infections like staph, yeast infections and herpes simplex, like cold sores, and eye problems such as cataracts and eyelid dermatitis.

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The Dos and Don’ts of Eczema Treatment

March 28th, 2010

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Eczema is a chronic skin disease. It is diagnosed when the part of anybodys skin becomes dry, itchy, red, crusty, and thick with small blisters on it. Basically, it is an allergic condition that affects the skin badly. The scientific name of eczema is atopic dermatitis. Though it is not true that there is no cure for this disease of chronic nature, Eczema treatment needs multiple therapies.

The problem with eczema is that the real causes behind this skin disease have not yet been discovered. In order to treat a disease it is necessary to know its cause. Since doctors are not clear about the cause behind eczema, curing it remains difficult. So far, it is found that eczema is caused by just about anything that comes in contact with the skin. Atopic people, who are extra sensitive to skin irritation, easily catch this disease.

Since eczema treatment is difficult and time killing, dermatologists initially aim at controlling itching, lessening the intensity of skin inflammation, clearing the infection, smoothening and removing rough lesions and reducing new lesions. There are various creams and therapies available for eczema treatment that they prescribe.

However, they give equal emphasise on maintaining a strict skin care routine for getting effective result. The aim here is to lessen the irritation and uncomfortable feeling. Cleanliness really works in this regard. Regular bath taking is also highly helpful as it moisturise the skin. It is highly advisable to use moisturisers or emollients after shower.

Along with all that one must do to get effective result from eczema treatment, there are a few things that one should refrain from. To begin with, scratching on the skin is to be avoided totally. Patients and caretakers should be careful about this fact. Then one should have patience to get effective result from eczema treatment as the process may become a little lengthy and boring.

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A Primer On Eczema

March 24th, 2010

It's Off Again

Eczema is one of the very rampant skin diseases that affect people all over the world who are allergic to certain skin allergens.

Eczema occurs with some other atopic or skin diseases, whose exact infected locations can not be really traced. Some of these diseases include asthma, hay fever and conjunctivitis.

Eczema is often chronic and symptoms and manifestations can further and continually develop, continue to exist or disappear over some period of time. When you say chronic, it means the disease is treatable but not curable.

There are several forms of treatment or medications for eczema. Treatments like ointments and other forms are generally used to ease or relieve the itchiness caused by eczema. These are also used to reduce or diminish the affected area in the skin.

Eczema is often mistaken for psoriasis, which is another chronic another skin disease.

Eczema shows up or affects infants whose ages may range from one month to six months. In the united States alone, 60% of people diagnosed with eczema have had experienced their first onset of the skin disease when they were just a year old.

About 90% of eczema infected patients in third world countries got the skin disease when they were about 5 years old and below. There are cases of eczema onset during adolescent years but they are very uncommon and rare.

Symptoms of eczema

Be aware that manifestation or symptoms of this itchy and uncomfortable skin disease vary with age.

Overall, eczema is characterized by the presence of lesions which occur or can be found in different areas of the body, depending on age.

For example, an infant has eczema if he has lesions in the extensor surfaces, the face or in the trunk. For young children, they are found in ankles and wrists. In adults, these lesions may be found in the upper chest, in the neck, in the face and in the genitals or sex organs.

Eczema in infants and children show up through rashes occurring during warmer weather. These rashes will surely worsen with the climate change from warm to winter or colder climate.

Skin areas infected with eczema also are characterized by unusual and unaesthetic skin drying.

Treating eczema

Modern medicine believes that eczema may be worsened or complicated by stress or emotional and psychological anxieties.

The dryness in the infected area in the skin can be practically reduced by avoiding and preventing further contact with the allergen that may have caused or triggered eczema.

Also, moisturizers are available and easily accessible in local drug stores and retail chains. But remember, it is important to seek a doctors or a dermatologists prescription and consultation first. Self-treatment or self-prescription should be avoided for it may only worsen the skin disease.

Use of strong and harsh soaps must also be reduced to help prevent further drying of the skin. Most soaps today have chemicals that wash away and put out the natural oil produced by the skin. These natural oils contain substances that will help prevent skin drying.

Eczema Prevention

Of course, just like other skin diseases, the most basic and general prevention is hygiene.

Avoid skin contact with allergens like skin irritating chemicals, solvents and clothes. As much as possible, also avoid too much exposure to extreme climates like very high or very low temperatures.

It can be hard to explain but emotional stress can also be a factor causing eczema so as much as possible avoid it, as well as exposure to excessive or little tobacco smoke.

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