Category Archives: Eczema

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Eczema is characterized by dry, itchy skin that tends to get worst during the winters.

People can often use some natural and home remedies like coconut oil or aloe vera to manage the condition.

These natural substances can moisturize the skin and treat the inflammation and the harmful bacteria to manage the swelling and infection.

Although natural home remedies cannot cure eczema, they can be helpful in managing the condition and providing temporary relief.

Aloe vera gel and apple cider vinegar:

Aloe vera gel can be retrieved from the leaves of the plant. They are being used for centuries to treat a variety of medical conditions.

Aloe vera gel has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, immunity, and wound healing properties that can soothe the sensitive skin associated with eczema.

To obtain the best result, aloe vera gel that contains the least number of added ingredients is to be chosen; alternatively, one can get aloe plants at home and directly retrieve the gel from its leaves.

In terms of precautionary measures, one should always start with a very small amount of gel to check if the skin is sensitive to it, and alcohol should be avoided to further dry out and irritate the skin

According to the National Eczema Association (NEA), apple cider vinegar can prove to be effective against eczema. However, one should be vigilant about any irritation emerging in the skin due to the acid of the vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar can manage eczema by killing the bacteria causing the infection and maintaining the pH level of the skin.

A bleach bath and colloidal oatmeals:

Although it may seem risky, a bath with bleach can improve the symptoms of eczema, according to expert belief.

Bleach is effective in killing the bacteria responsible for the infection, especially the S. aureus bacteria causing the staph infection.

This restores the natural microbiome profile of the skin and helps in managing the symptoms.

Colloidal oatmeal is another natural remedy known to provide some relief against the painful conditions of eczema.

Colloidal oatmeal is also known as Avena Sativa and is made of oats. For this purpose, oats are grounded and boiled to extract the compounds that have healing properties and can prove to be anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative in nature.

It can manage the symptoms of eczema by reducing skin dryness, scaling, roughness, and intense itchiness.

Regular baths and use of coconut oil:

Taking regular part is an important part of eczema care and treatment. For improving the condition, one needs proper moisturization of the skin since the natural ability of the skin to moisturize itself is lost.

However, while bathing, one should be conscious about using the wrong soap, using water that is either too hot or too cold and not moisturizing after bath.

According to the guidelines of NEA, those suffering from eczema should bathe once a day using lukewarm water, bathe for only 15-20 minutes and not scrub their skin, use gentle cleansers, and have medicated baths using oatmeal, apple cider vinegar, and baking soda.

Coconut oil is known to help people with eczema and dry skin owing to the presence of beneficial fatty acids in its composition. Virgin coconut oil can reduce skin inflammation by improving the quality of the outer layer of the skin that acts as a protective barrier against infections.

Lifestyle changes that can improve the condition:

Eczema is characterized by inflamed and sore skin. Hence foods that can reduce inflammation helps in managing the condition.

One should include plenty of anti-inflammatory foods in their daily diet. These include fish, leafy greens, lentils, beans, colorful fruits, vegetables, cinnamon, and turmeric.

Whereas one should avoid the intake of inflammatory foods like eggs, dairy, soy, and wheat products.

Furthermore cold and harsh climatic conditions should be avoided as it can dry out the skin and lead to eczema flares, also string dry heat like sitting close to a fireplace should be avoided as hot dry air can worsen the condition by further drying out and irritating the skin.

See the article here:
Home Remedies To Treat Eczema - Powdersvillepost.com

Preventing wildfires

Here are some tips and information on how to prevent wildfires in your life.

Heather Willard, The Pueblo Chieftain

After working on his feet for 8-10 hours a day for more than 13 years, dealing with the everyday aches and pains, and attending night school, Yandi Cakrasenjaya knew he needed to make a change in lifestyle now his journey is just beginning.

That journey ledCakrasenjaya to his current job as a massage therapist at Jara Elements.

Cakrasenjaya was born in Bandung, Indonesia, the oldest of four children.

When his family moved to the United States, Cakrasenjaya was 14-years-old and said without knowing the language or culture, he utilized less traditional routes to learn about his new home.

(My siblings) were younger, so they picked up English pretty quick, Cakrasenjaya said. Im the oldest, I needed to learn. So, I realized what they were doing was they were watching TV, going outside they werent afraid. They come home speaking English, and Im like, What the heck am I doing wrong?

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Cakrasenjaya took a page out of his siblings book, beginning to learn English using the popular childrens show Sesame Street.

While Sesame Street taught him the basics of English the ABCs and how to countattending school helped Cakrasenjaya with proper English.

He noticed outside of the classroom, his classmates were using slang. Thats when he turned to the infamous Die Hard trilogy to improve his knowledge of the language kids around him were using.

After overcoming the adversity through education, Cakrasenjaya entered the workforce. He worked in retail in various positions for 13 years before deciding to attend culinary school.

Cakrasenjaya was working 810-hour days before attending classes, and noticed this lifestyle was not sustainable.

After deciding to make self-care a priority, Cakrasenjaya decided to make a move, leaving behind his home in Iowa and starting fresh in Colorado.

The move inspired a fitness journey that would ultimately lead him to what is now his career and passion.

I was overweight, I was unhappy, I didnt watch what I ate, so I would wake up angry, Cakrasenjaya said. But when I moved here, I saw people are just happy.

Cakrasenjaya started getting into the world of fitness, but an experience on a hike propelled him into making a healthy lifestyle top priority.

I was on a hike, Cakrasenjaya reflected. This old man, maybe 60-70 years old passed me, jogging. He waved and was like, Good day guys! See you later. I look at myself, at that point I was 32 and I was like, This guy is double my age, and just whooped me.

That day was a turning point in Cakrasenjayas life. He committed himself fully to exercising, but quickly found that his body was once again aching.

Cakrasenjaya began reading about massage therapy and its benefits, and from that point on, he knew he wanted to become a healer.

Now licensed for the past two years, Cakrasenjaya works at Jara Elements where he specializes in therapeutic and relaxation, deep tissue, pre-natal, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) treatment, headache relief and hot stone massages.

Cakrasenjaya also provides an option for a CBDtherapeutic massage, which he noted is based out of ancient healing practices.

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The goal of this technique, Cakrasenjaya noted, is not only to help clients relax, relieve pain, and promote healing, but it is also thought, by some, to promote healing by restoring harmony to an individuals energy fields.

The technique Cakrasenjaya uses can also assist with arthritis pain and joint inflammation, can decrease discomfort often associated with peripheral neuropathy, helps with fibromyalgia pain, and addresses skin conditions including psoriasis, eczema, acne, and even mosquito bites.

One thing Cakrasenjaya said people dont do enough of is taking care of themselves, which is why he is so passionate about massage therapy.

You tap into your spirit, your body, Cakrasenjaya said.

Going forward, Cakarsenjaya said his goal is to be the best massage therapist in the community helping the people who have made him feel as though hes found his place.

I havent been a community that supports each other so much before, Cakarsenjaya said. When I moved to Pueblo West, I felt a change. People have been so supportive; I feel like Ive found my home.

Chieftain and Pueblo West View reporter Alexis Smith can be reached by email at asmith@chieftain.com or on Twitter @smith_alexis27.

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Pueblo West resident utilizes massage therapy to heal mind, body and spirit - Pueblo Chieftain

Red and blotchy or itchy skin can be tricky to diagnose. There are so many things that can cause irritation or inflammation of the skin. Recognizing what type of reaction youre having is the first step in finding relief.

Eczema and hives are both common skin reactions. Both are a type of allergic response, but they have distinguishing features and are treated differently.

Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis. Its a chronic problem that is often rooted in the immune system. Eczema is a common condition in children affecting as many as 20 percent of all children, but it can also appear for the first time in adulthood.

There are many types of eczema, and symptoms and triggering factors can vary by type. Symptoms include:

In people of color, eczema can appear differently. In ethnic groups with varying skin colors, redness can be difficult to see. For people with dark skin, eczema typically appears as:

Eczema tends to appear in certain areas of the body like the face and scalp, or extremities like the arms or legs. The condition is commonly linked to other immune disorders such as food allergies, allergic rhinitis, and asthma.

Eczema that begins in childhood may resolve in the first few years of life. But when it doesnt, the key is controlling symptoms by avoiding known triggers. Eczema triggers vary from person to person, but may include:

Hives, or urticaria, are often associated with acute or singular allergic reactions but they can also be chronic. Hives appear as a raised area thats often itchy or red. Although allergic reactions are a common culprit, they can also have physical or autoimmune triggers. These include heat, cold, vibrations, or even stress.

Autoimmune triggers are set off by antibodies to an individual allergen or condition. In some cases, it can be difficult to identify the specific triggers for chronic hives, and these cases are called chronic idiopathic urticaria.

In most cases, hives resolve within hours to days but may come and go when linked to another chronic condition. Allergy testing can help identify triggers, which is critical to preventing flare-ups of both chronic and acute hives.

Hives may be more difficult to detect in people with skin of color where pink or red tones arent easy to see. In skin of color, hives may appear only as raised or inflamed areas and might even be mistaken for other types of rashes.

While both eczema and hives appear with rash-like symptoms and are triggered by the immune system, there are differences between them.

Each has specific triggers, and how they react at the level of immune cells varies.

There are a few subtle signs to help you decide if your rash is eczema or hives.

There are several things you can do to help resolve, improve, or avoid eczema flare-ups. A primary goal of eczema management is to minimize triggers and keep skin moisturized. These include:

Treatment for hives will depend on what triggered the reaction in the first place. Triggers may include things like stress, temperature changes, or allergens. There are several treatment options for hives, such as:

Some people may be more prone to developing eczema than others. There may be a genetic component to eczema, and people who have family members with eczema are more prone to developing the condition themselves.

Other allergic or immune-related conditions like hay fever, food allergies, and asthma may also increase your risk of having eczema.

People who have a history of allergies or certain medical conditions may be more prone to hives than others. Outside of allergies, people with the following conditions may experience hives more frequently:

In most cases, eczema is a chronic condition. It impacts 10 to 20 percent of children and 3% of adults in the United States. Most cases of chronic eczema begin in childhood, and its less common for this condition to appear in adulthood without a childhood history. In some cases, eczema can resolve after childhood.

With hives, acute cases may resolve in as little as a few hours. Other times, especially in chronic cases, hives may last for weeks. Chronic hives will also come and go as exposure to triggers or certain conditions changes.

With both eczema and hives, the key to managing these conditions is to identify triggers or allergens, and find ways to avoid them or at least reduce your exposure. There are several treatments and medications that can help you manage flare-ups. Talk to your doctor about both holistic, over-the-counter, or prescription options.

Eczema and hives have similar features but are not the same rash. One thing these conditions have in common is that they may be linked to a trigger or allergen.

Identifying allergens and attempting to avoid certain triggers is key to managing both acute cases of hives and chronic hives or eczema. Talk to a doctor about how to identify and manage your triggers.

View post:
Eczema vs. Hives: Similarities, Differences, Treatment, and More - Healthline

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a type of chronic skin condition characterized by red- to violet-colored skin, scaliness, and sometimes dryness. While considered an inflammatory condition, its also estimated that half of people with moderate to severe cases also have hay fever, food allergies, or asthma.

Itchiness is the most common symptom of eczema. Yet, you may still wonder why your skin itches and whether theres anything you can do to find long-term relief.

Read on to learn more about why eczema itches, your treatment options, and more.

Eczema is a complex inflammatory condition with no one single cause. However, researchers believe that the itching associated with this chronic skin disease may be related to a combination of histamine 4 receptors, IL-31 cytokines, and tryptase enzymes. These may be present in a variety of inflammatory or allergic conditions.

Changes within certain nerves in the upper layer of your skin, called C fibers, may also be a cause of eczema. These changes may increase skin sensitivity, making you more prone to itching and scratching. As your condition progresses, you may even scratch your skin without realizing it.

Feeling itchy from eczema can come and go, and some rashes are more intense than others. If the itchiness is quite intense, it may keep you up at night, leading to sleeplessness and daytime fatigue.

Eczema doesnt have one single cause, but you may find that certain triggers can cause flare-ups, making your symptoms worse. While individual experiences vary, some triggers may include:

Other flare-ups may result from:

Soaking in an oatmeal bath may help alleviate eczema itch and discomfort. Use store-bought colloidal oatmeal and run it under lukewarm water. You may soak in the bath for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Cool compresses can also help when applied throughout the day.

Applying a fragrance-free moisturizer can alleviate itchiness, but it may also help protect the skin barrier and ward off flare-ups. You can apply moisturizer throughout the day as needed. Its important to use a skin moisturizer within a few minutes of bathing or swimming to lock in moisture immediately.

While these methods can help treat short-term eczema itching, youll also want to learn to manage long-term eczema itching. An effective eczema treatment plan is one that focuses on long-term management, not just treating flare-ups.

In the case of moderate to severe eczema, your doctor may recommend medications or other treatments. These may include a combination of:

Besides moisturizers and medications, you may be able to manage eczema and alleviate itchiness by making some simple lifestyle changes. Consider trying one or more of the following home remedies:

Any eczema flare-up that doesnt respond to your current treatment plan or home remedies should be evaluated by a doctor. They may also refer you to a dermatologist, a type of doctor that specializes in skin and hair diseases. An allergist or immunologist may also help.

Talk with your doctor if your eczema rashes are unusually painful or if youve developed any skin infections as a result of scratching. You should also see them if your eczema itch keeps you up at night and inhibits your ability to get good sleep.

Itchiness is a common complaint with eczema. When left untreated, the itch may interfere with your everyday life, and it may even increase your risk for infections due to scratching.

Its important to talk with your doctor if eczema itch is interfering with sleep and other everyday activities. Moisturizers and topical medications can help treat and prevent eczema flare-ups, along with the itch that comes with them. There are also things you can do every day to help manage your condition.

When managed over the long term, you may find that you experience fewer eczema flare-ups. This can also help reduce itchiness, pain, and skin discoloration from rashes.

Talk with your doctor if your current treatment plan isnt doing enough to help control your eczema flare-ups, or if the itchiness is getting progressively worse.

Read more here:
Why Does Eczema Itch? Your FAQs and Treatment Options - Healthline

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition caused by overactivity in the immune system. Its also known as atopic eczema, or eczema for short.

AD may be linked to other inflammatory symptoms in your body. These symptoms may lead to mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. The good news is, both conditions can be managed with a combination of treatments and lifestyle changes.

Read on to learn more about the connection between eczema and your mental health, as well as what you can do to help treat each of them.

Research currently shows a strong link between AD and mental health conditions. This may have several potential causes.

First, the same inflammation causing AD may also potentially cause other inflammation in the body. Inflammation may impact your brain, according to 2019 research and this may potentially lead to changes that result in depression and anxiety.

Whats more, stress and anxiety are two common eczema triggers, according to the National Eczema Association (NEA).

Stress increases production of the hormone cortisol, which can increase inflammation in your skin. Then, if you have a severe flare-up, you may feel more stressed and anxious. These feelings may affect your mental health.

Severe eczema may also cause you to feel embarrassed, and its not uncommon to want to withdraw socially as a result. This can be difficult on your overall mental well-being.

The itch and overall discomfort of an AD flare-up may also make it hard to sleep at night. Long-term sleep deprivation may increase your risk for mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety, according to 2018 research.

Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health conditions in people with eczema.

A 2017 survey by the NEA estimated that 30 percent of people are affected. In addition, people with eczema were also found to experience depression at four times the rate of the general population.

A study published in 2020 confirmed an increased risk for depression and anxiety in adults with AD, at rates of 14 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

A 2018 analysis also found a significantly increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in people with AD than in the general population.

This analysis included 15 studies of 310,681 people with atopic dermatitis and found that 44 percent of people with the condition had increased odds of suicidal ideation, and 36 percent had an increased likelihood of suicide attempts than people without AD.

Contact a healthcare professional right away if you have any thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 800-273-8255, or dial 911.

Managing your eczema may help reduce your risk for developing mental health complications. If you feel your current treatment isnt working, contact your doctor for a follow-up visit to discuss alternate options.

You should also talk with your doctor if what youre experiencing is impacting your mental health. As a rule of thumb, experts recommend getting help for mental health symptoms that last for 2 or more weeks.

These may include one or more of the following:

If youre experiencing any of the above symptoms, talk with your doctor. Depending on their findings, they may refer you to a therapist or other mental health professional for support.

Aside from using doctor-recommended or prescribed moisturizers and topical steroids for severe AD, you may need to take oral medications to help treat mental health symptoms.

These may include:

For ongoing depression and anxiety, seeing a therapist may also help. Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) may be especially useful in helping you reframe certain thoughts or behaviors.

You should also monitor both your eczema and mental health while taking other medications. Report any changes to your doctor.

A combination of medication and therapy may go a long way to treat a mental health condition.

Plus, there are other ways you can support your mental health and possibly reduce AD triggers, too. These may include:

Research has demonstrated a strong link between moderate to severe eczema and mental health conditions, with depression and anxiety being the most common. Some people with eczema may also be at an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions.

Its important to stay in touch with your doctor about both your eczema and your mental health. If youre feeling anxious or depressed for longer than 2 weeks, talk with your doctor about how youre feeling.

A healthcare professional can give you information on the available treatment options. Seek immediate help if youre having thoughts of or attempting self-harm.

See the article here:
Eczema and Mental Health: What's the Link - Healthline

I am going to die. That was the phrase I repeated to myself as I sat in the passenger seat of my moms car, heart pounding, chest tighter than my clenched fists. We were driving to the emergency room because I at 15 years old was convinced I was having a heart attack.

That wasnt the first time my anxiety got so bad that I became convinced there was something gravely wrong with my body. I spent high school in a hypochondria-induced haze, fixated on every little sensation in my body and assuming Id drop dead at any second.

But the constant stress and panic went beyond racing thoughts and an ever-present sense of doom. It also seemed to be directly responsible for another chronic condition Ive dealt with most of my life atopic dermatitis (aka eczema) although it would take nearly a decade before I realized what was going on.

After all, eczema seems to be all about the skin. It caused stretches of rashes across my hands. Sometimes, they were a mild annoyance, but other times, my skin oozed and bled. The swollen welts made my fingers so stiff, I could hardly bend them.

Ointments and treatments did little to ease my symptoms. It wasnt until I faced my stress and anxiety head on that my skin finally cleared up.

Heres how I discovered the connection between anxiety and atopic dermatitis, and how getting rid of stress calmed them both at the same time.

My first visit with a therapist when I was in high school was mediocre. I left the appointment feeling no better, and wondering what the point of the session was.

Fast forward a few years later, when I moved 350 miles from home to go to college. I found myself craving a space to process the big changes going on in my life, as I learned to live on my own and buried myself in new, exciting projects.

I cycled through several therapists at the school counseling office, but eventually I connected with one who helped me unpack a lot of negative experiences in childhood that likely led to the snowball effect of anxiety taking over my teens.

One session in particular sticks out in my mind: I was explaining a particularly stressful situation Id been in, when my therapist noted, Look how youre sitting. Youre holding all this tension in your shoulders.

I was shook. I had never noticed how much my anxiety manifests in my body from my stiff posture to the way I picked at my hair and bit the inside of my cheeks when I was stressed.

I knew from experience that when I was less anxious, my stomach hurt less. When my mind wasnt racing, I could sleep better at night.

And then it clicked: When my anxiety got worse, so did my physical health a pattern that had been hidden in plain sight for years.

Seeing a therapist on a regular basis helped keep me grounded in college. It didnt make my problems go away, but gave me some solace knowing I had a place where I could feel safe talking about how I felt.

I slowly worked through my hypochondria and learned how to cope with panic attacks vital skills that helped me feel in control when my world was spinning so fast.

But during my last year of school, things took a turn for the worse. My dad passed away suddenly from a heart aneurysm the summer before my senior year of college.

Crushed by grief, I could feel my hypochondria roaring with a vengeance. And with it came one of my worst eczema flares yet, just in time for the funeral.

I remember looking down at my hands, from the base of my right-hand pinky to my wrist, my skin was oozing bright yellow liquid and burning with the need to be scratched.

When I returned to school, I focused on simply surviving the next year. Stress piled on me with every class, job, and internship I took on.

Amid the eczema flare-ups, warts grew on my hands for the first time. And just like with eczema, I turned to topical treatments to get rid of the ugly lumps, which didnt help at all.

I kept going to therapy, and started taking antidepressants, which was just enough to keep me from staying in bed every day. But my skin continued to rage, and there I was, hands constantly covered in Band-Aids as I endured the slow slog to graduation.

What happened after I gathered my diploma, however, felt like a miracle.

A few months after graduation, I was standing in the bathroom, looking at the warts on my hands. I noticed theyd lost their firmness, and some smaller ones even vanished. So I did what any anxious meddler would do I picked at them.

To my surprise, the deformed lumps fell off with ease. The months of trying to chemically rid my hands of their afflictions suddenly seemed like a waste. What was different now compared to just a few months ago?

Well, a lot, actually. I had a full-time job that kept me in a steady 9-to-5 rhythm. I didnt jam-pack my already-busy schedule with a half of dozen extracurricular activities on top of my normal work week.

In the evenings, I made dinner for myself and my partner, watched TV, and strolled around the neighborhood. And on the weekends, I got to hang around the house and rest, rather than feeling guilty about neglecting assignments or skipping social events.

Life was moving at a far slower pace than it did in school. Not only did I feel less on edge, but my skin seemed to take notice, too. Before I knew it, my eczema simply disappeared. Id finally tackled my main trigger: stress.

Without the constant demands of school, I was free from the never-ending loop of anxiety. I had more time to listen to my body and take care of it.

Today, I still get eczema flares every now and then, but now that I know they come from stress, I can take care of my mind to soothe my body. And my skin thanks me for it.

Jennifer Walter is a journalist based in Wisconsin. She writes about health, psychology, tech, and history. You can follow her on Twitter or visit her website.

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How Reducing Stress and Anxiety Calmed My Eczema - Greatist

Exposure to toxins like wildfire smoke can leave you vulnerable to skin irritation.

Getty Images

For 17 harrowing days in November 2018, the deadliest wildfire in the Californias history swept across the northern region of the state. Officially dubbed the Camp Fire (named after its origin point at Camp Creek Road in Butte County), the fire continued to spread for several weeks, capturing national attention. Scientists and environmental experts recognized it as a sign of the increasing impacts of climate change on the West Coast wildfire season: As global temperatures rise, Californias already fire-prone landscape becomes more susceptible to dangerous blazes with each passing year.

For locals, the Camp Fires effects have long outlasted that initial media frenzy. Three years later, and many Californians are still working to rebuild their homes and lives. But disasters like this permeate deeper than the immediate economic damagethey also have a long-term impact on human health. A new study in JAMA Dermatology has found that wildfire smoke may trigger and exacerbate eczema symptoms, even in people with no known history of chronic skin disease.

Researchers at the University of California San Francisco collected data from dermatology visits by 4,147 people who lived in San Francisco, approximately 175 miles from the source of the Camp Fire. During the weeks when wildfire-related air pollution was highest, they discovered a significant increase in doctors visits related to atopic dermatitis (a.k.a. eczema) or itch. It wasnt just people with pre-existing eczema who developed symptoms during the wildfire, but also people who had never reported these symptoms before.

These findings illustrate one of many ways that air pollution, worsened by climate change, can aggravate (or induce) skin barrier dysfunction. Generally, conversations about climate change policy, mitigation, and prevention havent considered the effects of air pollution from wildfires on skin health, says Raj Fadadu, environmental epigenetics graduate student researcher at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and first author of this study. Perhaps these [skin] diseases should be discussed more when thinking about the many ways in which the changing climate impacts human health.

One of the challenges in studying eczema is that its an extremely complicated health condition, and the origin and risk factors vary from person to person. Eczema (or atopic dermatitis, as it is formally known) is believed to be caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors, both of which can compound to make symptoms worse. For instance, someone might be born with an overactive immune system (genetics), which is then triggered by external irritants like cigarette smoke or household cleaners (environment), causing an eczema flare.

The skin is a wonderful barrierthats its function, explains Maria Wei, M.D., professor of dermatology at UCSF and co-author of the wildfire study. It is a barrier against physical entities, gases, liquids, infections, and temperature [changes]. But it does have its limits, and there are ways for components of pollution to breach that barrierespecially when the skin barrier is already in a compromised state.

Exposure to pollutants contributes to eczema in several ways: oxidative stress, skin barrier dysfunction, immune stimulation, and exacerbation of itching and scratching. And different types of pollutioncar exhaust, construction zones, cigarette smokelikely have somewhat different impacts on the skin. But heres what we know: They all seem to have a very strong pro-oxidative effect, explains Raj Chovatiya, M.D., a dermatologist with Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.

These pollutants cause damage to the skin and deplete its natural antioxidant mechanisms. In addition, Dr. Chovatiya says, they can mess around with the normal skin microbiome, changing the balance of healthy cells that keeps your skin barrier strong and protective against infection. All of this, combined with the stimulation of your bodys immune response, contributes to skin irritation and eczema symptoms, and it may even trigger new symptoms in people with underlying skin sensitivity.

We know that chemical-based cleaning products (especially those with harsh ingredients or fragrances) can provoke eczema symptoms, so it makes sense that outdoor pollutants would be able to do this, too. But one major challenge researchers face is trying to sort out the specific impacts of air pollution on skin health. This is a very difficult kind of study to do in isolation, Dr. Chovatiya notes.

After all, its not like you can pick out individual air pollutants and expose people to them in a laboratory setting. We know there are a lot of different environmental factors that influence eczema, he says. Even aside from pollution, youre talking about UV light, precipitation, humidity, temperature, and other environmental factors.

So, what we see in the research is more of a case for correlation, not causationtheres a link between eczema and air pollution, but its not clear exactly how strong that link is or who is most at risk. One review in Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology examined the effects of man-made outdoor pollutants like vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke, and particulate matter on atopic dermatitis. The authors found strong evidence of a connection but emphasized the need for further research to better understand the specifics.

A 2019 literature review in the British Journal of Dermatology noted that while air pollutants pose a multifaceted threat to atopic dermatitis, the specific mechanism through which this happens is not totally clear. Similarly, this wildfire study revealed an association between wildfire pollution exposure and eczema symptoms, but the authors were not able to definitively name it as the primary cause.

Still, Dr. Chovatiya notes, the growing research on this topic is becoming more and more compelling. With the wildfire study, we have yet another piece of evidence to suggest that in addition to having negative impacts on the global environment, [air pollution] actually has a negative impact on health, he says. And targeting air pollution may be one way to slow the increase in eczema cases across the world.

The estimated prevalence of eczema has more than doubled in the past 30 years, especially in urban areas and industrialized countries. The rising prevalence of atopic dermatitis in industrialized countries globally is coincident with urbanization, industrialization, and consideration of the impact of air pollution on the development and course of atopic dermatitis, says Lawrence Eichenfield, M.D., professor of dermatology and pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine and chair of the National Eczema Associations Scientific and Medical Advisory Council.

Air pollution is on the decline in some affluent countries, including the United States, yet 55% of the worlds population (mostly those in mid- to low-income countries) are being exposed to increasing levels of air pollution year after year. And although the air quality is improving here, its still far from where it needs to be: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 97 million Americans lived in counties with pollution levels exceeding national air quality standards in 2020.

Both short term and long-term exposure to pollutants may exacerbate symptoms of atopic dermatitis, Dr. Eichenfield notes. This could be a key factor to help explain the vast upswing in atopic dermatitis diagnoses, especially in highly industrialized places with minimal environmental regulations.

So, whats next, and how do we begin to solve this global issue? Dr. Chovatiya hopes that future research will help distinguish the causes of eczema on a more individualized levelincluding the way that air pollution may damage the skin. Maybe air pollution doesnt matter to every single person with eczema, he considers. Who is going to be that person who is most affected by a forest fire, a high industrial area, or a construction site? This information would allow doctors to help patients craft a treatment plan that targets their specific needs.

For now, people with eczema can continue to stick to the generalized prevention guidance: avoid exposure to harsh chemicals, allergens, and fragrances. Being aware of pollution levels on a day-to-day basis is important, too, Dr. Eichenfield suggests, and minimizing outside time during bad pollution days is a reasonable strategy.

If youre hoping to broaden your impact and get involved in advocacy work, environmental groups like Earthjustice and the American Lung Association have clean air campaigns with opportunities for volunteers.

This conversation will remain relevant as we continue to see the impacts of environmental devastation caused by climate change. Fadudu hopes that the UCSF wildfire study can add one more piece to the puzzle of understanding climate change and public health. Not only can there be greater public health skin-related education for communities affected by wildfires, he says, but we can also use these results to show that wildfire smoke and air pollution affect peoples and communities skin health, which can impact quality of life. We all deserve access to clean natural spaces, for ourselves, our children, and the generations ahead.

Meet Our Writer

Sarah Ellis is a wellness and culture writer who covers everything from contraceptive access to chronic health conditions to fitness trends. She is originally from Nashville, Tennessee and currently resides in NYC. She has written for Elite Daily, Greatist, mindbodygreen and others. When shes not writing, Sarah loves distance running, vegan food, and getting the most out of her library card.

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The Impact of Air Pollution on Eczema - HealthCentral.com

The entire JAK inhibitor family of medicines isfeeling the ripple effects from a safety signal flagged for Pfizers Xeljanz. Now, the first marketed drug in the class is encounteringincreased scrutiny from the FDA.

The FDA has pushed back a decision for Incytes application for Jakafi in steroid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) by three months, the company said Tuesday. The new target action date isSept. 22.

The delay came after Incyte submitted additional data in response to a recent request by the agency. The FDA views the update as a major amendment to the previous package, so it now needs more time to review it, the drugmaker said.

Despite the setback, RBC Capital Markets analyst Brian Abrahams still believes Jakafi will eventually get its approval. Feedback from experts has been positive,with physicians noting limited alternatives and clear signs of efficacy for the drug, he wrote in a Wednesday note to clients. He projects the indication could get Jakafi over $300 million in U.S. peak sales.

Jakafi is only thelatest in the JAK drug class to face an FDA delay. Previously, the FDApostponed its verdict on Eli Lillys Incyte-partnered Olumiant and Pfizers investigational abrocitinib in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The agency also held up Xeljanzs filing in ankylosing spondylitis by three months. Before that, the agencydelayed two AbbVie filings for Rinvoq in eczema and psoriatic arthritis.

The extra hurdles stemmed from a safety problem observed in a post-marketing trial of Xeljanz in rheumatoid arthritis. The study linked an increased risk of dangerous heart-related side effects to the Pfizer JAK inhibitor compared with traditional TNF blockers in patients who were at least 50 years old withat least one existing cardiovascular risk factor.

RELATED:More relief for Dupixent as FDA pushes back Lilly, Pfizer eczema decisions on safety concerns

Jakafi was the first JAK inhibitor to reach the market with an FDA go-ahead for the bone marrow disease myelofibrosis in late 2011. The drug has been allowed in patients with steroid-refractory acute GVHD since May 2019.

The company's latest application in chronic GVHD comes off positive results from the phase 3 REACH3 trial. At week 24, the drug triggered a response in 49.7% ofpatients. For patients on best available treatments, 25.6% responded.

We remain confident in the data from the REACH3 trial supporting our sNDA submission for [Jakafi] and look forward to continued dialogue with the FDA throughout the remainder of the review process, Incytes chief medical officer, Steven Stein, M.D., said in a statement.

RELATED:ASH: Incyte, Novartis eye Jakafi approval after chronic graft vs. host win

Currently, Jakafi is given at different strengths twice daily. Incyte is evaluating a once-daily formulation with a potential approval expected by the end of 2022.

In a more important regulatory decision for Incyte, the company is also awaiting a verdict for a cream product with the same ruxolitinib active ingredient as used in the oral Jakafi for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. It used a priority review voucher for that application to secure an early decision date thats scheduled for June 21.

An Incyte spokesperson confirmed that the application for the topical drug remains under review at the FDA, though RBCs Abrahams said he now seesincrementally higher risk for a clean label.Last month, when asked about the increased JAK scrutiny at the FDA, Sten said the company is very comfortable where we are with the review.

Editor's Note: The story has been updated with analysisfrom RBC Capital Markets and a response from Incyte.

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Incyte the latest to fall victim to JAK scrutiny as FDA pushes back Jakafi review in GVHD - FiercePharma

Japanese pharma giant Kyowa Kirin is set to receive $400 million in a deal that wouldnt have happened without the companys San Diego lab.

The company recently announced a partnership with Amgen to develop a drug against eczema, a skin condition that can leave painful and itchy rashes across your hands, feet and behind your knees, among other places. Those rashes break out when irritants and allergens pass through the outermost layer of skin, triggering inflammation.

Kyowa Kirins experimental treatment, developed by scientists at its La Jolla lab, targets immune cells responsible for these inflammatory signals. The drug uses an antibody, a Y-shaped protein, to target T cells, immune cells that normally play a key role in fighting off microbes but can also trigger friendly fire against the bodys own tissues. The small arms of that Y latch onto the surface of activated T cells, while scientists modified the other end to efficiently trigger other immune cells to kill T cells coated in the antibody.

In February, Kyowa Kirin reported that the drug, KHK4083, significantly reduced the size and severity of eczema rashes without causing serious side effects in a 274-person study.

If those results hold up in larger follow-up studies, Kyowa Kirin could pull in another $850 million from Amgen, plus future royalties on sales. More importantly, says Andrew McKnight, director of the companys La Jolla site, the drug could benefit up to 25 to 30 million patients across the U.S., Japan and Europe, regions where Kyowa Kirin and Amgen see the greatest market potential.

This opens up a new paradigm, a new therapy for those patients, he said.

Its just the latest example of the work done by his team of 42 scientists. The local lab is the only research facility Kyowa Kirin has outside of Japan, and its roots in San Diego site date to 1988 back when it was called Gemini Science.

During that time, the lab has worked closely with the La Jolla Institute of Immunology, founded around the same time. Kyowa Kirin helps fund the nonprofit research organizations annual budget, according to McKnight, and the company often follows up on promising initial findings from the institutes scientists. Its a long-running partnership that has led to an antibody treatment being developed against Crohns disease and now against COVID-19, too.

The local research lab has also developed its own drugs internally, including Crysvita, an antibody that helps treat patients with a genetic condition that leads to low phosphate levels in their blood, which can result in weak, soft bones.

The FDA approved Crysvita in 2018, and the drug was approved in Japan in 2019. During the first three months of 2021, Kyowa Kirin earned $162 million in sales from Crysvita, easily exceeding revenue from any of its other products, according to the companys financial reports.

Read more here:
Kyowa Kirin's San Diego lab just helped the pharma company make $400M on a deal for an eczema drug with Amgen - The San Diego Union-Tribune

A woman has warned eczema sufferers against overuse of steroid medication, sharing her painful journey through Topical Steroid Withdrawal, which left her with an excruciating lizard-like rash all over her face and body.

Megan Crome, a 25-year-old digital marketing assistant from London described showering as like having acid poured over her skin at the height of her reaction, revealing the horrendous experience absolutely shattered her quality of life.

Megan, who had to move back in with her parents for the three-month withdrawal period, was diagnosed with eczema when she was six-years-old, but her condition worsened through her final year of school.

RELATED: I wanted to die: Rash ruins womans life

After years of navigating various steroid treatments for her condition, she developed a resistance known as Topical Steroid Addiction (TSA) which left her with red and swollen skin.

When she stopped using the medication, the pain only worsened, making it difficult to do everyday tasks and prompting her take to time off from her job.

I was suffering every second of the day for three months straight. I always had pain somewhere and couldnt make my own meals, go out or do simple tasks due to this, she said.

I didnt recognise myself in the mirror for months and my whole face was just damaged skin that was inflamed and falling off it was absolute hell and thinking back on it now, it is very upsetting as it was quite traumatic, she admitted.

RELATED: Awful cause of mums red face

The traumatic ordeal had a massive impact on her mental health, she revealed.

TSW absolutely shattered my quality of life. I had to take time off work, stop seeing my friends and move back home. All I could do was lay in bed and try to find a position that was somewhat comfortable without any of my open wounds touching the bed.

My friends have been very understanding, but I have missed out on a lot of time with them and I do worry about how this will affect my relationship with them going forward.

Describing her long-term struggle with eczema, Megan said she was initially prescribed hydrocortisone, followed by a stronger cream called betnovate.

When the condition worsened in her teenage years, she was prescribed more steroid creams including elocon and protopic, neither of which had much of an effect.

Megan remembers eventually developing red sleeves, a common symptom of Topical Steroid Addiction (TSA), which left her skin swollen and arms hot to the touch.

Her skin began to weep and scab over due to her whole body being scratched red raw, where her face was engulfed in thick scabs which were continuously prone to infections.

I believe the steroids given to me absolutely exacerbated my skin problems without me even realising, Megan said, going on to add she sought advice from online support groups which told her to quit cold turkey but warned of the difficult journey ahead.

The short but brutal route meant she stopped using all moisturisers and creams to push the body to create its own natural oils, noticing the reaction almost instantly.

I had burning, hot skin, but felt freezing cold inside, extreme flaking which made me feel like a lizard shedding its skin, as well as insomnia where I wasnt able to lay still or relax for any longer than five seconds, she said.

Concluding her ordeal, she revealed she is speaking out in the hopes of raising awareness for others.

I feel so strongly that doctors need to be educated on the effects of steroids and stop handing them out for anything and everything.

Megan now helps her condition by eating healthily and has cut out dairy, wheat, and gluten, as well as taking vitamins and fish oil everyday.

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Womans excruciating reaction to steroid cream withdrawal after eczema treatment - NEWS.com.au