Category Archives: Eczema

Ive never known a life without eczema. My earliest childhood memories all involve my skin: at age 5, itching my legs so much that the blood would seep through my clothes; at age 7, sprawled out on the kitchen floor, crying because of the pain. You dont have a lot of self-control when you're so youngall you know is that you have an itch and you need to scratch it.

There were nail marks all over my legs where I was destroying my skin. Kids noticed it, of course; they asked me about the scratches, and I had plenty of excuses. Oh, I slid playing softball, or, My puppy scratched my legs. Then I would go home and take oatmeal baths and numb my skin with ice packs. Worse, though, was the lack of sleep. I'd be up all night itching, then have to wake up and go to school. When I think back on those days, I just remember being tired all the time. The eczema wasn'tjust a rash; it was an illness.

Up until I was in high school, my skin stayed relatively the same. (There was even a brief reprieve in my early twenties.) But when I was about 26 years old, my eczema evolved into something completely debilitating. It wasn'tjust dry skinI had open, oozing wounds that Id never experienced before. At the time, I was doing a lot of client meetings and presentations, and I had to look professionalnot easy, when youre bleeding through your clothes. I wore a lot of black back then, and I always kept a spare set of clothes in my car.

My boyfriend, now fianc, basically became my caretaker. He wrapped my skin in ice packs every night. For about a year, we didn'teven sleep in the same bedI could only sleep in a leather chair in my living room, because the material was cool and didn'tmake me itch. I was starting to obsess about things, too. I remember constantly changing my shampoo, trying to figure out if it was something that I was using or putting on my skin. I tried allergy injections, acupuncture, different diets. Nothing worked.

It was a really scary time for me. I dont think many people realize that in addition to the trademark rash, eczema can have other effects, such as mental exhaustion. There was a time when I was seeing four different doctors at once: an allergist, a dermatologist, a psychologist, and a psychiatristall because of this disease.

RELATED: 5 Things You Should Never Say to Someone With Eczema

Four years ago, I attended the annual Itching for a Curewalk, which is sponsored by the National Eczema Association(NEA). For the first time in my life, I metpeople who were going through the same things I was. And once I started opening up to others about my skin, I realized that there was a huge support system out there.

There was a time in my life when I swore Id never have kids. I thoughtif there was even a slight possibility of me passing this disease on, I wouldn'tdo it. But now, there are so many different therapies that can help treat eczema. When I was growing up, all I could do was use topical steroids and take oatmeal baths. When I think about the future, Im hopeful that people wont have to suffer the way I did.

Ashley Blua, as told to Maria Masters

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My Eczema Was So Debilitating, I Couldn't Sleep in a Bed for a Year - Health.com

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is often associated with food allergy; approximately 37 percent of young children with moderate to severe eczema also have food allergies. However, scientists are still investigating the exact nature of this relationship do food allergies cause eczema or vice-versa?

Eczema is a non-contagious, inflammatory skin condition that is characterized by itching, redness, and scaly rashes. These symptoms can be painful, cause skin coloring changes, and blisters. Symptoms of eczema often appear on the arms, legs, hands, and face. The itch associated with eczema can be severe, often interrupting sleep. Scratching of the skin may lead to an infection. Infants who have eczema may rub against bedding or other things in an attempt to relieve the itch.

Eczema most commonly presents before the age of 5, but adolescents and adults can also develop this condition. About 60 percent of patients will experience symptoms of atopic dermatitis by age 1, and another 30 percent will experience symptoms by age 5. Children born into families that have a history of allergic diseases such as asthma or hay fever are at an increased risk for eczema developing.

Eczema is considered to be part of the atopic march. The atopic march involves the diagnosis of eczema, food allergy, allergic rhinitis, and asthma, typically in that sequential order.

There is documented association between food allergy and eczema among young children. It is recommended that children under the age of 5 who have moderate to severe eczema be evaluated for milk, egg, peanut, wheat, and soy allergies, if the child continues to have eczema even after treatment. Testing is also recommended when the child has a history of reaction after eating a specific food.4 An allergist can help identify which foods, if any, to eliminate from your childs diet.

Scientistshave found that people who have Filaggrin deficiency (Filaggrin is a protein found in the outermost layer of the skin; some people have a gene mutation that causes Filaggrin deficiency) are at risk for developing atopic eczema the presence of this gene defect is also believed to increase the risk of developing food allergy.

Children and adults diagnosed with eczema can manage this condition with the guidance of an allergist. In cases of moderate or severe eczema, an allergist may recommend prescription medication, including topical steroids and/or antihistamine. Milder cases may be treated with ointments and moisturizers. People with eczema should avoid harsh cleansers, drink water often, wear gloves in cold weather, and avoid wearing materials such as wool, which could irritate the skin.

Flare-ups of eczema can be caused by foods, cosmetics, soaps, wool, dust mites, mold, pollen, dog or cat dander, dry climate, and other variables.

Will the symptoms of eczema improve?

Eczema is a chronic condition, and the symptoms can come and go. The symptoms are treatable. Talk to your allergist about topical ointments or creams that can be applied to the skin. You can also help manage your eczema with regular moisturizing after baths and showers, avoiding things may that trigger a flare up (pollen or animal dander, for example), avoiding extremes in humidity levels, using non-perfumed soaps, and wearing loose-fitting, soft cotton clothing.

Is all eczema the same?

No. We have mainly discussed atopic dermatitis, also known as atopic eczema. Many other types of inflammatory skin conditions are also part of the eczema family. One such example is contact dermatitis, which is caused by direct contact with substances such as latex, detergents, perfumes, and a host of other allergens and substances to which an individual has developed sensitivities.

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eczema in children - ACAAI - ACAAI Public Website

Researchers Discover Genetic Cause for Eczema

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A research team from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and other institutions has identified a genetic mutation that causes eczemaa chronic skin condition also called atopic dermatitis. This discovery could lead to better treatments for atopic dermatitis.

Eczema affects up to 30 percent of the U.S. population and often occurs in young people alongside asthma, hay fever, or other allergies. Its thought to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

For the study, researchers analyzed gene sequences in eight people with severe eczema from four families that had a specific mutation of a gene, called CARD11, that affects the immune systems response to infection. In addition to linking the mutation with eczema, the results of the also indicate that people with mutations in the CARD11 gene can have eczema alone, without having other medical issues common in people with immune system disorders.

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TodayJune 21stis the first full day of summer! As the heat and humidity rise and record-breaking temperatures hit in some areas of the country its important to reduce your risk for serious conditions like heat stroke. Older adults, children, and people who work outside are particularly vulnerable to the heat.

Heat-related illness usually progresses in three stages: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat strokewhich is a medical emergency. To cut your risk, drink plenty of non-alcoholic beverages (water is best) and avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the dayusually between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Symptoms that require immediate cooling measures include increased thirst, muscle cramps, headache, nausea, weakness, and agitation or anxiety. Heat stroke can be fatal and requires immediate medical attention. Signs of heat stroke include mental confusion, an absence of sweating, and reddened skin that is dry to the touch. If you suspect heat stroke, call 9-1-1.

Sourced from: NBC News

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A new study shows the number of U.S. adults who take high-dose vitamin D supplements increased significantlyfrom 0.3 percent to 18.2 percentbetween 1999 and 2014 in the U.S. According to the study, which was published in JAMA, this may be concerning. Although vitamin D is important for bone health, extremely high doses may are linked to negative health effects, including kidney stones, bone fractures, and falls.

Sunlight is the main source of vitamin D; the body produces it when the suns UV rays are absorbed by the skin. It is also found in animal productsmeat and dairyand in mushrooms. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D is 600 IU (International Units) in people under age 70 and 800 IU in those over 70. The upper tolerable limit of vitamin Dthe largest amount unlikely to cause harmis 4,000 IU daily for people of all ages.

For the study, researchers examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey involving about 40,000 people. In each survey from 1999 to 2006, fewer than 0.1 percent of adults reported taking 4,000 IU or more of vitamin D supplements a day, but in the 2013-2014 survey, 3.2 percent of adults reported taking at least that much.

Sourced from: Live Science

Daily Dose Index

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Researchers Discover Genetic Cause for Eczema | HealthCentral - HealthCentral.com

If you have eczema, you know that the itchy, scaly rash can pop up on any given dayand in the most inconvenient places. But even though there is no known cure for the skin condition, making small lifestyle changes can help you avoid symptoms.

Did you know that taking long, hot showers can irritate your skin? The hot water saps skin of natural oils. The same goes for harsh detergents and soaps. Try stocking up on dye-free and fragrance-free products, or try formulas specifically geared toward sensitive skin, so youre less likely to encounter an irritant. For more tips, watch the video.

Watch the video: What Causes Eczema?

Dont have time to watch? Read the full transcript:

Eczema is a skin condition with an itchy, scaly rash. The most common type of eczema is called atopic dermatitis. It usually appears on the arms or behind the knees, but it can appear anywhere on the body. Experts believe its hereditary, but its also linked to asthma and allergies. To help manage symptoms, avoid:

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6 Common Triggers for Eczema and What To Do About Them - Health.com

Researchers have identified mutations in a gene called CARD11 that lead to atopic dermatitis, or eczema, an allergic skin disease. Scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and other institutions discovered the mutations in four unrelated families with severe atopic dermatitis and studied the resulting cell-signaling defects that contribute to allergic disease. Their findings, reported in Nature Genetics, also suggest that some of these defects potentially could be corrected by supplementation with the amino acid glutamine.

The scientists analyzed the genetic sequences of patients with severe atopic dermatitis and identified eight individuals from four families with mutations in the CARD11 gene, which provides instructions for production of a cell-signaling protein of the same name. While some people with these mutations had other health issues, such as infections, others did not, implying that mutations in CARD11 could cause atopic dermatitis without leading to other medical issues often found in severe immune system syndromes.

The scientists next set out to understand how the newly discovered CARD11 mutations contribute to atopic dermatitis. Each of the four families had a distinct mutation that affected a different region of the CARD11 protein, but all the mutations had similar effects on T-cell signaling. With cell culture and other laboratory experiments, the researchers determined that the mutations led to defective activation of two cell-signaling pathways, one of which typically is activated in part by glutamine.

Growing cultured T cells from patients with CARD11 mutations with excess glutamine boosted mTORC1 activation, a key part of one of the affected pathways, suggesting the potential to partially correct the cell-signaling defects that may contribute to atopic dermatitis. The scientists now are planning a study to assess the effect of supplemental glutamine and leucine, another amino acid that activates mTORC1, in people with atopic dermatitis with and without CARD11 mutations.

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Eczema: Single-gene mutations identified that lead to skin condition - Outbreak News Today

June 19, 2017 Human skin structure. Credit: Wikipedia

Exposure to sunlight releases a compound from the skin that can alleviate symptoms of eczema, research has found.

The molecule called nitric oxide works by dampening inflammation, which causes the itchy skin lesions associated with the condition.

New therapies

Scientists say their findings pave the way for new therapies that mimic the effects of the sun's rays.

These could eventually help patients avoid light therapy, which can have damaging side effects on the skin, including raising cancer risk.

Skin tests

Tests on healthy volunteers found that exposing a small patch of skin to UV light triggers nitric oxide to be released into the blood stream.

Further lab studies found that the chemical activates specialised immune cells called regulatory T cells, which act to dampen ongoing inflammation.

"Our findings suggest that nitric oxide has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and could offer an alternative drug target for people with eczema," says lead researcher Dr Anne Astier.

Disease improvement

In patients with eczema, the number of these cells in their blood following light therapy directly correlates with disease improvement, the University of Edinburgh team found.

Researchers say their findings could lead to new therapies for eczema, which affects around one in five children and one in 20 adults in the UK.

Side effects

People with severe eczema are often prescribed tanning lamps to help manage their symptoms, but these can cause skin burning, accelerated aging and increased risk of cancer.

The study is published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

"It is clear that the health benefits of sunlight stretch far beyond vitamin D and we are starting to fill in these blank spaces," says Professor Richard Weller.

Explore further: Skin defences point to eczema therapies

More information: Cunjing Yu et al. Nitric oxide induces human CLA+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells with skin homing potential, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.05.023

The body's own natural defences could be harnessed in a potential therapy for a common skin condition, research suggests.

(HealthDay)People dealing with the itchy skin condition known as eczema may have other medical conditions to cope with as well, including heart disease, a dermatologist says.

Scientists have uncovered evidence that a deficiency in the skin's barrier is key to triggering eczema.

(HealthDay)It's still flu season, and not too late to get your flu shot. But a new study suggests that people with eczema should request the vaccine be given into the muscle, rather than just under the skin.

U.S. regulators have approved the first powerful, injected medicine to treat serious cases of the skin condition eczema.

Estimates suggest that 40 percent of eczema flares are treated with topical antibiotics, but findings from a study led by Cardiff University suggest there is no meaningful benefit from the use of either oral or topical antibiotics ...

In recent years, immunotherapy, a new form of cancer therapy that rouses the immune system to attack tumor cells, has captivated the public's imagination. When it works, the results are breathtaking. But more often than not ...

Exposure to sunlight releases a compound from the skin that can alleviate symptoms of eczema, research has found.

Racial discrimination experienced by African-American children and young adults exacerbates a type of asthma known to be resistant to standard treatment, according to a study headed by researchers at UC San Francisco.

Researchers have identified a new gene which is crucial for the immune system to respond to infection and vaccination.

Up to 75 percent of patients with systemic lupus erythematosusan incurable autoimmune disease commonly known as lupusexperience neuropsychiatric symptoms. But so far, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying lupus' ...

A study from the University of Warwick suggests peer-led self-management programmes have little impact on the quality of life or lung function of adolescents with asthma.

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Sun effects on skin reveal eczema therapy clues - Medical Xpress

BALTIMORE - A 10-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after police thought he was shot in the leg in east Baltimore. Now investigators said the boy actually had eczema.

Police were called to the1200 block of East Eager Street Sunday afternoon after a passenger in an SUV shot at a group of adults.

A crowd scattered after the shots were fired, and the boy realized he'd been shot, police said.

Medical personnel determined that what detectives originally thought was a gunshot graze wound to the boy's shin was actually caused by eczema.

Detectives classified the boy as a shooting victim, believing the abrasion was a gunshot wound. His status has been changed.

Police are still investigating the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call (410) 396-2221 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Continued here:
Police: 10-year-old boy wasn't shot, has eczema - ABC2 News

Despite recent findings to the contrary, atopic dermatitis, a common form of eczema, is likely not associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk factors or diseases, a new study shows.

In our study, people who reported having atopic dermatitis were not at any increased risk for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, or strokes, says lead author Aaron Drucker, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Drucker and a team of coauthors made the findings by analyzing the records of 259,119 adults aged 30-74 in the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project. Drucker led the data analysis with the hypothesis, suggested by two recent studies, that people with atopic dermatitis (AD) would be significantly more likely to have various cardiovascular problems.

Instead, he found that the opposite was the case.

A diagnosis of AD was associated with somewhat reduced risk of stroke (0.79 times the odds), hypertension (0.87 times), diabetes (0.78 times), and heart attack (0.87 times). Drucker emphasizes, however, that he does not believe that AD is protectivegiven the mixed evidence accumulated by researchers, the best conclusion is that AD is likely not positively associated with cardiovascular disease.

Its important to make this clear so it doesnt get misinterpreted: Even though we found lower rates of these outcomes with atopic dermatitis, we are not interpreting that as atopic dermatitis decreasing the risk, he says.

The findings are based on a statistical analysis that accounted for confounders including age, gender, ethnic background, body-mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep, physical activity, and asthma.

The suspicion that AD might be associated with cardiovascular disease has likely arisen from the better-substantiated association researchers have found between the skin condition psoriasis and cardiovascular disease, Drucker says. But while the two inflammatory skin ailments share some clinical similarities, he says, they work differently at the molecular level, which might explain why only one may be associated with cardiovascular disease.

In response to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease discovered for psoriasis, clinicians and psoriasis patients have been encouraged to more actively screen for and manage cardiovascular disease, Drucker says. It appears that similar measures may not be warranted for atopic dermatitis.

Drucker acknowledges that the study could not answer the question of whether AD severity might correlate with cardiovascular disease. He says he is pursuing that question in new research, though there is a paucity of datasets that include both severity information and cardiovascular disease diagnoses.

The findings appear in the British Journal of Dermatology. Brown Universitys dermatology department provided funding for the study.

Source: Brown University

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Eczema not linked to heart disease risk after all - Futurity - Futurity: Research News

Washington D.C. [USA], Jun 18 : People living with atopic dermatitis, a common form of eczema, can now breathe a sigh of relief as a recent study has cast doubt about the skin condition risking hearts.

According to a recent study, despite recent findings to the contrary, the skin condition is likely not associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk factors or diseases.

"In our study, people who reported having atopic dermatitis were not at any increased risk for high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart attacks or strokes," said lead author Aaron Drucker of Brown University.

Drucker and a team of co-authors made the findings by analyzing the records of 259,119 adults aged 30-74 in the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project. Drucker led the data analysis with the hypothesis, suggested by two recent studies, that people with atopic dermatitis (AD) would be significantly more likely to have various cardiovascular problems.

Instead, he found that the opposite was the case.

A diagnosis of AD was associated with somewhat reduced risk of stroke (0.79 times the odds), hypertension (0.87 times), diabetes (0.78 times) and heart attack (0.87 times). Drucker emphasized, however, that he does not believe that AD is protective -- given the mixed evidence accumulated by researchers, the best conclusion is that AD is likely not positively associated with cardiovascular disease.

"It's important to make this clear so it doesn't get misinterpreted: Even though we found lower rates of these outcomes with atopic dermatitis, we are not interpreting that as atopic dermatitis decreasing the risk," he said.

The findings are based on a statistical analysis that accounted for confounders including age, gender, ethnic background, body-mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep, physical activity and asthma.

The findings appear in the British Journal of Dermatology.

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Link between eczema, heart disease questioned - Outlook India

According to a recent study, despite recent findings to the contrary, eczema is most likely not associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk factors or diseases.

In our study, people who reported having atopic dermatitis were not at any increased risk for high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart attacks or strokes, said lead author Aaron Drucker of Brown University.

Drucker and a team of co-authors made the findings by analysing the records of 2,59,119 adults aged 30-74 in the Canadian Partnership for the Tomorrow Project. Drucker led the data analysis with the hypothesis, suggested by two recent studies, that people with atopic dermatitis (AD) would be significantly more likely to have various cardiovascular problems. Instead, he found that the opposite was the case.

A diagnosis of AD was associated with a somewhat reduced risk of stroke (0.79 times the odds), hypertension (0.87 times), diabetes (0.78 times) and heart attack (0.87 times). Drucker emphasized, however, that he does not believe that AD is protective - given the mixed evidence accumulated by researchers, the best conclusion is that AD is likely not positively associated with cardiovascular disease. Its important to make this clear so it doesnt get misinterpreted: Even though we found lower rates of these outcomes with atopic dermatitis, we are not interpreting that as atopic dermatitis decreasing the risk, he said.

The findings are based on a statistical analysis that accounted for confounders including age, gender, ethnic background, body-mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep, physical activity and asthma. The findings appear in the British Journal of Dermatology.

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Is there a link between eczema and heart disease? Finally we have ... - Hindustan Times