Category Archives: Eczema

The exact causes of eczema are unknown. You might have inherited a tendency for eczema. You may have a family member who has eczema or who has hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or asthma. Many doctors think eczema causes are linked to allergic disease, such as hay fever or asthma. Doctors call this the atopic triad. Many children with eczema (up to 80%) will develop hay fever and/or asthma.

There are many triggers of eczema that can make it flare or get worse. Below are some of the common triggers. You should learn what triggers your eczema to flare, and then try to avoid it.

Irritants can make your symptoms worse. What irritates you may be different from what irritates someone else with the condition, but could include:

If your genes make you more likely to develop atopic eczema, the condition will develop after you are exposed to certain environmental factors, such as allergens.

Allergens are substances that can cause the body to react abnormally. This is known as an allergic reaction. Some of the most common allergens that can be causes of eczema include:

Some types of microbe can be triggers of eczema:

Atopic eczema can sometimes be caused by food allergens, especially before the age of one.Some studies of children and young people with atopic eczema found that one-third to nearly two-thirds also had a food allergy.Food allergies associated with eczema causes are typically:

Stress is known to be associated with eczema but it is not fully understood how it affects the condition. Some people with eczema have worse symptoms when they are stressed. For others their eczema symptoms cause them to feel stressed.

Read more about how stress and eczema are related

Hormones are chemicals produced by the body. They can cause a wide variety of effects. When the levels of certain hormones in the body increase or decrease some women can experience flare ups of their eczema.

Originally posted here:
Triggers of Eczema | Causes of Eczema | National Eczema ...

There is no cure for atopic eczema, but treatments can ease the symptoms. Many children find their symptoms naturally improve as they get older.

The main treatments for atopic eczema are:

Other treatments include topical pimecrolimus or tacrolimus for eczema in sensitive sites not responding to simpler treatment,antihistamines for severe itching, bandages or special body suits to allow the body to heal underneath, or more powerful treatments offered by a dermatologist (skin specialist).

Read on to learn about the different treatments you may be offered. You can also read a summary of the pros and cons of these, allowing you to compare your treatment options.

As well as the treatments mentioned above, there are thingsyou cando yourself to help easeyour symptoms and prevent further problems.

Eczema is often itchy and it can be very tempting to scratch the affected areas of skin. But scratching usually damages the skin, which can itself cause more eczema to occur.

The skin eventually thickens into leathery areas as a result of chronic scratching. Deep scratching also causes bleeding and increases the risk of your skin becoming infected or scarred.

Try to reduce scratching whenever possible. You could try gently rubbing your skin with your fingers instead. If your baby has atopic eczema, anti-scratch mittens may stop them scratching their skin.

Keep your nails short and clean to minimise damage to the skin from unintentional scratching. Keep your skin covered with light clothing to reduce damage from habitual scratching.

Your GP will work with you toestablish what mighttrigger the eczema flare-ups, althoughit may get better or worse for no obvious reason.

Once you knowyour triggers, you can try to avoid them.For example:

Althoughsome people with eczema are allergic to house dust mites, trying to rid your home of them isn't recommendedas it can be difficult and there is no clear evidence that it helps.

Read more about preventing allergies.

Some foods, such as eggs and cows' milk, can trigger eczema symptoms. However, you should not make significant changes to your diet without first speaking to your GP.

It may not be healthy to cut these foods from your diet, especially in young children who need the calcium, calories and protein from these foods.

If your GP suspects you have afood allergy, you may be referred to a dietitian (a specialist in diet and nutrition), who can help work out a way to avoid the food you're allergic to while ensuring you still get all the nutrition you need.

Alternatively, you may be referred to a hospital specialist such as an immunologist, dermatologist or paediatrician.

If you are breastfeeding a baby with atopic eczema, get medical advice before making any changes to your regular diet.

Emollients are moisturising treatments applied directly to the skin to reduce water loss and cover it with a protective film. They are often used to help manage dry or scaly skin conditions such as atopic eczema.

In addition to making the skin feel less dry, they may also have a mild anti-inflammatory role, and can help reduce the number of flare-ups you have.

Several different emollients are available. You may need to try a few to find one that works for you. You may also be advised to use a mix of emollients, such as:

The difference between lotions, creams and ointments is the amount of oil they contain. Ointments contain the most oil so they can be quite greasy, but are the most effective at keeping moisture in the skin.

Lotions contain the least amount of oil so are not greasy, but can be less effective. Creams are somewhere in between.

If you have been using a particular emollient for some time, it may eventually become less effective or may start to irritate your skin.

If this is the case, your GP will be able to prescribe another product that suits you better. The best emollient is the one you feel happy using every day.

Use your emollient all the time, even if you are not experiencing symptoms. Many people find it helpful to keep separate supplies of emollients at work or school, or a tub in the bathroom and one in a living area.

To apply the emollient:

You should use an emollient at least twice a day if you can, or more often if you have very dry skin.

During a flare-up, apply generous amounts of emollient more frequently, but remember to treat inflamed skin with a topical corticosteroidas emollients usedon their ownare not enough to control it.

Don't put your fingers into an emollient pot use a spoon or pump dispenser instead, as this reduces the risk of infection. And never share your emollient with other people.

If your skin is sore and inflamed, your GP may prescribe a topical corticosteroid (applied directly to your skin), which can reduce the inflammation within a few days.

Topical corticosteroids can be prescribed in different strengths, depending on the severity of your atopic eczema and the areas of skin affected.

They can be very mild (such as hydrocortisone), moderate (such as clobetasone butyrate), or even stronger (such as mometasone).

If you need to use corticosteroids frequently, see your GP regularly so they can check the treatment is working effectively and you are using the right amount.

Don't be afraid to apply the treatment to affected areas to control your eczema. Unless instructed otherwise by your doctor, follow the directions on the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication. This will give details of how much to apply.

Most people will only have to apply it once a day as there is no evidence there is any benefit to applying it more often.

When using a topical corticosteroid:

Occasionally, your doctor may suggest using a topical corticosteroid less frequently, but over a longer period of time. This is designedto help prevent flare-ups.

This is sometimes called "weekend treatment", where a person who has already gained control of their eczema uses the topical corticosteroid every weekend on the trouble sites to prevent them becoming active again.

Topical corticosteroids may cause a mild stinging sensation for less than a minute as you apply them.

In rare cases, they may also cause:

Most of these side effects will improve once treatment stops.

Generally, using a strong topical corticosteroid for many months,using them in sensitive areas such as theface, armpits or groin, or using a large amount will increase your risk of side effects. For this reason, you should be prescribed the weakest effective treatment to control your symptoms.

Antihistamines are a type of medicine that blocks the effects of a substance in the blood called histamine. Theycan help relieve the itching associated with atopic eczema.

They can eitherbe sedating, which cause drowsiness,ornon-sedating. If you have severe itching, your GP may suggest tryinga non-sedating antihistamine.

If itching during a flare-up affects your sleep, your GP may suggest taking a sedatingantihistamine. Sedatingantihistamines can cause drowsiness into the following day, so it may be helpful to let your child's school know they may not be as alert as normal.

In some cases, your GP may prescribe special medicated bandages, clothing or wet wraps to wear over areas of skin affected by eczema.

These can either be used over emollients or with topical corticosteroids to prevent scratching, allow the skin underneath to heal, and stop the skin drying out.

Corticosteroid tabletsare rarely used to treat atopic eczema nowadays, but may occasionally be prescribed for short periods of five to seven days to help bring particularly severe flare-ups under control.

Longer courses of treatment are generally avoided because of the risk of potentially serious side effects.

If your GP thinks your condition may be severe enough to benefit from repeated or prolonged treatment with corticosteroid tablets, they will probably refer you to a specialist.

In some cases, your GP may refer you to a specialist in treating skin conditions (dermatologist).

You may be referred if your GP is not sure what type of eczema you have, normal treatment is not controlling your eczema, your eczema is affecting your daily life, or it's not clear what is causing it.

A dermatologist may be able to offer the following:

A dermatologist may also offer additional support to help you use your treatments correctly, such as demonstrations from nurse specialists, and they may be able to refer you for psychological support if you feel youneed it.

Some people may find complementary therapies such as herbal remedies helpful in treating their eczema, but there is little evidence to show these remedies are effective.

If you are thinking about using a complementary therapy, speak to your GP first to ensure the therapy is safe for you to use. Make sure you continue to use other treatments your GP has prescribed.

Page last reviewed: 25/11/2014

Next review due: 25/11/2016

Read more:
Atopic eczema - Treatment - NHS Choices

Eczema is a term for a group of medical conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed or irritated. The most common type of eczema is known as atopic dermatitis, or atopic eczema. Atopic refers to a group of diseases with an often inherited tendency to develop other allergic conditions, such as asthma and hay fever.

Eczema affects about 10% to 20% of infants and about 3% of adults and children in the U.S. Most infants who develop the condition outgrow it by their tenth birthday, while some people continue to have symptoms on and off throughout life. With proper treatment, the disease often can be controlled.

No matter which part of the skin is affected, eczema is almost always itchy. Sometimes the itching will start before the rash appears, but when it does, the rash most commonly appears on the face, back of the knees, wrists, hands, or feet. It may also affect other areas as well.

Affected areas usually appear very dry, thickened, or scaly. In fair-skinned people, these areas may initially appear reddish and then turn brown. Among darker-skinned people, eczema can affect pigmentation, making the affected area lighter or darker.

In infants, the itchy rash can produce an oozing, crusting condition that happens mainly on the face and scalp, but patches may appear anywhere.

The exact cause of eczema is unknown, but it's thought to be linked to an overactive response by the body's immune system to an irritant. It is this response that causes the symptoms of eczema.

In addition, eczema is commonly found in families with a history of other allergies or asthma. Also, defects in the skin barrier could allow moisture out and germs in.

Some people may have "flare-ups" of the itchy rash in response to certain substances or conditions. For some, coming into contact with rough or coarse materials may cause the skin to become itchy. For others, feeling too hot or too cold, exposure to certain household products like soap or detergent, or coming into contact with animal dander may cause an outbreak. Upper respiratory infections or colds may also be triggers. Stress may cause the condition to worsen.

Although there is no cure, most people can effectively manage their disease with medical treatment and by avoiding irritants. The condition is not contagious and can't be spread from person to person.

Link:
Eczema and Your Skin | Eczema Types, Symptoms, Causes, and ...

Eczemaderm is a naturally medicated treatment for eczema and dermatitis. Eczemaderm was developed by a team of dermatologists & pharmacists. It combines the properties of a specially formulated delivery vehicle base with maximum strength natural active ingredients.

Our formula has been medically proven to provide regeneration at the cellular level while controlling the overactive effects of the immune system. It also provides the additional benefits of intensely moisturizing dry damaged skin.

Eczemaderm is a non-steroidal cream that is safe for everyone including infants and small children.

As mentioned, Eczemaderm combines the best of traditional medicine with the best of natural medicine. The Eczemaderm formula is very complex, but to understand why it works, we give a description of its different components.

a. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) - MSM is considered to be a natural product. It occurs naturally in green plants such as field horsetail (Equiseturn Arvense), certain species of algae, fruits, vegetables, grains, and broth bovine and human adrenal glands, and milk. In the past few years MSM has become so popular that we consider it to be gaining mainstream acceptance. It is so popular that we have even seen physicians prescribing this compound. MSM is a precursor source of sulfur for cysteine and methionine production. Cysteine and methionine are amino acids, and amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Cysteine is one of the few amino acids that contains sulfur. This allows cysteine to bond in a special way and maintain the structure of proteins in the body. Methionine is just as important, as the body can synthesize cysteine from methionine.

Another vital role of cysteine is that it is a compound component of the antioxidant glutathione. Antioxidants serve to protect our skin from harmful substances called free radicals, and these free radicals have been known to trigger eczema. Antioxidants work is several ways: they may reduce the energy of free radicals, stop the free radicals from forming in the first place, or interrupt an oxidizing chain reaction to minimize the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive compounds that are created in the body during normal metabolic functions or introduced from the environment. Free radicals are inherently unstable, since they contain "extra" energy. To reduce their energy load, free radicals react with certain chemicals in the body, and in the process, interfere with the cells' ability to function normally. Free radicals are believed to play a role in more that sixty different health conditions, including eczema.

In addition, cysteine may play an important role in the communication between immune system cells. Instead of suppressing the body's immune system to treat eczema such as conventional corticosteroid therapies would do, MSM works with the body's immune system and amino acids to aid tissue repair and healing.

According to commonly used pharmacist reference, the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, MSM is an extremely safe ingredient. There are no known or documented allergies to the ingredient. There are also no known interactions with herbs, dietary supplements, or any other prescription or non-prescription drugs. There are also no known interactions with any diseases or conditions.

b. Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids - The disturbed epidermal barrier function seen in eczema has been linked to altered metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids. We've all been warned about how eating unhealthy fats can harm our bodies. Yet, some fats are essential to our health. These fats, appropriately called essential fatty acids (EFAs), play many critical roles in the body, but the two most important involve cellular function.

EFAs help form cell membranes that protect cells from attack by foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria. They also allow nutrients to enter and waste products to exit the cells. In addition, EFAs are needed to make prostaglandins -- short-lived hormone like substances that function on the cellular level and regulate many body processes including circulatory, cardiovascular and immune functions. More specifically, our body manufactures the prostaglandin "PGE1". PGE1 has anti-inflammatory properties and this treats the pro-inflammatory condition known as eczema. If our diets are deficient in EFAs, cellular function deteriorates, gradually leading to the development of numerous health problems such as eczema.

There are two families of essential fatty acids: omega-6 and omega-3. Linoleic acid (LA) heads the omega-6 family, and alpha- linolenic acid (ALA) heads the omega-3 family. Omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid can also be converted to its derivatives, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA is used to make the body's beneficial prostaglandin PGE1. Linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid are considered the only "true" essential fatty acids because the body can't manufacture them and must receive them from the diet. Omega-6 linoleic acid is widespread in our food supply; It's found in most plant foods and in virtually all vegetable oils. Sources of alpha-linoleic acid are harder to come by. The foods richest in alpha-linoleic acid are flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, dark leafy greens, and fish oils such as salmon and halibut oil.

Further benefits of essential fatty acids include reduction of leukotriene, a substance produced in the body that is linked to eczema. Essential fatty acids are quick to provide relief from eczema, and give the immediate benefits of relief from skin itching, redness, and dryness.

c. Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) - Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects cell membrances and other fat soluble parts of the body. As mentioned previously when discussing the functions of MSM, antioxidants protect our skin cells from free radical damage. This free radical change of cells is speculated to be one of the causes of eczema. In the last ten years, the functions of vitamin E in the cell have been further clarified. In addition to its antioxidant functions, vitamin E is now known to act through other mechanisms, including direct effects on inflammation. Inflammation is one of the underlying processes involved in eczema.

Vitamin E is found in a variety of different substances. These include wheat germ oil, nuts and seeds, whole grains, egg yolks, and leafy green vegetables. Certain vegetable oils should contain significant amounts of Vitamin E. However, many of the vegetable oils sold in supermarkets have had the Vitamin E removed during processing.

d. Emollients - Emollients are semi-solid bases designed to control dryness. Emollients leave a film on the surface of the skin which retards evaporation of moisture and maintains hydration and flexibility. This is usually the foundation of all eczema treatments. We have chosen to incorporate an oil-in-water emulsion emollient. Its texture is non-greasy and this aids in ease of application. The evaporating water from the oil-in-water mixture produces a cooling effect which alleviates itching. A smaller amount of oil content is left as a residual film to protect hydration.

e. Hydrating Agents - Hydrating agents are emollients to which humectants have been added. These ingredients have hygroscopic (water-attracting) properties, enabling them to attract water into the stratum corneum and hydrate the skin. These agents provide tremendous relief from the dry skin associated with eczema.

More here:
Eczemaderm | Eczema Treatment Cream | Excema

Scalp ezcema, seborrhoeic dermatititsand dandruff is a condition that plagues many people, young or old..

Scalp eczema can start in children as young as one year old and can continue well into adulthood. This is particularly distressing for the childs confidence and self-esteem. Other children who may not understand the condition may bully or make fun of the child; other parents, ignorant about it, may think its contagious and exclude the afflictedchild from their own kids social events. In addition, the parents may experience disapproving looks from other parents or adults who think Tut, tut that child is neglected by his/her parents. Why cant the parents do something about it?

The eczema produces reddened inflammed sores that periodically ooze, build up of dry scales, persistent itching, painful lesions, severe scarring and permanent damage to the hair follicles resulting in hair loss. It is not a pretty sight to see a young child walking around with patches of hair on their head.

Eczema is an illness caused by toxaemia not surprising given the amount of preservatives, hormones and additives in modern diet & processed foods. .

Children and adults who suffer from scalp eczema should have their hair treated like fine silk with utmost gentle care, using the simplest and most natural of regimes. Pre-disposition to eczema & seb derm tends to be genetic ad run through families. All it takes are the right sort of conditions (wrong hair care products or wrong sorts of food) to trigger flare ups.

When the right diet is adopted, including eliminating triggers, and the right sort of products are used, eczema and seborrhoeic dermatitis can be very well controlled.

Here are some of my recommendations

DONT..

DO .

To really get the benefits of the Scalp Therapy products, why not get the bundle of all the 4 products? It works out cheaper than buying the products individually. This way, you can wash your hair with the Hair Cleanser, then follow it up with the Calming Leaving Conditioner and for really dry hair/scalp, then use the Soothing Balm. In between washes, simply use Anti-Itch Spray with theSoothing Balm. These holistic, chemical-free products are all natural, so there are no artificial fillers to bulk out the products. This makes them so effective that a) you will only need to use a little at a time, which means they last so much longer and b) you will notice a very quick improvement to the condition of your hair & scalp. Oh yeah, and they ship worldwide for a flat rate too.

PS the products can be used from age 2 year old and upwards.

The products can also be used on ALL hair types and is suitable for both men and women.

Below is a picture of TLC Naturals Scalp Therapy Hair Products with the packaging update. The formulae and ingredients of the products they are so effective so why mess with a good thing I just wanted smarter looking bottles.

Here are the results of usingTLC Naturals Scalp Therapy Products on the hair of a white (caucasian man) who suffered from scalp eczema and seborrheic dermatitis

Pictures from left to right:

here are the results of usingTLC Naturals Scalp Therapy Products onthe hair of a black woman with natural who also experienced scalp problems, seb derm hair loss and slow growth.

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Remedy For Scalp Eczema, Dandruff and Seborrhoeic ...

SKIN CARE AT HOME

Daily skin care may cut down on the need for medicines.

To help you avoid scratching your rash or skin:

Keepyour skin moist by using ointments (such as petroleum jelly), creams, or lotions 2 to 3 times a day. Choose skin products that do not contain alcohol, scents, dyes, and other chemicals. A humidifier to keep home air moist will also help.

Avoid things that make symptoms worse, such as:

When washing or bathing:

MEDICATIONS

At this time, allergy shots are not used to treat atopic dermatitis.

Antihistamines taken by mouth may help with itching or allergies. You can often buy these medicines without a prescription.

Atopic dermatitis is usually treated with medicines placed directly on the skin or scalp. These are called topical medicines:

Wet-wrap treatment with topical corticosteroids may help control the condition, but may lead to an infection.

Other treatments that may be used include:

Go here to read the rest:
Atopic dermatitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Definition of eczema in babies

Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) is a skin rash that usually appears before age 5. In babies it tends to show up on the cheeks and scalp, but it may spread to the arms, legs, chest, or other parts of the body. After a child's first year, it's most likely to show up on the insides of the elbows, the backs of the knees, the wrists, and the ankles, but it can also appear elsewhere.

About 20 percent of babies and young children have eczema. It usually starts in infancy, with 65 percent of patients developing symptoms in the first year of life and 90 percent developing symptoms before age 5.

The rash might look like dry, thickened, scaly skin, or it might be made up of tiny red bumps that ooze or become infected if scratched. Scratching can also cause thickened, darkened, or scarred skin over time.

Eczema typically comes and goes. It isn't contagious, but because it's intensely itchy, it can be very uncomfortable, and scratching can be a problem. If untreated, the rash can be unsightly, so it may present a social challenge for a child, too.

Your doctor can diagnose eczema by examining your child's skin. He may send you to a dermatologist for confirmation and treatment.

There's no way to know ahead of time whether a child will outgrow eczema, but fortunately the condition usually becomes less severe with age. Many children outgrow eczema by age 2, and many others outgrow it by adulthood.

Dr P. Marazzi / Science Source

No one knows for sure what causes it, but the tendency to have eczema is often inherited. So your child is more likely to have it if you or a close family member has had eczema, asthma, or allergies.

Eczema is not an allergic reaction to a substance, but allergens or irritants in the environment (such as pollen or cigarette smoke) can trigger it. Less frequently, it can be triggered by allergens in your child's diet or in your diet if your child is breastfeeding.

The rash can also be aggravated by heat, irritants that come in contact with the skin (like wool or the chemicals in some soaps, fragrances, lotions, and detergents), changes in temperature, and dry skin. Stress can also trigger a flare-up of eczema.

Taking good care of your child's skin and avoiding triggers can help treat and prevent flare-ups.

Bathing and moisturizing

Talk with the doctor about how often to bathe your child. Many experts now believe that daily bathing can be helpful for children with eczema. Just don't make the water too warm, because very warm water dries out the skin faster than lukewarm water.

Use a mild soap or non-soap cleanser, and wash and shampoo your child at the end of the bath so he isn't sitting in soapy water. As soon as you get your child out of the tub, pat (don't rub) excess water from his skin with a soft towel or washcloth.

Then, while the skin is still damp, promptly apply a liberal amount of moisturizer or emollient an ointment, cream, or lotion that "seals in" the body's own moisture to your child's skin. Ointments and creams contain more emollient and less water than lotions and are usually best for children with eczema.

"I recommend emollients for children of all ages," says Michael Smith, an associate professor of medicine and pediatrics in the division of dermatology at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. He suggests testing the emollient for a short time to make sure it doesn't irritate your child's skin.

The most effective approach, according to Smith, is to hydrate and lubricate the skin at the same time by applying emollient to damp skin. The emollient won't improve the red, inflamed, itchy areas, but it will help restore the skin's invisible protective barrier. (This barrier makes up part of the normal outer layer of the skin and is impaired in kids with eczema.)

Allowing skin to breathe and stay cool

Dress your child in smooth natural fabrics, like cotton. Avoid wool and other scratchy materials, which can irritate very sensitive skin. Don't overheat your child by bundling him up more than necessary.

Soaps and cleansers

Switch to mild, fragrance-free soaps or non-soap cleansers and shampoos, or those made for sensitive skin. Use mild, fragrance-free detergent for washing clothes and bedding. Don't use fabric softeners.

Prevent scratching

Your child may try to get relief by scratching with his hands or by rubbing his face against the sheet during sleep. But scratching and rubbing can further irritate or inflame the skin and make matters much worse.

Use the softest sheets possible in the crib or bed, and keep your child's nails short. Put him to bed with cotton mittens or socks on his hands if he'll tolerate them.

If your child has a lot of trouble sleeping because of the itching, consult your doctor. He may suggest an antihistamine to help your child rest better.

Soothe flare-ups

During a flare-up, you can try applying cool compresses to the area several times a day, followed by a moisturizer.

A study published in the May 2009 issue of Pediatrics tested treatments on children with severe eczema. The kids ranged in age from 6 months to 17 years.

Researchers found that soaking for five to ten minutes twice a week in a diluted bleach bath was five times more effective at treating eczema than plain water (used by the placebo group). The improvement was so dramatic that the researchers stopped the study early to allow children in the placebo group to benefit from the method.

Amy Paller, senior author of the study and the Walter J. Hamlin professor and chair of the department of dermatology and professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, says that with their doctor's approval parents of children with moderate to severe eczema might want to try this method, especially if their child gets skin infections.

Paller recommends a scant two teaspoons of bleach per gallon of bathwater (or 1/2 cup per full tub) at least twice a week, taking these precautions: 1) Make sure your child doesn't drink the water. 2) Disperse the bleach in the water before putting your child in the tub (you don't want undiluted bleach to get on her skin).

Nashville pediatrician Smith agrees with Paller's approach. "It's safe and easy to do," he says. "It's basically like a freshly chlorinated swimming pool, which serves to kill germs in the pool. It is very useful for kids with recurrent skin infections related to eczema, but it has also been shown effective just to eliminate bacteria, making the eczema easier to treat."

Smith tells parents to use 1/3 to 1/2 cup for a full tub or 1 teaspoon per gallon. He also suggests rinsing off briefly afterward, to get rid of the bleach smell.

To avoid getting the bleach water in your child's eyes or mouth, Smith cautions not to use bleach on the face. Instead, he recommends a good barrier ointment such as petrolatum to protect the skin on the face from irritants such as saliva, food, and beverages.

For open, oozing areas on the face, he suggests over-the-counter antibiotic ointments such as bacitracin or a polymyxin/bacitracin combination. If these remedies don't work, it's time to get in touch with your child's doctor.

Read the original post:
Eczema | BabyCenter

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common chronic skin condition marked by itching, inflammation, redness and swelling of the skin. Eczema is a form of dermatitis. Eczema itself is not dangerous, and it is not contagious. Eczema is an allergic condition that is most common in babies and children and usually resolves by adulthood.

Eczema occurs when skin is more sensitive to certain substances than normal. The appearance, severity, symptoms and triggers of eczema vary between individuals. There is currently no cure for eczema, but eczema can be controlled with regular medical care and a good treatment plan. Some types of eczema can be prevented by avoiding stress, irritants, and things that cause allergic reactions.

Find a Great Allergist Near You

Eczema is generally not a serious condition, but there is a potential for complications, such as a secondary bacterial or fungal infection of the eczema rash. Seek prompt medical care if you have symptoms of eczema. Early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce your risk for complications.

What to Ask Your Doctor About Allergies

Link:
Eczema - Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Dermatitis, also known as eczema, is inflammation of the skin. It is characterized by itchy, erythematous, vesicular, weeping, and crusting patches. The term eczema is also commonly used to describe atopic dermatitis[1][2] also known as atopic eczema.[3] In some languages, dermatitis and eczema are synonyms, while in other languages dermatitis implies an acute condition and eczema a chronic one.[4]

The cause of dermatitis is unclear.[5][6][7] One possibility is a dysfunctional interplay between the immune system and skin.[8]

The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions. These include dryness and recurring skin rashes that are characterized by one or more of these symptoms: redness, skin swelling, itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding. Areas of temporary skin discoloration may appear and are sometimes due to healed injuries. Scratching open a healing lesion may result in scarring and may enlarge the rash.

Treatment is typically with moisturizers and steroid creams.[3] If these are not effective, creams based on calcineurin inhibitors may be used.[9] The disease was estimated as of 2010 to affect 230 million people globally (3.5% of the population).[10] While dermatitis is not life-threatening, a number of other illnesses have been linked to the condition, including osteoporosis, depression, and heart disease.[11][12]

The term "eczema" refers to a set of clinical characteristics. Classification of the underlying diseases has been haphazard and unsystematic, with many synonyms used to describe the same condition. A type of eczema may be described by location (e.g. hand eczema), by specific appearance (eczema craquele or discoid), or by possible cause (varicose eczema). Further adding to the confusion, many sources use the term eczema for the most common type of eczema (atopic dermatitis) interchangeably.

The European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) published a position paper in 2001, which simplifies the nomenclature of allergy-related diseases including atopic and allergic contact eczemas.[13] Non-allergic eczemas are not affected by this proposal.

There are several different types of dermatitis. The different kinds usually have in common an allergic reaction to specific allergens. The term may describe eczema, which is also called dermatitis eczema and eczematous dermatitis. An eczema diagnosis often implies atopic dermatitis (which is very common in children and teenagers) but, without proper context, may refer to any kind of dermatitis.[14]

In some languages, dermatitis and eczema are synonyms, while in other languages dermatitis implies an acute condition and eczema a chronic one.[4] The two conditions are often classified together.

Dermatitis symptoms vary with all different forms of the condition. They range from skin rashes to bumpy rashes or including blisters. Although every type of dermatitis has different symptoms, there are certain signs that are common for all of them, including redness of the skin, swelling, itching and skin lesions with sometimes oozing and scarring. Also, the area of the skin on which the symptoms appear tends to be different with every type of dermatitis, whether on the neck, wrist, forearm, thigh or ankle. Although the location may vary, the primary symptom of this condition is itchy skin. More rarely, it may appear on the genital area, such as the vulva or scrotum.[16] Symptoms of this type of dermatitis may be very intense and may come and go. Irritant contact dermatitis is usually more painful than itchy.

Although the symptoms of atopic dermatitis vary from person to person, the most common symptoms are dry, itchy, red skin. Typical affected skin areas include the folds of the arms, the back of the knees, wrists, face and hands.

Dermatitis herpetiformis symptoms include itching, stinging and a burning sensation. Papules and vesicles are commonly present. The small red bumps experienced in this type of dermatitis are usually about 1cm in size, red in color and may be found symmetrically grouped or distributed on the upper or lower back, buttocks, elbows, knees, neck, shoulders, and scalp.[17] Less frequently, the rash may appear inside the mouth or near the hairline.

The symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis on the other hand, tend to appear gradually, from dry or greasy scaling of the scalp (dandruff) to hair loss. In severe cases, pimples may appear along the hairline, behind the ears, on the eyebrows, on the bridge of the nose, around the nose, on the chest, and on the upper back.[18] In newborns, the condition causes a thick and yellowish scalp rash, often accompanied by a diaper rash.

Perioral dermatitis refers to a red bumpy rash around the mouth.[19]

The cause of eczema is unknown but is presumed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.[20]

The hygiene hypothesis postulates that the cause of asthma, eczema, and other allergic diseases is an unusually clean environment. It is supported by epidemiologic studies for asthma.[21] The hypothesis states that exposure to bacteria and other immune system modulators is important during development, and missing out on this exposure increases risk for asthma and allergy.

While it has been suggested that eczema may sometimes be an allergic reaction to the excrement from house dust mites,[22] with up to 5% of people showing antibodies to the mites,[23] the overall role this plays awaits further corroboration.[24]

A number of genes have been associated with eczema, one of which is filaggrin.[3] Genome-wide studies found three new genetic variants associated with eczema: OVOL1, ACTL9 and IL4-KIF3A.[25]

Eczema occurs about three times more frequently in individuals with celiac disease and about two times more frequently in relatives of those with celiac disease, potentially indicating a genetic link between the two conditions.[26][27]

There is no good evidence that a mother's diet during pregnancy, the formula used, or breastfeeding changes the risk.[31] There is tentative evidence that probiotics in infancy may reduce rates but it is insufficient to recommend its use.[32]

People with eczema should not get the smallpox vaccination due to risk of developing eczema vaccinatum, a potentially severe and sometimes fatal complication.[33]

There is no known cure for eczema, with treatment aiming to control symptoms by reducing inflammation and relieving itching.

Bathing once or more a day is recommended.[3] It is a misconception that bathing dries the skin in people with eczema.[34] It is not clear whether dust mite reduction helps with eczema.

There has not been adequate evaluation of changing the diet to reduce eczema.[35][36] There is some evidence that infants with an established egg allergy may have a reduction in symptoms if eggs are eliminated from their diets.[35] Benefits have not been shown for other elimination diets, though the studies are small and poorly executed.[35][36] Establishing that there is a food allergy before dietary change could avoid unnecessary lifestyle changes.[35]

People can also wear clothing designed to manage the itching, scratching and peeling.[37]Soaps and detergents should not be used on affected skin because they can strip natural skin oils and lead to excessive dryness.

Moisturizing agents (also known as emollients) are recommended at least once or twice a day.[3] Oilier formulations appear to be better and water-based formulations are not recommended.[3] It is unclear if moisturizers that contain ceramides are more or less effective than others.[38] Products that contain dyes, perfumes, or peanuts should not be used.[3]Occlusive dressings at night may be useful.[3]

There is little evidence for antihistamine and they are thus not generally recommended.[3] Sedative antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, may be tried in those who are unable to sleep due to eczema.[3]

If symptoms are well controlled with moisturizers, steroids may only be required when flares occur.[3]Corticosteroids are effective in controlling and suppressing symptoms in most cases.[39] Once daily use is generally enough.[3] For mild-moderate eczema a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone), while in more severe cases a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate) may be used. In severe cases, oral or injectable corticosteroids may be used. While these usually bring about rapid improvements, they have greater side effects.

Long term use of topical steroids may result in skin atrophy, stria, telangiectasia.[3] Their use on delicate skin (face or groin) is therefore typically with caution.[3] They are, however, generally well tolerated.[40]

Topical steroid addiction (TSA) has been reported in long-term users of topical steroids (users who applied topical steroids to their skin over a period of weeks, months, or years).[41][42] TSA is characterised by uncontrollable, spreading dermatitis and worsening skin inflammation which requires a stronger topical steroid to get the same result as the first prescription. When topical steroid medication is lost, the skin experiences redness, burning, itching, hot skin, swelling, and/or oozing for a length of time. This is also called 'red skin syndrome' or 'topical steroid withdrawal'(TSW). After the withdrawal period is over the atopic dermatitis can cease or is less severe than it was before.[43]

Topical immunosuppressants like pimecrolimus and tacrolimus may be better in the short term and appear equal to steroids after a year of use.[44] Their use is reasonable in those who do not respond to or are not tolerant of steroids.[9] Treatments are typically recommended for short or fixed periods of time rather than indefinitely.[3] Tacrolimus 0.1% has generally proved more effective than picrolimus, and equal in effect to mid-potency topical steroids.[31]

The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued a health advisory a possible risk of lymph node or skin cancer from these products,[45] however subsequent research has not supported these concerns.[9] A major debate, in the UK, has been about the cost of these medications and, given only finite NHS resources, when they are most appropriate to use.[46]

When eczema is severe and does not respond to other forms of treatment, systemic immunosuppressants are sometimes used. Immunosuppressants can cause significant side effects and some require regular blood tests. The most commonly used are ciclosporin, azathioprine, and methotrexate.

Light therapy using ultraviolet light has tentative support but the quality of the evidence is not very good.[47] A number of different types of light may be used including UVA and UVB;[48] in some forms of treatment, light sensitive chemicals such as psoralen are also used. Overexposure to ultraviolet light carries its own risks, particularly that of skin cancer.[49]

There is currently no scientific evidence for the claim that sulfur treatment relieves eczema.[50] It is unclear whether Chinese herbs help or harm.[51] Dietary supplements are commonly used by people with eczema.[52] Neither evening primrose oil nor borage seed oil taken orally have been shown to be effective.[53] Both are associated with gastrointestinal upset.[53]Probiotics do not appear to be effective.[54] There is insufficient evidence to support the use of zinc, selenium, vitamin D, vitamin E, pyridoxine (vitamin B6), sea buckthorn oil, hempseed oil, sunflower oil, or fish oil as dietary supplements.[52]

Other remedies lacking evidential support include chiropractic spinal manipulation and acupuncture.[55] There is little evidence supporting the use of psychological treatments.[56] While dilute bleach baths have been used for infected dermatitis there is little evidence for this practice.[57]

Most cases are well managed with topical treatments and ultraviolet light.[3] About 2% of cases however are not.[3] In more than 60% the condition goes away by adolescence.[3]

Globally eczema affected approximately 230million people as of 2010 (3.5% of the population).[58] The lifetime clinician-recorded prevalence of eczema has been seen to peak in infancy, with female predominance of eczema presentations occurring during the reproductive period of 1549 years.[59] In the UK about 20% of children have the condition, while in the United States about 10% are affected.[3]

Although little data on the rates of eczema over time exists prior to the Second World War (193945), the rate of eczema has been found to have increased substantially in the latter half of the 20th Century, with eczema in school-aged children being found to increase between the late 1940s and 2000.[60] In the developed world there has been rise in the rate of eczema over time. The incidence and lifetime prevalence of eczema in England has been seen to increase in recent times.[3][61]

Dermatitis affected about 10% of U.S. workers in 2010, representing over 15 million workers with dermatitis. Prevalence rates were higher among females than among males, and among those with some college education or a college degree compared to those with a high school diploma or less. Workers employed in healthcare and social assistance industries and life, physical, and social science occupations had the highest rates of reported dermatitis. About 6% of dermatitis cases among U.S. workers were attributed to work by a healthcare professional, indicating that the prevalence rate of work-related dermatitis among workers was at least 0.6%.[62]

from Ancient Greek kzema,[63] from - ekz-ein, from ek "out" + - z-ein "to boil"

The term "atopic dermatitis" was coined in 1933 by Wise and Sulzberger.[64]Sulfur as a topical treatment for eczema was fashionable in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.[50]

The word dermatitis is from the Greek derma "skin" and - -itis "inflammation" and eczema is from Greek: ekzema "eruption".

The terms "hypoallergenic" and "doctor tested" are not regulated,[65] and no research has been done showing that products labeled "hypoallergenic" are in fact less problematic than any others.

Read more:
Dermatitis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edit: I have found a cream that clears up my eye eczema and has also helped many others. Please scroll down to the bottom of the post for this if you don't want to read my whole story and just want to find out what got rid of the eczema.

This is a bit of a different post from me today, and is quite a personal one and something I'm really self-conscious and sensitive about. It's going to be very long, and have some really gross photos towards the end. But I hope you'll continue reading, because I hope that someone out there will be able to help me somehow, or will know someone who can help me.

I've had eczema for as long as I can remember. There isn't a time where I can't remember having it. When I was younger I would always get it under my knees and in the inside of my elbows, and I had to bathe in E45emollient. It would usually strike during Autumn and Winter when the heating came on and cold weather arrived, and for some reason when I was a child seawater also flared it up (thankfully I seemed to grow out of this!).

Anyway, nothing has ever really worked for it, I've always had to just bear with it and let it run its course until it went down by itself. Although the bath emollient worked, the E45 cream has never worked, and I feel as though I've tried every product out there, from natural to chemical. The only good thing about it being under my knees and in my elbows, was that I could cover it up with clothing, so no one had to see it.

When I was 14 I finally found the perfect solution. I was back in Australia for a holiday and we went down to Albany for a week. We visited the Sandalwood Factory down there and I found Mount Romance Damage Control. At the time I was suffering from eczema really badly, and within a few hours of using the Damage Control oil, it was already going down. I also had a huge patch on my left wrist, it was so sore it looked diseased, it was a huge spread of eczema all across my wrist and was so dry it was cracking and bleeding. After a couple of days of applying Damage Control every hour, it had completely disappeared.

Then disaster struck. I started getting eczema on my eyelids and under-eye. I couldn't hide this with clothing. It was on show for all to see, and it was humiliating. My eyes were bright red and cracked - it looked as though there was something seriously wrong with me. Despite the Damage Control telling me not to use it on eyes, I did, and it worked. It stung like hell, but it worked.

A couple of years ago I had allergy tests done, and I discovered the reason behind my eczema. I'm allergic to mould. This also explains why my asthma is worse during autumn. Asthma and eczema are connected, and the mould flares them both up. During autumn when the leaves fall off the trees, they decay on the ground and mould spores rise into the air, getting into your lungs and going onto your skin. For those who are allergic, it's a nightmare, and different people have different reactions to it.

About two months ago my eczema on my eyes flared up again, but this time the Damage Control didn't work. My trusty saviour for the past seven years failed me, and I needed something else that would work ASAP. Incredibly painful, itchy and completelyunsightly, my eyes were red raw with the skin flaking off, and I was waking up with my eyes completely swollen. I spent ages sitting there with a bag of frozen peas on them before leaving for work, and as you can imagine, my tube journeys to work involved me keeping my head down. I felt myself constantly worrying about what people were thinking when they looked at me.

A couple of weeks ago I found the E45 Intensive Recovery for 'very dry skin', and to be honest, it's amazing. I've been using it regularly on my eyelids for the past few days, and they're back to being smooth. But today I read an article on the chemicals inside it, and learnt that some of them are actually very toxic. I'm furious, absolutely fuming, that the Doctor told me to put this on my EYES of all places! Not only does E45 contain Sodium Sulphate's, but it also contains Propylparaben, which is an irritant that even has links to causing cancer.

So I'm back to square one. I need to stop using the E45, and once again I need to find something else that's natural and organic. The problem is I don't know where to start, which brand to trust, and I honestly can't afford to keep spending all this money on products I use a few times before realizing they're not going to work or are making it worse. Not only is it horrible and disgusting to look at, but it's incredibly painful. The constant pain and itch stresses me out, and when it's particularly bad I can feel my heart racing from the stress. It's truly horrible.

I also need to use completely natural eye make-up from now on, as I've discovered all of my normal eye make-up (eyeshadow, eyeliner), are all full of those nasty chemicals that irritate my eczema. But just like with the skincare products, I just can't afford to keep buying products unless I know that they'll definitely work.

So if any PR companies that deal with organic/natural skincare and make-up brands that I can use on my eyes, feel like sending me any products to test and review for them, I would be eternally grateful. And just think, if your product works...I'll be a customer for life, as this allergy and issue isn't going to go away any time soon! And fellow bloggers, if you know of any brands that could help me, please let me know!

PS: Just so any newbies don't think I'm completely hideous and abnormal, here's a photo of me looking normal. I know, shocking difference eh.

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Read more here:
Lux Life - UK Lifestyle Blog: My Struggle With Eye Eczema.