Category Archives: Eczema

What is eczema? Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic allergic condition in which the skin develops areas of itchy, scaly rashes.

What are the symptoms of eczema? Eczema can occur on almost any part of the body but is most common on the face, scalp, inside of elbows, knees, ankles, and hands. It typically appears as extremely itchy patches on the skin. Eczema can get worse when scratched; in fact, itchy skin may appear normal until scratched; the irritating action may then cause the characteristic rash and scales to develop.

Other symptoms include:

Scratching can introduce infectious agents into the skin, leading to secondary complications including bacterial infection and permanent scars.

What are the causes of eczema? Eczema is caused by a reaction similar to that of an allergy and can promote chronic inflammation. The condition will often wax and wane and accompany other allergic conditions such as asthma. In some cases, a specific substance, such as certain soaps, detergents, or metals, dust mites, and animal dander, can trigger eczema. For many people, however, there is no known allergen that causes this reaction. Eczema can be worsened by dry climates, exposure to water, temperature changes, and stress.

Who is likely to develop eczema? Eczema is particularly common in infants and children. A persons risk of developing the problem also increases if he or she has a family history of eczema or allergic conditions such as asthma and hay fever.

How is eczema diagnosed? Physicians usually diagnose eczema by conducting a physical exam and asking questions about the patients symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and habits.

What is the conventional treatment for eczema? Conventional doctors often recommend a combination of self-care techniques and medical therapies to treat eczema. First, people with eczema should avoid any potential triggers that appear to make symptoms worse. Take warm, not hot, showers or baths. Use soap as sparingly as possible, and apply a soothing, hypoallergenic moisturizer immediately after bathing. Physicians may also suggest using over-the-counter anti-itch lotions or low-potency steroid creams.

When these measures dont alleviate eczema, the doctor may prescribe one or more of the following treatments:

What therapies does Dr. Weil recommend for eczema? In addition to the self-care approaches mentioned above, Dr. Weil recommends considering the following natural treatments for eczema:

Read more here:
Natural Treatment of Eczema - Dr. Weil

Rash facts Rash is not a specific diagnosis. Instead it means skin inflammation and discoloration that changes the way the skin looks. Common rashes include eczema, poison ivy, hives, and heat rash. Infections that cause rashes may be fungal, bacterial, parasitic, or viral. Over-the-counter products may be helpful treatments for many skin rashes. Rashes lasting more than a few days that are unexplained should be evaluated by a doctor. What are the causes, symptoms, and signs of common noninfectious rashes?

Some common, noninfectious rashes are listed below. If you have a new rash and you have a fever or some other generalized illness associated with it, it would be best to see your doctor.

Seborrheic dermatitis: Seborrheic dermatitis is the single most common rash affecting adults. It produces a red scaling eruption that characteristically affects the scalp, forehead, brows, cheeks, and external ears.

Atopic dermatitis: Atopic dermatitis, often called eczema, is a common disorder of childhood which produces red itchy, weeping rashes on the inner aspects of the elbows and in back of the knees as well as the cheeks, neck, wrists, and ankles. It is commonly found in patients who also have asthma and hay fever.

Contact dermatitis: Contact dermatitis is a rash that is brought on either by contact with a specific chemical to which the patient is uniquely allergic or with a substance that directly irritates the skin. Some chemicals are both irritants and allergens. This rash is also occasionally weepy and oozy and affects the parts of the skin which have come in direct contact with the offending substance. Common examples of contact dermatitis caused by allergy are poison ivy or poison oak (same chemical, different plant) and reactions to costume jewelry containing nickel.

Diaper rash: This is a common type of contact dermatitis that occurs in most infants who wear diapers when feces and urine are in contact with skin for too long.

Stasis dermatitis: This is a weepy, oozy dermatitis that occurs on the lower legs of individuals who have chronic swelling because of poor circulation in veins.

Psoriasis: This bumpy scaling eruption never weeps or oozes and tends to occur on the scalp, elbows, and knees. It leads to silvery flakes of skin that scale and fall off.

Nummular eczema: This is a weepy, oozy dermatitis that tends to occur as coin-shaped plaques in the wintertime and is associated with very dry skin.

Drug eruptions: Certain drugs can produce skin rash as an unwanted side effect. The common appearance is similar to rashes produced by certain common viral infections. On the other hand, drugs may produce a wide variety of other types of rashes.

More here:
Rash 101: The Most Common Types of Skin Rashes

My Eczema Care Routine March2014

Woohoo I have finally updated my routine! Hope this helps!

Shower/ Wake up Routine

1) First thing in the morning I like to shower. If my skin is all flaky and dry as well I find that the only way I can really get rid of the flakes/ clean it properly is to shower. As youve probably read all over the internet already, long and hot showers can dry out the skin especially for us eczema sufferers and I do find this to be the case. It feels so nice to have a long, hot shower I know but when I step out of the shower I find that I am so dry and irritated that the long, hot shower is definitely not worth it! So I keep my showers short and the water lukewarm. I know some people find it hard to give long, hot showers up especially in the winter, but I find that eventually you have to put your skin first! It is worth it!

Please note, I avoid water contact with my face and neck (which are prone to eczema) as I wash these after my shower.

Products used in the shower:

Leanor Greyl Shampoo Balancing (I have greasy roots and drier ends as I have long hair). This uses natural ingredients. Im currently testing this, it leaves my hair a bit drier than I would like for styling but has not caused me any irritation which is a definite plus.

2) After showering, I pat my skin dry with a towel making sure that I dont rub it. For me rubbing my skin can be quite harsh as my skin is so sensitive and it can irritate any eczema patches I have, especially on my neck, so I make sure I just pat the skin dry. Do not be tempted to rub to itch either!

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My Eczema Care Routine March 2014

Introduction

Eczema is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder. It can appear as blisters that crust over to become scaly, itchy rashes, or as dry, thick patches of skin with scales. The main symptom is itching, and symptoms can come and go. Although eczema is not contagious, it is very common. People with eczema often have a personal or family history of allergies. There is no cure, however, treatments can reduce symptoms and help prevent outbreaks.

The most common signs of eczema are:

Eczema in children under 2 years old generally starts on the cheeks, elbows, or knees. In adults, it tends to be found on the inside surfaces of the knees and elbows.

Researchers do notknow for sure what causes eczema. It may be a combination of hereditary (genetic) and environmental factors. In some people, allergies may trigger eczema. Exposure to certain irritants and allergens can make symptoms worse, as can dry skin, exposure to water, temperature changes, and stress.

Stress can make eczema worse. Other irritants that can make eczema worse include:

Wool or synthetic fibers

Certain soaps and detergents, as well as perfumes and some cosmetics

Dust or sand

Cigarette smoke

Link:
Eczema | University of Maryland Medical Center

Due to no health insurance, I am self-diagnosed with vaginal eczema. I have had eczema all over my body since the day I was born, but as I aged the symptoms lessened to the point that I rarely ever have any spots--except on my vaginal area, which has been tormenting me for about 20 years now.

About 15 years ago, my mother mentioned to me that a lot of people with eczema have allergy to aloe.I experimented with aloe & found out that FOR SURE I was one of them aloe-intolerant people.And it doesn't surprise me that I only had vaginal irritation for the last TWO decades, & not my whole life (I am now 40) because it's been only within the last 20 years that aloe has become a staple in almost EVERY beauty product.

I am sharing this with you all--a bit late, but hopefully someone who is browsing the web for a solution to the same problem can benefit from this.

Now I want to list some of the items that aloe is in, as I myself was amazed at my finding while trying to weed out aloe in my hygiene: Some bathroom tissue--toilet paper--has aloe.It may not say it on the package, but I recommend calling the customer service hotline to make sure yours doesn't.It's added to give the tissue softness. Almost every triple-blade & quadruple blade razor.It's in the moisture strip.Dollar Shave Club has a triple blade that doesn't have aloe.I only use their blades now. Hair gel, styling mouse, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, soap. Some girdles--believe it or not, some girdle makers CLAIM the aloe helps you lose fat while wearing it. Condoms--yes, some condoms even use aloe in the lubricants. Baby wipes. Shaving gel. I'll tell you the pain I've had for the last 11 years trying to get my partner to quit using his Aveeno aloe & flaxseed hair gel & to quit using them Bic blades with aloe.It has made my sex life absolute HADES b/c with all the aloe he was using on his body was causing severe irritation on my labia. He's finally weeded out the aloe, but only because *I* went out & bought him all theshaving supplies, hair supplies & paid for the monthly order from Dollar Shave Club. I'm telling you, you will come across 3 types of partners: 1. Those who don't care 2.Those who think you're making more out of it than what it is. 3.Those who think you're lying about the problem.

You have to stand alone on this & do what you can to promote your own sexual health--because apparently no one else will care.

Also, I want to say that the only thing that's helped me is Lysine Plus cream--meant for the lips on the face, not the vaginal ones--from Quantum Inc.Just dab lightly with it, it's way too expensive to apply liberally.

The rest is here:
Treatment of Vaginal Eczema - Dermatology - MedHelp

Eczema is a type of atopic dermatitis that results in red, irritated skin that may ooze and crust over causing the skin to appear scaly, according to the Australasian College of Dermatologists. Eczema of the fingernails occurs under and around the nail beds and occurs when the skin becomes irritated or is exposed to chronic moisture, such as when a child repeatedly sucks his thumb. There are several ways to treat nail eczema to clear up the unwanted redness and irritation.

Moisturizing lotion

Cold compress

Avoid over-exposure to water. This means staying out of the pool for extended periods of time and wearing rubber gloves when cleaning and doing the dishes. This will cut down on the dryness that will make nail eczema worse.

Apply moisturizing lotion to the nail beds at least once a day. This will keep the skin supple and can be used to treat eczema all over your body to help seal in moisture.

Identify what triggers your eczema and attempt to avoid it. According to Mayo Clinic.com, common eczema triggers include stress, contact with certain household cleaners, sweating and harsh soaps and perfumes.

Place a cold compress on the affected finger or toe nails when a flare-up is occurring. This could include a bag of peas wrapped in a hand towel or an ice pack. This will relieve the irritation, redness and swelling that is associated with eczema.

Cover the nails with a one percent hydrocortisone cream. This will help relieve any itching that might accompany eczema.

Speak to your doctor about any medications that will help treat the symptoms of nail eczema. These include immunomodulators that, according to the Mayo Clinic, will lessen the effects the immune system has on eczema. Another medication that may be prescribed is prednisone, which is a steroid that will reduce the inflammation of eczema.

Eczema and psoriasis are often mistaken for each other because they tend to share similar symptoms. ... Nail changes do occur with...

See more here:
How to Treat Nail Eczema (6 Steps) | eHow

What is Dyshidrotic Eczema?

This is a skin problem which is also known as dyshidrosis, or pompholyx. This skin condition creates fluid-filled, small blisters or vesicles on the soles of the feet or palms of the hands or both.

These blisters occurring in dyshidrotic eczema normally last around 3 weeks and causes extreme itching. When these blisters dry, cracks and groves or fissures develop, which are very painful.

Management for dyshidrotic eczema most often requires topical creams, ultraviolet light or wet compresses to improve the appearance as well as ease symptoms.

The cause of dyshidrotic eczema is not known. But, it can be linked with a similar disorder of the skin known as atopic dermatitis as well as allergic conditions, for instance asthma and hay fever known as allergic rhinitis. Eruptions can be seasonal in individuals with allergies.

With dyshidrotic eczema, the affected areas of the skin come to be inflamed. Because of this, the connections between the cells of the skin open and this allows fluid or serum to seal these spaces. Physicians denote this development as spongiosis since when viewed under microscope; the skin appears sponge-like with these numerous fluid-filled spaces.

Signs or symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema include:

Risk aspects for dyshidrotic eczema include:

Females seem to have this condition more than men

Appear to be more frequent during stressful times

Read this article:
Dyshidrotic Eczema Pictures, Causes, Home Remedies ...

I have a three year old son who has recently showed signs of becoming sensitized, to possibly everything. He has been diagnosed with ATOPIC ECZEMA. I have been researching all over, I understand there is some questions between dermatologists and allergists on what the cause for such a severe condition could be. Me his mother, being the genetic donor of such a horrible affliction, knows the condition first hand.

I strongly believe this condition has several parts to it. One being an immune issue, the second being allergies, and the third part extremely dry and sensitive skin. So with a sliver of knowledge, I am taking aim to improve his condition without the use of the enormous amount of drugs dermatologists have prescribed him at 3 years old. We are working closely with a wonderful allergist who has the patience and knowledge to deal with my family. My question is we now live in Albuquerque, NM. He has been through two RAST tests (blood tests to check for IgE levels), and a patch test which had no results for us to read. He, according to the RAST test has low and moderate levels to most allergic foods (wheat, dairy, corn, soy, eggs, and peanuts), he also shows a low moderate to dogs and elm.

At this point I have not noticed hay fever symptoms for our dogs we have, but with this new information from the blood tests, the dogs and his reactions to them are under my careful observation. He is on a very restricted diet and his skin is clearing with out the prescribed drugs. We will begin introducing one food at a time very soon to see the effects.

So sorry about the long preface to my question. We live in Abq., and have an opportunity to move to Fort Smith Arkansas. With the knowledge he has the possibility for his allergies to get worse (sensitized), which climate would be more likely to exascerbate his condition, the dry and very pollen filled Abq., or Arkansas a humid climate I know very little about? Kendra, Albuquerque, NM

Original post:
Atopic Eczema: What climate is best, dry or humid ...

Eczema is a general term for a set of chronic skin conditions caused by inflammation. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common type of eczema, and has been called the "itch that rashes." The general term eczema is usually used to refer to AD. The word atopic means an allergy that is usually hereditary, and dermatitis is defined as inflammation of the skin.

Eczema can be a very stressful and frustrating condition, and can make living your daily life challenging and uncomfortable. The intense, frequent itch can cause loss of sleep and days off from work, and many children have to miss school days. You may find yourself making significant lifestyle changes and even avoiding fun activities, like going to the pool or playing a sport, because of your eczema. You may wear certain clothes to cover up the way it looks. Of course, if youre a parent, you may worry if youre doing everything you can to help your child.

Eczema is a chronic problem for lots of people its estimated that eczema affects 35 million Americans: 1-3% of adults, and 10-20% of children. Seventy percent of cases start in children younger than 5 years old, and about 60% of infants who have eczema continue to have one or more symptoms in adulthood.

Eczema can vary from mild forms, when patches of skin are slightly dry, itchy and rashy, to severe forms, when patches of skin can be extremely irritated, often leading to cracked, oozing areas. This disease typically has an intermittent course of flare-ups and remission of these symptoms. See your doctor if you believe you have signs of severe eczema.

Read this article:
What is Eczema? Eczema Causes, Signs, & Symptoms

What Is Eczema?

Eczema is a common skin condition marked itchy and inflamed patches of skin. It is also known as atopic dermatitis. It is more common in babies and young children. It occurs on the faces of infants, as well as inside the elbows and behind the knees of children, teenagers, and adults. It is caused by an overactive immune system. Up to 20 percent of children and one to three percent of adults develop atopic dermatitis, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In rare cases, atopic dermatitis can first appear during puberty or adulthood. It affects males and females equally.

When people refer to eczema, they usually mean atopic dermatitis, which is the common and chronic type of eczema. Other types include:

Find out if you're eligible to participate in an atopic dermatitis clinical trial

An eczema flare-up is when one or more eczema symptoms appear on the skin. The cause of eczema is not fully understood.

It is thought to be triggered by an overactive immune system that responds aggressively to the presence of irritants.

Eczema is sometimes caused in part by an abnormal response to proteins that are part of the body. Normally, the immune system ignores proteins that are part of the human body and attacks only the proteins of invaders, such as bacteria or viruses. In eczema, the immune system loses the ability to distinguish between the two, which causes inflammation.

Common triggers of eczema flare-ups include:

Other triggers include stress, food allergies, animal dander, and upper respiratory infections.

Eczema is characterized by itchy, dry, rough, flakey, inflamed, and irritated skin. It can flare up, subside, and then flare up again. It can occur anywhere but usually affects the arm, inner elbow, back of the knee, or head (particularly the cheeks and the scalp). It is not contagious and becomes less severe with age.

Original post:
Eczema: Definition, Causes, Treatments & Pictures