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Eczema is a condition where patches of skin become inflamed, itchy, red, cracked, and rough. Blisters may sometimes occur.

Different stages and types of eczema affect 31.6 percent of people in the United States.

The word eczema is also used specifically to talk about atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema.

Atopic refers to a collection of diseases involving the immune system, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, and hay fever. Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin.

Some people outgrow the condition, while others will continue to have it throughout adulthood.

This MNT Knowledge Center article will explain what eczema is and discuss the symptoms, causes, treatments, and types.

The symptoms of atopic dermatitis can vary, depending on the age of the person with the condition.

Atopic dermatitis commonly occurs in infants, with dry and scaly patches appearing on the skin. These patches are often intensely itchy.

Most people develop atopic dermatitis before the age of 5 years. Half of those who develop the condition in childhood continue to have symptoms as an adult.

However, these symptoms are often different to those experienced by children.

People with the condition will often experience periods of time where their symptoms flare up or worsen, followed by periods of time where their symptoms will improve or clear up.

Over time, the following symptoms can occur:

Adults who developed atopic dermatitis as a child but no longer experience the condition may still have dry or easily-irritated skin, hand eczema, and eye problems.

The appearance of skin affected by atopic dermatitis will depend on how much a person scratches and whether the skin is infected. Scratching and rubbing further irritate the skin, increase inflammation, and make itchiness worse.

There is no cure for eczema. Treatment for the condition aims to heal the affected skin and prevent flare-ups of symptoms. Doctors will suggest a plan of treatment based on an individuals age, symptoms, and current state of health.

For some people, eczema goes away over time. For others, it remains a lifelong condition.

There are numerous things that people with eczema can do to support skin health and alleviate symptoms, such as:

There are several medications that doctors can prescribe to treat the symptoms of eczema, including:

Even though the condition itself is not yet curable, there should be a particular treatment plan to suit each person with different symptoms. Even after an area of skin has healed, it is important to keep looking after it, as it may easily become irritated again.

The specific cause of eczema remains unknown, but it is believed to develop due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Eczema is not contagious.

Children are more likely to develop eczema if a parent has had the condition or another atopic disease.

If both parents have an atopic disease, the risk is even greater.

Environmental factors are also known to bring out the symptoms of eczema, such as:

There are many different types of eczema. While this article has focused mainly on atopic dermatitis, other types include:

Continued here:
Eczema: Symptoms, treatment, and causes

If your skin itches and turns red from time to time, you might have eczema. This skin condition is very common in children, but adults can get it too.

Eczema is sometimes called atopic dermatitis, which is the most common form. Atopic refers to an allergy. People with eczema often have allergies or asthma along with itchy, red skin.

Eczema comes in a few other forms, too. Each eczema type has its own set of symptoms and triggers.

Read more: 29 things only someone with eczema would understand

There are also some common symptoms for all types of eczema:

Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema. It usually starts in childhood, and often gets milder or goes away by adulthood. Atopic dermatitis is part of what doctors call the atopic triad. Triad means three. The other two diseases in the triad are asthma and hay fever. Many people with atopic dermatitis have all three conditions.

Learn more: Do you have a rash from hay fever?

In atopic dermatitis:

Atopic dermatitis happens when your skins natural barrier against the elements is weakened. This means your skin is less able to protect you against irritants and allergens. Atopic dermatitis is likely caused by a combination of factors such as:

If you have red, irritated skin thats caused by a reaction to substances you touch, you may have contact dermatitis. It comes in two types: Allergic contact dermatitisis an immune system reaction to an irritant like latex or metal.Irritant contact dermatitisstarts when a chemical or other substance irritates your skin.

In contact dermatitis:

Contact dermatitis happens when you touch a substance that irritates your skin or causes an allergic reaction. The most common causes are:

Dyshidrotic eczema causes small blisters to form on your hands and feet. Its more common in women than men.

In dyshidrotic eczema:

Dyshidrotic eczema can be caused by:

Eczema that only affects your hands is called hand eczema. You may get this type if you work in a job like hairdressing or cleaning, where you regularly use chemicals that irritate the skin.

In hand eczema:

Hand eczemais triggered by exposure to chemicals. People who work in jobs that expose them to irritants are more likely to get this form, such as:

Neurodermatitis is similar to atopic dermatitis. It causes thick, scaly patches to pop up on your skin.

In neurodermatitis:

Neurodermatitis usually starts in people who have other types of eczema or psoriasis. Doctors dont know exactly what causes it, although stress can be a trigger.

This type of eczema causes round, coin-shaped spots to form on your skin. The word nummular means coin in Latin. Nummular eczema looks very different from other types of eczema, and it can itch a lot.

In nummular eczema:

Nummular eczemacan be triggered by a reaction to an insect bite, or by an allergic reaction to metals or chemicals. Dry skin can also cause it. Youre more likely to get this form if you have another type of eczema, such as atopic dermatitis.

Stasis dermatitis happens when fluid leaks out of weakened veins into your skin. This fluid causes swelling, redness, itching, and pain.

In stasis dermatitis:

Stasis dermatitis happens in people who have blood flow problems in their lower legs. If the valves that normally push blood up through your legs toward your heart malfunction, blood can pool in your legs. Your legs can swell up and varicose veins can form.

See your doctor if the itching and redness youre experiencing doesnt go away on its own, or if it interferes with your life. A skin doctor called a dermatologist can diagnose and treat eczema.

To help your doctor understand your condition, it may be helpful to keep a diary to identify your eczema triggers. Write down:

You should begin to notice connections between your activities and your eczema flare-ups. Bring this journal to your doctor to help them pinpoint your triggers.

An allergy specialist can also do a patch test. This test places small amounts of irritating substances on patches that are applied to your skin. The patches stay on your skin for 20 to 30 minutes to see if you have a reaction. This test can help your doctor tell which substances trigger your eczema, so you can avoid them.

Eczema often comes and goes. When it appears, you might need to try different medicines and other treatments to get rid of the rash.

If an allergic reaction results in a flare-up of your eczema, youll want to avoid the substance that triggers it.

7 treatments for winter psoriasis flare-ups

Most eczema comes and goes over time. Atopic dermatitis is usually worst in childhood and improves with age. Other forms of eczema may stay with you throughout your life, although you can take measures to reduce your symptoms.

Here are a few ways to prevent eczema flare-ups and manage symptoms:

You should also avoid any known triggers.

More:
7 Types of Eczema: Symptoms, Causes, and Pictures

Founder and director of Eczema Support Australia Melanie Funk said the drug should be considered a suicide prevention measure, particularly for people who have not had success using traditional treatment methods for their eczema.

"I've seen this with some individuals I've met with compassionate access; they've told me they didn't realise what having a life meant until they went on Dupixent," she said.

"Prior to that they were barely surviving, let alone thriving, both mentally and physically."

Gayle Ross, a dermatologist who heads the severe eczema clinic at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, said eczema was much more than just itchy skin, and mental health conditions were a recognised part of it.

"I think a huge number of patients with severe eczema do have significant anxiety and depression related to their skin; [it] feeds back into the not sleeping, not feeling good about yourself and just the hopelessness of having a chronic skin condition that has not been effectively treated," she said.

Standard treatments for eczema range from lifestyle changes to avoid triggers, cortisone creams, and then immunosuppressant tablets.

The issue with those tablets is they can come with serious side-effects, Dr Ross said.

Dupixent is a newer drug that targets specific areas of the immune system that are overactive. That means the drug is not only safer than traditional tablets but it's also "dramatically more effective".

"It has really been life changing for patients who've been on it overseas or the small number in Australia who have had access to it on compassionate grounds," she said.

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Ms Field has had compassionate access to the drug since November 2018, and after initially being reluctant to try any more treatments, she said it turned out to be an "absolute miracle".

While little things like washing her hair in the shower had been great, Ms Field said spending more time outdoors with her five-year-old daughter Zoe had also been amazing.

"She's just like, 'You can do more stuff with me now,' " Ms Field said.

"This is seriously a life-changing drug. I can't really put into words how much it's given me."

View post:
'Life-changing': Calls for eczema drug to be PBS listed to help with mental health - The Sydney Morning Herald

Eczema causes itchy and dry skin. Also called the atopic dermatitis, it is not contagious. People with this condition are vulnerable to fungal skin infections. Mostly teens and infants can have this condition. This condition may start at a young age and exist till an individual becomes an adult. Eczema occurs when the protective layer of the skin is damaged or impaired. In such a situation, filaggrin, a protein that strengthens the protective layer of the skin is impaired. According to a research, approximately thirty percent of the people in the U.S.A face this skin disorder, most of them being teenagers and young children.

Just because moisturizers claim to improve the texture of the skin, researchers at the Nottingham University were keen to observe if these moisturizers really help in prevention of Eczema. Since this skin disorder may be hereditary and infants are at high risk when it come to this skin condition, healthcare workers advice the infants parents to use moisturizers as a precaution and also as a curative measure.

The researchers found that using skin moisturizers or skin creams had no such curative effect whereby the Eczema could be treated effectively. To get to a conclusion, the researchers included almost 1300 infants who had a history of this skin condition. Further they divided these babies into two groups. The parents in one group were told not to apply any moisturizers or creams to the babies and the parents in another group were told to apply moisturizers until the babies were a year old. The researchers found no substantial evidence of the group of infants on whom the moisturizers were applied, were cured of Eczema.

The research therefore proves that the impaired skin layer cannot be cured by the use of moisturizers which is a fact stated against the general perception. Eczema is a serious condition which should be treated with proper medical guidance.

Read the original:
Daily moisturizers ineffective in preventing Eczema - Medical Herald

Quality of sex overall: 7.5/10Frequency of sex: 8/10Intimacy levels: 9/10How do you feel generally about the people you fuck: 7/10How happy are you with the amount of time you have for sex: 7/10

VICE: Hi Jade. How would you describe your sex life?Jade: Exciting. Its like a fun exploration.

Thats good. So youre having a good time? Yeah. Since coming to uni, Ive like, blossomed. Its like, oh my god, sex.

What was it like before? I had my first relationship at 19 and I think I was quite wary about sex. I was really, really insecure for a very long time. I had eczema on my back, so the idea of showing anyone my body and being seen just wasnt for me. After my relationship, it still took me a while because it just didn't feel right. But then it just didnt seem like such a worrying thing anymore.

I know what you mean I have eczema too. There's like flakes of skin coming off in the bed and big dry patches but Ive never had a reaction from anyone. Did you get a similar non-reaction too? Yeah. I used to be like, by the way, I have scars and eczema and every time theyve just been like, I dont care. It makes no difference. That definitely helped a lot, its just me who gives a shit about it.

Jade says her sex life is "exciting".

Would you say you and your friends are having the same amount of sex?A lot of my friends who started uni at the same time as me seem to be having the same amount. But my other friends who have been in uni for a while or who are more settled are a bit more relaxed.

Since coming to uni, are you surrounded by a more positive attitude to sex? I think so. Theres just that sort of freedom, where youre just there to have fun and explore. Everyone seems a bit less concerned about it. When I was 18, I couldn't understand casual sex, it just didn't make any sense to me. But at uni, its just something you do and its done. Its an average part of the week. Its not so much a shameful thing, which I thought it used to be before.

So the way you view sex has changed completely? Im pretty neutral to it now. Obviously its good, but I dont think it weighs on my head as much as it used to. In the past I would feel like it was such a big thing, rather than just something people do.

Is there anything you dont like about modern attitudes to sex? Theres a sort of disregard for peoples feelings, a "fuck and chuck" sort of thing. Sex becomes nothing, like having a slice of toast in the morning. Especially with dating apps, its easier to forget that there is someone on the other side of it who might think more of it and deserves to be thought about and have their feelings respected. Theres a lot of guilt when it comes to women and having sex. If you dont enjoy it, you feel bad. Ive had so many conversations with my female friends about feeling guilty and trying to give someone a second chance if it hasn't gone well. Guys are just like, "fuck that, she was shit".

Would you rather adopt the same attitude as your guy friends? No, I usually give someone a second chance. Although I feel like I struggle to be vocal during sex. Theres only so much that I can hint at things without feeling like Im having a full-on conversation, like do this, do that. I feel like Id sound like a sat nav.

So what counts as bad sex? When they think theyre really good but theyre doing nothing. Have you ever had that?

A few times.[Laughs] Its like, what? Do you think youre doing that really well?

OK. So what do you think of the British Medical Journal research ? Is social media to blame for us all shagging less?Putting it down to social media could be a bit reductive. I think dating apps do play a massive part in it. Its a bit of a sweeping statement, but it just feels like peoples belief in meeting people has gone. Most of my friends have dating apps, I will occasionally download them and then get bored after half an hour and delete it again.

Why don't you like dating apps? It feels like theres no one youre going to meet and have a connection with. People are more cautious when it comes to meeting people.

Why do you think people are cautious about meeting up from a dating app? Its a confidence thing. Id match with people and have a conversation and when theyre like do you want to match up its like, "oooh... I dont know about that, calm down" and then I just wouldnt talk again.

Interesting. Even when the dating app has done most of the work for you? It is really weird and stupid. There are people Ive gone with before, and if I saw the photos on their Instagram photos on a dating app before, I definitely would not have swiped right. Even if they say something in their bio, I'm like, nope I dont like that. But in the real world, I dont think Im that picky.

Do you think someone's social media would ever stop you sleeping with them? [Laughs] No, but its happened before where Ill know someone and then see their Instagram and be like, "Why do they look like this here? I can see them in real life and they look good and theyre a really nice person." Its a phrase every girl has said where theyre like, dont worry about his photos, he looks better in real life. Its very warped and odd.

This is a campus uni, right? Surely with the SU bar downstairs, there's always a place to socialise. Do you even really need apps here? Youd think so but its not the case. Those first four weeks when no one knew anyone and you had to make friends in person were the only time that everyone seemed open to meeting people. The moment people started settling down and finding their friendship group, they slink back rather than being open to having conversations with new people. Youll go to a flat party and it seems that people just want to sit with people they already know when youve got a massive room of people.

I didn't go to a campus uni, so I've always assumed they would be the perfect environment to shag about. People just revert again to having their people. Its not an exciting environment, like I dont have to go out and interact with anyone. I get that its scary, especially in the day time. Youd have to be drunk as thats when people start interacting.

How did you meet the last person you slept with?I met him during Freshers' Week and Ive been sleeping with him since then. Its been a friends with benefits sort of thing. Hes probably been the most consistent person Ive slept with outside of a relationship.

Are you more drawn to having one consistent sexual partner?It definitely has a lot of benefits. We are really good friends, we have that sort of intimacy and we get on. Its not that first time where its awkward; you know what the other person likes and it's a bit easier.

So would you say that you guys are having casual sex?Thats something I have had to do a lot of thinking about. [Laughs] I feel like I was a very relationship-py person. The idea of casual sex seemed very foreign to me and I just didnt get it. I was worried for a while that I was going to seriously catch feelings for him. Sometimes it does get confusing because it is a lot of intimacy beyond sex. [But] Im happy with it, I dont spend too much time arguing with myself about it.

Since youre in a more sex positive environment now, do you ever feel pressure to explore more? Conversations about sex are much easier to have but, yeah, it can put pressure on you. In the past, I would think I was doing something wrong or having vanilla sex. You hear about what other people like doing in passing and youre like, is that something I should be doing? It can get you worked up. But I still think its a good thing. Having more conversations about sex is better than pretending no one is doing it. With sexuality as well, I dont think I identify as anything yet, but thats a fun thing to explore. I can talk to any of my friends about it now and I think thats a good thing!

Thanks Jade!

@nanasbaah

If youre 18-35 years old and want to be featured in the Are You Getting Any? series, send an email to nana.baah@vice.com with the subject Are You Getting Any?

See original here:
Are You Getting Any? I Used To Think Casual Sex Was Shameful Now Its Fun - VICE UK

We have all experienced stress in some form or another whether that is for a short, or extended, period of time. This emotional tension stems from unavoidable parts of everyday life, including work, family problems, financial woes and the digital pressures of social media.

While the anxiety that arises may originally occur in your brain, the consequences can play out physically. And no, we dont just mean tense shoulders and furrowed brows.

According to dermatologist Dr Anil Budh-Raja, daily stressors can also manifest in your skin, triggering or worsening a wide range of conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema and even hair thinning. Stress causes a change in brain and body chemistry and has a significant impact on our skin, Dr Budh-Raja explains, describing the process as the brain-skin connection.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

To understand how stress and anxiety can affect the skin, Dr Budh-Raja says we must first understand a little about the endocrine system.

The endocrine system is comprised of a number of glands that produce hormones and, when everything is in place, it allows the human body to work like a well-oiled machine. However when outside factors, such as stress, intervene this intricate system can slip out of sync.

During moments of tension the body produces excess cortisol, often referred to as the stress hormone, which wreaks havoc on everything from your immune system to blood pressure. Stress increases cortisol production from the adrenal glands, which in turn increases sebaceous gland activity, to produce more oil and sebum, Dr Budh-Raja explains.

The result can be acne and increased sensitivity of our skin. Cortisol also weakens the skins immune system, leading to oxidative stress which manifests itself as wrinkles, lines and lacklustre skin.

It also increases inflammation on the body and conditions like eczema, rosacea and psoriasis can flare up.

Dr Sarah Coles, a chartered clinical psychologist, agrees, adding that the onset and consequences of stress can often form a vicious cycle.

Anxiety and/or stress, which can be caused by skin conditions such as eczema, in fact can exacerbate the condition due to the body's inflammatory responses such as producing cortisol or interrupting sleep, Coles says.

On Thursday, a series of photos titled How Do You C Me Now? were exhibited at the Oxo Tower Wharf in London to inspire the world to love the skin you are in

Brock Elbank/SWNS

The models featured in the photos, taken by London-based photographer Brock Elbank, live with a potentially life-threatening skin condition called congenital melanocytic naevus (CMN)

Brock Elbank/SWNS

According to the National Organisation of Rare Disorders (NORD), CMN are visible pigmented proliferations in the skin that are present at birth that can cover up to 80 per cent of the body. CMN are a known risk factor for melanoma - a type of cancer that develops from the pigment-containing cells

Brock Elbank/SWNS

CMN can be light brown to black patches or plaques, can present in variable ways, and cover nearly any size surface area or any part of the body, NORD states

Brock Elbank/SWNS

Small to medium CMN are predicted to occur in more than one in a 100 births while large and especially giant CMN (covering a a predicted diameter at adult age of at least 20 cm on the body) are estimated to present themselves in around 1 in 50,000 births

Brock Elbank/SWNS

The exhibition, which is being supported by UK CMN charity Caring Matters Now, has been presented throughout 30 different portraits and aims to challenge "conventional perceptions of beauty"

Brock Elbank/SWNS

A spokesperson from Caring Matters Now says: People with CMN often feel isolated due to the rarity of the condition and have to deal with negative comments because of their visible difference, resulting in low self-esteem"

Brock Elbank/SWNS

Several of the individuals photographed for the exhibition have never shown their birthmarks in public before.

Brock Elbank/SWNS

In a world where people work hard to stand out from the crowd, 'How Do You C Me Now?' aims to celebrate diversity and educate the public about this rare condition," a spokesperson from the charity added

Brock Elbank/SWNS

Admission to the exhibition is free and will run for 10 days before touring the world

Brock Elbank/SWNS

On Thursday, a series of photos titled How Do You C Me Now? were exhibited at the Oxo Tower Wharf in London to inspire the world to love the skin you are in

Brock Elbank/SWNS

The models featured in the photos, taken by London-based photographer Brock Elbank, live with a potentially life-threatening skin condition called congenital melanocytic naevus (CMN)

Brock Elbank/SWNS

According to the National Organisation of Rare Disorders (NORD), CMN are visible pigmented proliferations in the skin that are present at birth that can cover up to 80 per cent of the body. CMN are a known risk factor for melanoma - a type of cancer that develops from the pigment-containing cells

Brock Elbank/SWNS

CMN can be light brown to black patches or plaques, can present in variable ways, and cover nearly any size surface area or any part of the body, NORD states

Brock Elbank/SWNS

Small to medium CMN are predicted to occur in more than one in a 100 births while large and especially giant CMN (covering a a predicted diameter at adult age of at least 20 cm on the body) are estimated to present themselves in around 1 in 50,000 births

Brock Elbank/SWNS

The exhibition, which is being supported by UK CMN charity Caring Matters Now, has been presented throughout 30 different portraits and aims to challenge "conventional perceptions of beauty"

Brock Elbank/SWNS

A spokesperson from Caring Matters Now says: People with CMN often feel isolated due to the rarity of the condition and have to deal with negative comments because of their visible difference, resulting in low self-esteem"

Brock Elbank/SWNS

Several of the individuals photographed for the exhibition have never shown their birthmarks in public before.

Brock Elbank/SWNS

In a world where people work hard to stand out from the crowd, 'How Do You C Me Now?' aims to celebrate diversity and educate the public about this rare condition," a spokesperson from the charity added

Brock Elbank/SWNS

Admission to the exhibition is free and will run for 10 days before touring the world

Brock Elbank/SWNS

Stress can also make us less likely to engage in healthy habits for example we might work longer hours, eat less well, or drink more caffeine and alcohol.

When troubles are piling up, it can often feel like the worst time for pimples to populate your face, but they inevitably do. While it can be frustrating science says it makes perfect sense for stress to exhibit itself physically.

A 2015 study into the effects of stress as a causative or maintaining factor in psoriasis showed that about half of participants said their first experience with the disease came during a particularly difficult time in their lives, while 63 per cent said their symptoms worsened when they felt anxious or under pressure.

Similarly, a separate 2017 study of female medical students found that for 74 per cent of participants anxiety and stress were exacerbating factors of their acne.

Thankfully, experts suggest that much of the skin damage caused by stress can be mitigated by focusing on daily moments of self-care.

When it comes to looking after your skin during periods of extreme stress, Dr Adam Friedmann, a consultant dermatologist, recommends eating a healthy balanced diet, protecting the skin from UV rays using a high factor SPF and incorporating a moisturiser that contains anti-inflammatory ingredients into your skincare routine to help improve any redness, flaking or itching.

Dr Budh-Raja agrees, advising that anyone with stressed out skin invests in products that contain soothing ingredients such as aloe vera, chamomile, oatmeal, rosemary extract and niacinamide, which restores the surface of skin against moisture loss and dehydration.

While it is good to know that we can find remedies to help counteract the effects of anxiety on the beauty counter, Dr Coles says it is also important to address the root of the problem and to try and manage stress levels using alleviation techniques such as yoga and meditation.

There are lots of ways to manage stress in daily life, for example having a good sleep routine consisting of settling in a dark room with no bright screens an hour before bed and waking up at the same time each day, Coles says.

It is also important to have a good repertoire of coping strategies for managing stress that work for you. I like to think of this as having a menu to choose from as different strategies often help in different situations.

She continues: For some people this might be going for a long walk, spending some time outside, reading, talking with a friend, mediation, Yoga, or some other form of exercise, before explaining that it is important to remain in control of your fight-or-flight response.

It can also be helpful to think in advance about what helps you to feel better before you are feeling stressed as this can make it harder for us to think rationally about what might help us to feel better.

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How stress affects your skin and what to do about it, according to experts - The Independent