What is Eczema?
1. What is Eczema?
Eczema is a skin disorder that is not transmittable. The signs and symptoms include itching, scaly skin and in some instances blisters. A rash usually forms and if this is scratched it may weep and forms crusty sores. It can then become infected.
| The term Eczema is also used to refer to a broad range of skin conditions and is also known as dermatitis. Atopic Eczema/Dermatitis is the most widespread of these skin conditions; it has a red, dry and scaly appearance. Atopic eczema predominantly affects children. The most common sites being at joints and crevences, such as at the back of the knees, groin and at the elbows. Atopic Eczema can be inherited, and is also said to be linked to the mother's diet during pregnancy and the child's diet after birth, amongst numerous other contributing factors. |
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2. How is Eczema diagnosed and what are the symptoms? Eczema can emerge at 3 different stages in a person's life. At times, some people grow out of it, while others need to help control and prevent flare-ups through a strict care regime for their entire lives. A person’s condition can be very mild (acute) or chronic, depending on the individual, but in almost all cases it is very irritating, and it can become frustrating. Infantile Eczema – This can appear around the age of 4-6 months and usually on the face and on the backs of the arms and legs or in severe cases the whole body can be affected. It has been known to take on the appearance of cradle cap with heavy scaling. This stage of eczema usually disappears about the ages of 3-5. Childhood Eczema – This stage may follow infantile eczema, or your child may develop it for the first time between the ages of 2-4. The rash seems to affect the creases in this stage; the elbows, behind the knees, the ankles, and can still be found on the face, neck and even the ears. Most children affected will grow out of it by the age of 10, but it has been known to follow them into adulthood. Adult Eczema – The most badly affected areas are much the same as in childhood, with large areas of weeping, red and itchy skin in the creases of the elbows, behind the knees, the wrists, neck and ankles. Adults tend to grow out of the condition in the middle of their life, and there have been no known cases in the elderly. 7. Is Eczema curable and how long does it last? - make lifestyle modifications to prevent flare-ups - see a dermatologist for treatment - follow the skin care practices recommended by your dermatologist - use medication as prescribed Several studies suggest that when atopic dermatitis develops in an infant or young child, the child tends to get better with time. For some children, the condition completely resolves by age 2 without treatment. About half (50%) of people who develop atopic dermatitis as children have it for life. It tends to become less severe with age. Atopic Eczema is the most common type of eczema. When people use the word eczema, they usually mean atopic eczema. It tends to be hereditary and there are often other allergies present as well. Allergic contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction of your skin coming in contact with certain things (allergens) via touching. Some of the things that can cause this type of problem are fragrances, rubber and some plants. One in five women in the United States are allergic to nickel, a metal found in earrings, watches and belt buckles. The symptoms these allergens cause are similar to atopic eczema: an itchy red rash. You can prevent this allergic reaction by avoiding the substance that causes it. Irritant contact dermatitis is a type of eczema that starts when you come in contact with a harsh substance that irritates the skin. Chemicals and detergents are the kinds of things that cause it. You usually get an itchy red rash, and you usually get it on your hands. The eczema is triggered from repetitively putting your hands in chemicals or detergents. This type of eczema can be very bad and can last long after you've stopped all contact with the irritating substance. Seborrheic dermatitis causes red or flaky skin. It affects parts of your body that have hair, or where there are folds or creases in your skin. These are the parts of your body that have lots of sebaceous glands; these give Seborrheic dermatitis its name. These glands make oil to lubricate your skin. Seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp can cause dandruff in adults and cradle cap in children. 9. How is Eczema treated and controlled? Use: - emollients to help relieve dry skin - cold compress applied directly to the skin will help relieve the itch - corticosteroids help reduce inflammation; topical tacrolimus and pimecrolimus also may be used to reduce inflammation - antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection - sedative antihistamines to help the you get a good night’s sleep Avoiding personal-care products that contain alcohol and not washing hands too frequently also will help reduce irritation. Try to avoid hot water. Too much exposure to hot water or overuse of soaps or cleansers can dry out your skin, so take short warm — not hot — showers and baths and wear gloves if your hands will be in water for long periods of time. Be sure to gently and thoroughly pat your skin dry, as rubbing with a coarse towel will irritate the eczema. Also, it isn't the water that causes your skin to react; it's the water evaporating that's not captured in the skin. Say yes to cotton. Clothes made of scratchy fabric like wool can irritate your skin. Cotton clothes are a better bet. Moisturize! A fragrance-free moisturizer such as petroleum jelly will prevent your skin from becoming irritated and cracked. Don't scratch that itch. Even though it's difficult to resist, scratching your itch can worsen eczema and make it more difficult for the skin to heal because you can break the skin and bacteria can get in, causing an infection.
Atopic Eczema can be misleading to diagnose because it has so many similarities with other skin conditions.
In order to identify it, the following is taken into consideration:
- a physical examination
- your medical history
- your symptoms
- your family's healthy
- any medications you are taking
- any known and suspected allergies
Eczema can affect many areas of the child's skin, as this illustration shows.
Your GP or Dermatologist may also order a test called the "patch test". This type of specialising testing can assist you in identifying various substances to which a person is allergic.
General symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis include:
- a red and itchy rash
- a rash that comes and goes
- usually symptoms begin in early childhood
- a persistent itch that interferes with your sleep or other daily activities
- recurring skin infections
- hay fever or/and asthma
The Ask a Dermatologist file lists all questions to ask in your first appointment (for children). In addition, the Eczema Test file explains in details all tests to undertake to diagnose Eczema.
3. Why have I got Eczema?
The cause of Atopic Dermatitis is unclear; however researchers believe there are several contributing factors: what we inherit, where we live, a breakdown of the first layer of our skin, and a malfunctioning immune system.
It is also common belief that eczema is a result of genetics, suggesting that another family member suffers from eczema or other allergies such as asthma or hay fever. Food allergies are also known to aggravate the condition.
The following factors are believed to enhance the risks of having Eczema:
- family history, the strongest risk factor. When one or both parents have a history of atopic dermatitis or an allergic condition, the child is much more likely to develop Eczema
- where you live. Urban areas with higher level of pollution, and the northerly part of the world
- age, 65% appears before 1 year of age; 90% develops before reaching 5 years of age
- gender, females are slightly more likely to develop eczema than males
- the mother's age at the time of child birth. Atopic dermatitis tens to be more common when the mother gives birth to a child later in her childbearing years
- social class, Eczema is likely to be more common in higher social classes
- family sizes, Eczema is likely to be more common in immediate families that are smaller in size.
4. How can Eczema be prevented?
Unfortunately Eczema cannot be prevented. It can be managed and controlled but not prevented.
Although there is no evidence that breastfeeding will prevent Eczema in your child, breastfeeding has some protective effect in relation to severity during the early month of life and should therefore be encouraged.
5. Is Eczema contagious?
You can rest assured, Eczema is not contagious. It is not something that people can pass to one another through touching or even by exchanging fluids.
The Myths About Eczema file lists many misconceptions about Dermatitis and Atopic Eczema
6. What are the different stages of Eczema?
No, there is NO cure for eczema. Medical research continues but scientists do not expect to find a cure for atopic dermatitis any time soon. It is their beliefs that the research carried out today will lead to revolutionary new ways to diagnose; treat and one day prevent atopic dermatitis.
Some relieving methods continue to be the following:
Child affected by Facial Eczema
8. How many types of Eczema are there?
There are several different types of Eczema, also known as “dermatitis.” Occasionally a person can develop more than one type of eczema.
If you have an allergy to something, your body overreacts when you are around it. What you are allergic to is called an allergen. Most allergens are harmless but if you are allergic to something, your immune system (what fights infection) is too sensitive to that allergen. It triggers allergic reactions. For example, pollen is an allergen for many people. If you're allergic to pollen, you'll sneeze and have runny eyes when pollen is in the air.
It cannot be cured, but in most cases it can be controlled with appropriate treatment. The aims of treatment are to hydrate the skin, reduce inflammation, decrease the risk of infection, and alleviate the itchy rash. Sticking to a treatment plan can help you feel better and stop the atopic dermatitis from getting worse.
- phototherapy can help relieve moderate to severe cases
10. What are the trigger factor for Eczema and how to avoid them?
Avoid substances that stress your skin. Besides your known triggers, some things you may want to avoid include household cleaners, drying soaps, detergents, and scented lotions.
Avoid sweating and overheating. The most common triggers of the scratch/itch cycle are sweating and overheating. It is essential to prevent these situations whenever possible.
Avoid sudden changes in temperature and humidity. A sudden rise in temperature can cause overheating and sweating. A drop in humidity can dry skin and lead to a flare-up.
Keep fingernails short. Short nails decrease the likelihood that scratching will puncture the skin. Keeping nails short and wearing cotton gloves at night may help prevent scratching that punctures the skin while asleep.
Dress in loose-fitting cotton clothes. Synthetic fabrics, wool, and other materials that feel rough to the touch often irritate the skin and trigger a flare-up. Cotton and cotton-blend clothes usually make skin feel better.
Double rinse clothes, and wash new clothes before wearing. Laundry detergents can trigger flare-ups. Using a fragrance-free, neutral pH detergent and double rinsing clothes can help prevent flare-ups caused by laundry detergent. It also may be helpful to wash new clothes before they are worn as washing removes excess dyes and fabric finishers, which can irritate the skin. Tags should be removed, too, as these can rub the skin, causing irritation.
Reduce stress. Stress reduction plays a key role in preventing eczema flares. In today’s fast-paced world, reducing stress can be challenging; however, there are ways to effectively reduce stress. For more information about how to reduce stress, visit Stress Reduction Techniques. Follow a prescribed treatment regimen. Moisturizing and using medications as directed by a dermatologist go a long way toward keeping flare-ups at bay.