Eczema is a recurring inflammation of the skin. It usually begins in childhood , appearing within the first six months of life. It can continue through adolescence and into adulthood. Although some children may outgrow the condition, about 80% of those affected will have dry, irritable skin throughout life.
Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is actually a group skin conditions which cause inflammation and usually itching of the skin. A description of each type and its symptoms follows.
(1.) Contact dermatitis. This is the most common type of skin inflammation. It is a temporary reaction to an irritant or an allergen. It appears as a dry, red rash, sometimes with a discharge. An example of this type is the rash resulting from contact with poison ivy.
(2.) Atopic dermatitis. This is the most common form of chronic eczema. It is caused by an inherited over-sensitivity of the immune system. Allergies often cause its victims to suffer from hay fever and asthma as well. This type will affect up to 20% of people at some point in their lives.
It most often appears as red, itchy, dry skin in the areas behind the knees, around the elbows, and on the face. In babies, it may appear on the scalp, neck, chest and face. Some children will outgrow this type of eczema.
(3.). Seborrheic dermatitis. It is eczema of the scalp. Mild cases are known as dandruff in adults and cradle cap in infants. Its exact cause is unknown, but it appears to be linked to a yeast which inhabits most human scalps. Contributing factors may be genetics, stress and other unknown elements.
(4.) Dyshidrotic dermatitis. Blisters arise on the palms of the hands, the sides of the fingers, and the soles of the feet. The skin may crack and peel and there will be an itch or a burning sensation.
(5.) Nummular eczema. It normally affects older adults, and tends to strike dry skin. It often starts with an injury to the skin, ( a burn, scrape or cut ). Itchy, red coin-shaped areas with discharge appear on the limbs and torso. This type of dermatitis is more prominent in winter.
(6.) Stasis dermatitis. This type affects the lower legs of older adults. It is caused by poor circulation; the blood is unable to flow freely out of the legs. The underlying cause is varicose veins. This dermatitis appears as inflamed, scaly skin around the lower legs and ankles. Over time, the area may turn dark brown.
(7.) Neurodermatitis. This eczema is not allergy-related, and often appears in times of stress. It will not clear up quickly and may spread if scratched. It is intensely itchy and the cycle of itching and scratching may cause rough, red plaques to form on the ankles, lower legs, back and sides of the neck.
Treatments for eczema:
* Bathe in cool or lukewarm water using gentle soap, with no additives.
* Use non-perfumed moisturizers after you bathe, to keep moisture in the skin.
* Avoid scratching affected areas. Wearing cotton gloves while sleeping will help with scratching during the night.
* Keep fingernails short.
* Don't let sweat remain on the skin.
* Wear loose clothing that allows skin to breathe.
* For contact dermatitis, remove the irritant immediately. Your doctor can prescribe a topical ointment containing corticosteroids. Topical calcineurin inhibitors may also be used.
* For severe eczema, oral corticosteroids may be needed.
* For older adults, UV radiation treatments may be used, but the risk of skin cancer makes this remedy unsuitable for younger people.
* Antihistamines that cause drowsiness may be recommended to help with going to sleep despite persistent itching.
* When skin infections occur, topical or oral antibiotics may be prescribed.
* Seborrheic eczema may be managed by frequent washing with dandruff shampoo. For cradle cap, mineral oil applied to the dry areas will be helpful.
* Stasis dermatitis can be helped by keeping in good physical shape. Wearing support stockings and keeping the legs elevated will help to improve circulation.
* Try to live as stress-free a life as possible, and maintain a positive attitude. Medical science is providing new, more effective remedies all the time. For example, the asthma remedy, Singulair, shows promising results in the treatment of allergy-related dermatitis.
There is no cure for eczema at present, but it is becoming more manageable every day. Who can predict what wondrous discoveries lie just around the next corner?
"There are grounds for cautious optimism that we may now be near the end of the search for the ultimate laws of nature." Stephen Hawking
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